Section outline

  • Formal anchoring is crucial for effective and long-term cooperation between municipalities and social enterprises. The cooperation should be approved by the competent authorities and a coordinator should be appointed to manage, evaluate and develop it. Cooperation should be regularly evaluated and adapted to current needs. 

    Strategic documents also play a crucial role. It is advisable to audit the current situation to see whether there is already a form of support for SEs (e.g. sharing of premises, joint events) and whether SEs are present in the area. Subsequently, it is advisable to analyse whether municipal strategies foresee the support of SEs not only in the area of procurement but also as partners for the fulfilment of social objectives. In case of missing content, additions can be suggested. 

    Internal guidelines should clearly describe procedures, rules and responsibilities, thus minimising the risk of confusion and circumvention of rules. These steps promote stable and systematic cooperation with social enterprises.