Description
The project is designed to monitor the process of implementing the new EU Public Procurement Directive and disseminating international standards on sustainable public procurement in Poland. These activities are a response to the lack of adequate provisions on sustainable public procurement in Polish legislation and insufficient input of civil society organisations in terms of monitoring public procurement and efforts to adhere to sustainable public procurement standards. The project will set up a Working Party on Sustainable Public Procurement, perform a diagnosis of opportunities, barriers and strategies for developing sustainable public procurement. Further, it will organise a debate of experts, monitor legislation and engage in advocacy. In the long term, these steps are expected to increase the awareness of sustainable public procurement, strengthen the legislation, intensify its promotion and ensure better collaboration with civil society in this field.
Summary of project results
"As far as ""green"" public procurement is concerned (one which includes ecological criteria and requirements in the process), as well as with regard for socially responsible public procurement (promoting fair working conditions, respect for human rights, public support), Poland is below the EU average. According to the data by the Public Procurement Office (PPO) and the European Commission, the total share of green procurement in 2012 in Poland amounted to 12%. Sustainable public procurement is insufficiently authorised by the Polish law, and is not promoted by public institutions. The objective of the project was to monitor the process of implementing into the Polish law the new EU Directive on public procurement, and to proliferate the international standards of implementing sustainable public procurement (SPP). A working group was created, comprising 12 NGOs exchanging information, experiences, and undertaking shared advocacy actions. A diagnosis of opportunities, barriers and strategies for the SPP development was prepared. On the basis of the recommendations, further advocacy actions were addressed to the parliament and institutions of local government. 3 expert analyses explaining different aspects of SPP, in particular the supply chain sustainability, social and environmental labels, and good practices of SPP, were prepared. 3 expert debates were held, opening space for discussion between various groups interested in SPP, including: public institutions, NGOs, trade unions and citizens. The subject of SPP was promoted via on-line articles, social media and publications in conventional media. The beneficiaries of the project were NGOs and public institutions responsible for public procurement. Project partner Framtiden i våre hende provided their support during preparation of the expert analysis of the supply chain, and Fairtrade Polska helped with the analysis concerning labels. As a part of institutional development, the involvement of the FKO in the actions of international NGOs' networks was increased, a strategy of cooperation with volunteers and a fundraising strategy were devised and started to be implemented. The equipment necessary for the organisation's operation was purchased."
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership with Norwegian partner in particular contributed to achieving the results in the areas of strengthening the cooperation within civil society and promotion of sustainable public procurement in practice. This involved contribution to popularization of issues like sustainable supply chain and public procurement and examples of good practices in applying sustainable public procurement. Important advantage of cooperation with Norwegian partner was increased access to experts from other European organizations and materials produced by them, which were used in advocacy work and contributed to results in this area.