New report out on a strategic vision for city procurement

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs has just published a report by Sascha Haselmayer about how procurement in cities should be reshaped to make it serve the citizens and not the bureaucracy.

Here's part of the executive summary:

"In 2021 alone, cities around the globe will spend an estimated $6.4 trillion, or 8 percent of GDP, on procurement.i Despite this vast buying power, city procurement faces several challenges, including resistance to the idea that procurement can be creative, strategic, economically formidable—and even an affirming experience for professional staff, citizens, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.

Unfortunately, city procurement is far from ready to overcome these hurdles. Interviews with city leaders and procurement experts point to a common failing: city procurement today is structured to serve bureaucracies—not citizens.

City procurement is in a state of creative tension. Leaders want it to be a creative engine for change, but they underfund procurement teams and foster a compliance culture that leaves no room for much-needed creative and critical thinking. In short: procurement needs a mission."

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Sascha for this project and am glad to see the final product.