On 27 February 2025, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Vratsa took part in the first partner meeting of the new Erasmus+ project, Deal4Good: Enhancing VET for social impact: putting social public procurement into practice.
The meeting took place in Munich, Germany, hosted by the lead partner ECSF GmbH (European Centre for Social Finance), with participants from Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain, Malta, Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus.
The project aims to transform public procurement into an effective tool for sustainable development, social inclusion, and the well-being of local communities, while addressing training gaps and fostering cooperation between business and the public sector across the EU.
As a key partner, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Vratsa will conduct research, engage stakeholders, and organise pilot training in Bulgaria. One of its main tasks is to prepare the official VET Providers’ Guide – a practical resource for integrating social responsibility principles into vocational education and training.
During the meeting, partners discussed the project’s management structure, quality assurance measures, and plans for communication and dissemination of results. Upcoming activities include developing a training programme for Social Procurement Experts, creating a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), a self-assessment digital tool, and policy recommendations for the sustainable application of socially responsible public procurement in the public sector.
The Deal4Good project will run until July 2027 and is expected to significantly enhance the capacity and skills of professionals in the field of socially responsible public procurement.
