Voluntary and community organisations, social enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations play a vital role in delivering important services on behalf of or in partnership with the State, but there remains significant untapped potential to expand their impact. With major developments underway in Ireland’s procurement landscape, now is a critical moment to shape how the State engages with social enterprises.
As the Government prepares to launch its new National Procurement Strategy, and with Trading for Impact, the National Social Enterprise Policy 2024-2027 setting out measures to unlock market access, we have a unique opportunity to position social enterprises as strategic partners in delivering stronger societal outcomes. To explore these issues and translate these policies into action, training, guidance, and capacity building are essential. At this seminar, attendees will learn how to incorporate social considerations into public procurement, with a specific focus on initiatives that will actively increase the participation of social enterprises in public contracts.
The seminar will be opened by Frank Feighan TD, Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, who will discuss the upcoming National Procurement Strategy. Attendees will then hear from the Department of Rural and Community Development on the policy context of Trading for Impact, followed by Dr Paul Davis from Dublin City University who will outline how to practically leverage public procurement rules to work with social enterprises. We will also feature a real-world case study on reserved contracts, under Article 20 of the EU Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU, from both the buyer and supplier perspectives. Representatives from the Department of Social Protection and Rehab Enterprises will share their collaborative experience. The event will conclude with an interactive panel discussion and Q&A.
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