In the first phase of the project, women’s cooperatives with refugee partners were strengthened through capacity-building, and given opportunity to set up online sales channel on the Hepsiburada platform. The second phase has produced the present Guide offering exemplary cases of how cooperatives and social ventures can engage in public procurement processes, and how cooperatives can sustainably incorporate in supply chains. The Guide paves the way for vulnerable groups to access better livelihoods.

Produced by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Turkey in cooperation with Innovation for Development (I4D) and funded by the US Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), the Social Procurement Guide is an instrument of guidance in combating poverty and reducing inequalities.

The Guide is meant to draw a roadmap for public procurement experts, public administrations and policy makers, and facilitate the engagement of vulnerable groups in public procurement and supply chains. The ILO Office for Turkey will continue its actions to promote the Social Procurement Guide and enhance the resilience of cooperatives.