NWP, key to the success of the UN International Procurement Seminar

NWP took the lead in the seminar’s preparatory work at the request of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, which co-hosted the event alongside the Department for Business and Trade from the United Kingdom, and Enterprise Ireland. The event brought together 10 UN agencies, the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and innovative suppliers including 51 from the Netherlands on top of the ones from the UK and Ireland. The Seminar was an invaluable platform for companies to better understand the UN's procurement processes and engage in meaningful business opportunities with international development organisations.

The Netherlands Embassy in Copenhagen warmly welcomed the Dutch delegation with a reception at Copenhagen Capacity that set a positive and cooperative atmosphere for the event. Rogier van Tooren from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered one of the opening speeches of the Seminar, highlighting the importance of strengthening global partnerships and promoting innovative solutions to meet the world’s most pressing challenges.

Insightful discussions and thematic sessions

The Seminar offered attendees critical insights into the UN’s procurement strategies, covering topics such as global health, technology, AI, food security, and water and sanitation. These areas are at the heart of global sustainable development, making the event particularly relevant for Dutch companies looking to expand their involvement in international development projects.

A key highlight was the tech talk session on AI and digital transformation which featured experts from UNDP, UNOPS, the World Bank, and ADB. This discussion underscored the growing role of technology in global development and the opportunities for businesses to engage with the UN in innovative ways. Additionally, the seminar strongly emphasised sustainable procurement, with sessions such as Driving Sustainable Procurement and Future-Proofing Humanitarian Aid that addressed how businesses can align their practices with the UN’s sustainability goals.

One of the standout moments for NWP was moderating the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) session. Panellists from UNICEF joined NWP to discuss collaboration in these critical fields. Here, Hans Verhoeven of MTD, a member of NWP, emphasised the importance of procurement procedures in renting temporary water solutions in view of sustainability.

Dutch companies and UN collaboration

In addition to insightful panels, Dutch organisations were involved in over 270 meetings. Meetings with UN procurement officers enabled Dutch companies to establish direct connections with key decision-makers from various UN agencies, offering valuable opportunities to explore upcoming procurement projects and tendering processes. Further, meetings were held among the Dutch delegation members as well as with delegates from UK and Ireland. These meetings were vital for building lasting relationships and strengthening Dutch involvement in global development initiatives.

“As part of the Dutch Delegation, I had the opportunity to represent Delft Imaging, and gained valuable insights on collaborating with various UN agencies while sharing our experience of working together. It was also great to connect with fellow attendees and exchange ideas on driving impactful solutions across different sectors,” said Myrto Allamani of Delft Imaging.

In the water sector, new connections for collaboration were also established. “Together we can make more impact and have a higher success rate in winning tenders,” stated Arjen de Vries of Acacia Water, a member of NWP.

A strong future for international collaboration

NWP supported the Dutch co-host to create an environment conducive to knowledge exchange, networking, and business development. NWP is proud to have played a central role in strengthening ties between the Netherlands and the UN system, and we are grateful to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency for their trust in our leadership and efforts. As we look to the future, NWP will continue to work closely with its partners to support knowledge sharing, facilitate matchmaking opportunities, and foster business prospects that align with global sustainable development goals.

Mirjam van Buchem, NWP Project lead for UNIPS, says that “It was a unique opportunity to connect Dutch organisations to UN Agencies who are difficult to reach out to. The feedback from the Dutch organisations was very rewarding. To make this event a success was a true team effort between colleagues from RVO, NWP, the Embassy and the Consortium of Ireland and UK. Especially given the current developments in the world, continued innovation, investment, and collaboration are critical to achieve the SDGs.”

NWP looks forward to continuing its work in fostering these important relationships and contributing to the UN's mission of achieving sustainable development worldwide.