500 letters to program committees: public procurement on agenda for municipal elections 2026

In the coming years, municipalities will face major social tasks - from reducing poverty to accelerating the energy transition - while financial space is under pressure. Precisely in that context, one policy instrument deserves extra attention in the election programs for 2026: public procurement. 

Through smart and social procurement, municipalities can realize social value and achieve more with the same budget. With that message, Social Enterprise NL, FNO Impact through Growth, MVO Nederland and Nevi sent 500 personalized letters to program committees of political parties in the 45 largest municipalities in the Netherlands (G4+G41). 

What do we propose?

The letters contain three concrete proposals for election programs: 

1. Put municipal procurement to work, sustainability and living together
   Municipalities can achieve social goals with their procurement policies. The signing of the Socially Responsible Contracting and Purchasing (MVOI) manifesto is an important first step. The next step? A concrete action plan detailing how social goals will be realized through procurement. 
2. Smart spending prevents expensive repairs
   Through strategic purchasing - for example, with social return or inserting circular criteria in contracts - public resources are used more effectively. Municipalities can thus save costs over time and strengthen their social base. 
3. Give social entrepreneurs a fair chance in tenders
   Local and social enterprises are proven contributors to a future-proof economy. Municipalities can use targeted approaches to ensure that these entrepreneurs have fair access to public contracts. 

Each fraction in each municipality received a personalized letter. We share as an example the letters addressed to the GroenLinks faction in Gouda and VVD faction in Utrecht. GroenLinks-fractie in Gouda and VVD-fractie in Utrecht. 

Wat hebben we gedaan?

To best support program committees to include CSRI in their programs, personalized letters were prepared for each municipality and party. Nearly 500 unique letters were sent out. This action consisted of three elements: 

• For all municipalities, we mapped whether the CSRI manifesto has been signed, and whether a complementary action plan exists. The letter content was adjusted accordingly. Where available, the municipal purchasing volume was included; otherwise, an estimate based on population was used. The tone and content of the letter were adjusted for each party based on previous election programs, to match as closely as possible. 
• Waar beschikbaar is het gemeentelijke inkoopvolume opgenomen; anders is gewerkt met een inschatting op basis van inwoneraantal. 
• De toon en inhoud van de brief zijn per partij aangepast op basis van eerdere verkiezingsprogramma’s, om zo goed mogelijk aan te sluiten. 

By sending these letters, we as a coalition - FNO Impact through Growth, MVO Nederland, Nevi and Social Enterprise NL - have issued a joint message: public procurement is a key to social progress. It is the way to link policy ambitions to spending. With this unity, we put strength under the message. 

Want to add extra power to the message?

As a social entrepreneur, are you politically active or involved? We encourage you to forward the letter to warm contacts at local groups. That way, together we'll make sure the letter gets to the right places. Because we have prepared a letter per municipality, per party, you can email jorien@social-enterprise.nl. She will send the relevant letter to you. jorien@social-enterprise.nl. Zij stuurt de betreffende brief naar je toe.