The local procurement processes can be affected by the disaster and other environmental factors.

This will reduce their procurement capacity as well as their capacity to follow international and environmental standards.

Promote equality of opportunity and inclusion within supply chains.

Air pollution
Soil pollution
Water pollution
Deforestation
Desertification
Climate change
Loss of biodiversity and ecosystems
Natural Resource Depletion
Soil erosion

Environmentally unsustainable local procurement practices often include:

· Unsustainable resource extraction
· Damage to local flora, fauna, and ecosystems
· Inefficient, polluting manufacturing processes and inefficient equipment
· Over abstraction of water resources to meet production demand
· Air pollution from manufacturing processes
· Air pollution from inefficient distribution vehicles and routes.

Local procurement processes often follow local environmental standards and requirements.

It is important to assess and understand the supplier’s “buying culture”. Meaning that it is important to understand how and from who the organisation buys/sells to, the control over sub-suppliers as well as sub-supplier capacities to accommodate green demands, and if green requirements are realistic and expressed clearly. Therefore, locally adapting the procurement process might diminish and reduce green demands and requirements if they do not present the capacity to follow them.

Adapt procurement process to the local situation while taking into account environmental standards and processes.

Support suppliers in sourcing materials sustainably.

Support suppliers in developing sustainable/low impact production methods – modern energy-efficient equipment, renewable electricity, water conservation, greywater re-use; reducing waste and packaging.

Support local recyling initiatives and waste re-use livelihoods.

Design procurement procedures and the documentation required for the different methods of supplier selection. Ensure these are appropriate to the market, local customs, and good practices regarding employee welfare and environmental impacts.

Consider adapting the process and the documentation required to encourage and support applications from local women-led businesses. This will help increase supplier participation and collaboration.

Flexible procurement strategies: Incorporate mechanisms to allow flexible procurement strategies in situations of emergency, and define the rules and conditions for the application of these mechanisms (for example, waivers/derogation and simplified procedures).

Local sourcing should be prioritised where environmental impact is assessed and mitigated. Promote community acceptance of sustainably sourced, low polluting, re-usable items.

Experience with working with young people in Nigeria, Pakistan, Haiti, and Honduras shows that supporting groups of young people to develop their own livelihoods encourages local ownership, local leadership, and local sustainable market development.

The key is engaging development actors during the humanitarian response, to support young people who want to build livelihoods in their communities that will help communities become more resilient to future similar crises.

See Integrated resource recovery centres here: https://learn.tearfund.org/en/how-we-work/what-we-do/environment-and-climate

Percentage of supplier selection processes where environmental sustainability of locally procured items is assessed

Prevention of environmental damage

Mitigation of environmental damage

Time to assess the environmental sustainability of local providers.