Buying for Impact: How Procurement Can Drive Systems Change

​Event Description

Across the world, trillions of dollars flow through procurement every year, yet it remains one of the most overlooked levers for social and environmental impact. While much attention is given to investment and philanthropy, far less focus is placed on how everyday purchasing decisions by governments, corporations, and institutions can shape markets, shift incentives, and scale impact.

This discussion explores how procurement can move from a transactional function to a strategic tool for systems change. What would it take to integrate social enterprises, SMEs, and underserved communities into supply chains at scale? How can procurement models reward not just cost and efficiency, but also social and environmental value?

We will also examine practical innovations, from outcome-based contracting and citizen-led data tools to improving transparency and accountability in supply chains. Drawing on examples from sectors like education, health, and agriculture, participants will explore how to align procurement, financing, and operational decisions to unlock greater impact from existing resources.

Speakers

• ​Adarsh Reddy works in Growth and Partnerships at Educational Initiatives, scaling evidence-based learning in public systems.

• ​Constanza Connolly is Director at GAIL, working on sustainable procurement and impact law.

• ​Giselle Gonzales is Founder and CEO of EqualReach, connecting displaced talent to global digital work.

• ​Gita Syahrani is Founder and Executive Director of BLESS Indonesia, advancing sustainable bioeconomy and systems change.

• ​Kate Stritzinger is Director of Brand, Impact, and Communications at Fairtrade America.

​Discussion Questions
How can procurement be redesigned to prioritize social and environmental impact alongside cost and efficiency?
What are the barriers to integrating social enterprises and inclusive suppliers into large-scale supply chains?
How can data, technology, and citizen-led tools improve transparency and accountability in procurement systems?
What would it take for organizations to treat procurement as a core lever for impact, not just an operational function?