Practical insights for using public procurement to promote gender equality

Public procurement is increasingly used as a tool to promote social policy goals. Yet, while academic research takes a growing interest in the strategic use of public procurement as a policy tool, practical guidance remains rather scarce.

In a (German language) contribution to the eminent Handbook for Equal Opportunity Officers in Germany (the ‘Rechtshandbuch für Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragte’), IER's Dr E.K. Sarter provides insights into possibilities and approaches of strategically leveraging public spending for goods, works, and services as a tool for promoting gender equality.

Based on an introduction to the foundations of public procurement, this contribution highlights that gender equality can be fostered by consciously designing the object of purchase as well as by using equality-related criteria and obligations. The particular aspects included thereby need to be geared to the contract. Showcasing the wide variety of possible requirements that can be used to promote gender equality, this chapter provides practical examples for including different gender-related aspects in public procurement.