Public procurement is far more than just buying goods. Representing up to an average of 20 per cent of global gross domestic product, it holds immense potential to drive the transition towards low-carbon, circular economies and advance progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

To effectively achieve these ambitions, public entities must properly understand the markets they are looking to engage – including suppliers' capabilities, product offerings and suitable contractual arrangements.

Early market engagement – organized interactions between a buyer and prospective suppliers that take place as part of the procurement pre-tender stage – can improve procurement outcomes by fostering competition, innovation, and a better understanding of the market and needs.

And it can advance sustainability development priorities and help achieve value for money.

Developed by UNOPS, ‘Early market engagement for innovation, efficiency and sustainability’ highlights how governments, practitioners and other public procurement stakeholders can utilize early market engagement to:

• Better understand the capacity of the private sector to meet key requirements, including sustainability criteria

• Discover new and innovative solutions and understand market trends

• Adapt their procurement strategies to address potential market limitations

• Validate sustainability risks and impacts and identify potential supply chain disruptions

• Ensure mutual benefits and better outcomes by aligning public procurement with market capacity

• Mitigate real or perceived risks of corruption in early market engagement through open and transparent processes