About

The challenge

The challenges related to the Deal4Good project include the limited availability of skilled professionals specializing in Social Public Procurement (SPP), the lack of comprehensive VET programs that equip graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills to support social enterprises in navigating SPP opportunities, and the varying levels of SPP development across European countries, creating disparities in the support available to social enterprises.

Our aim

The aim of the project is to design, pilot, and deliver a cutting-edge “Social Procurement Expert (SPE)” curriculum that empowers professionals to unlock the potential of social enterprises through effective participation in Social Public Procurement.

Project main objectives

Investigate Vendors’ and Buyers’ Development Gaps in the Field of Social Public Procurement:

Conduct research to identify knowledge, capacity, and resource gaps faced by both social enterprises and public authorities in the Social Public Procurement context.

Overcome Blocking Points Through Innovative Vocational Training and Learning Tools:

Develop and deliver an innovative “Social Procurement Expert (SPE)” curriculum that addresses identified needs, combining classroom instruction with practical work-based learning experiences in collaboration with social enterprises and public authorities.

Ensure the Sustainability of the Project Results Over Time:

Develop and disseminate valuable resources, including a Handbook for VET providers, a MOOC for wider accessibility, a digital tool for assessing social enterprise readiness, and policy briefs for integrating project outcomes into national policies.

Deal4Good Partnership’s Green Practices

The main phases of the project and related green practices are mentioned below:

●NO PAPER: this is our guiding principle. Instead of using prints, all project materials will be made available digitally via websites, e-learning platforms, MOOCs and social media.
●INTERNAL COMMUNICATION: since the beginning of the epidemic, every project has been carried out remotely or virtually. All partners have acquired a rhythm of communication based on virtual interactions, and we will leverage this capability. Face-to-face interactions are necessary, but not as frequent as we might have initially believed. Our key drivers will be technologies for virtual communication, collaborative work and the cloud.
●ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS: the project does not involve material interventions and, therefore, will have a minimal or even negligible impact on the environment. That said, the SC will make every decision in favour of the more environmentally friendly alternative. This means that environmental aspects will be taken into account throughout the life cycle of the project.
●GREEN TRAVELS: even if “green travel” tends to be quite expensive, the project partners will always prefer solutions with the lowest environmental impact, such as electric mobility (in the case of car rental), train instead of car or plane (where possible) and green accommodation (through specialized networks such as EcoBnB, Green Pearls and others). This means that any overspending will be covered by the partners’ own resources (in line with the Erasmus Plus co-financing principle).
●COMMUNICATION MATERIAL: during public events, printouts are normally distributed. Well, our communication material will be accessible exclusively online using digital tools such as QR codes.
●RECYCLING: while we will not distribute prints at project events or meetings, we will provide resources and instructions to promote the correct recycling of any materials that are expected to be used.
●KEY MESSAGES: all materials we produce will include an invitation not to print them. In addition, on our main communication platforms (website, online brochures, newsletters, social media, etc.) we will constantly refer to our environmental code and the abovementioned green practices.