proCURE is a european project whose main objective is the long-term implementation of sustainable joint procurement in small and medium-sized municipalities. The public sector and local authorities in particular are key purchasers. Sustainable procurement, i.e. the consideration of social, environmental, and economic aspects in public procurement, is an important measure for governments to play their part. SDG 12 on sustainable consumption and production emphasises the importance of sustainable public procurement for achieving the set goals.
About 14% of Europe’s GDP is spent by public administrations on goods and services of various kinds. With their large purchasing power, they can influence the market and support sustainable economic structures, contribute to climate protection, reduce pressure on the environment, improve working conditions worldwide, and promote innovation.
However, despite supporting legal and political frameworks in Europe, the concept still has some way to go to tap its full potential. Many public officers find the topic of sustainable procurement complicated and fraught with uncertainty. In particular small municipalities are struggling when it comes to putting sustainable procurement or even purchasing into practice. A lack of awareness and conviction on the part of decision-makers and administrative staff, uncertainties about legal possibilities, missing knowledge on the use of sustainability criteria and lack of resources are the most current challenges. proCURE wants to address these by providing appropriate support above all for small municipalities.
Objectives
The project pursues the following objectives:
- Developing training material and practical instructions for the introduction and implementation of sustainable procurement practices in municipalities;
- Preparing a curriculum and teaching material for schools of public administration to prepare future procurers for challenges they will be facing;
- Developing a train-the-trainer course for multipliers and experts to provide vocational training beside established educational institutions;
- Establishing procedures to enable groups of small municipalities to join forces and create common procurement structures;
- Building a network of experts on sustainable procurement.
Partner
The project, running from November 2023 to October 2025, is co-funded by the European Union and involves organizations from Austria (IFZ Graz), Germany (Alliance in the Alps and Agaro), Italy (Fondazione Ecosistemi) and Slovenia ((Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia).
Local authorities, schools of public administrations and experts on sustainable procurement interested in being involved are invited to get in touch with Fondazione Ecosistemi.
Lifetime: November 2023 – October 2025
Contacts: Sabina Nicolella, Thais Palermo, Giorgia Balducci
Area: GPP – Sustainable and circular procurement, Training for sustainability
Keywords: Green Public Procurement, GPP, Public Administration, Sustainable Procurement
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.