From Capacity Building to Professionalization: Strengthening the GPP workforce for effective policy implementation

WHEN:  28 April 2026     I    TIME:  14:00 - 15:30 (Bangkok Time)    I  Register HERE 

Background:

Public procurement represents a significant share of government expenditure worldwide and plays an important role in shaping production patterns, market development, and infrastructure pathways. As countries continue to advance Green Public Procurement (GPP) to support environmental protection, climate mitigation, and sustainable development, procurement systems are increasingly expected to deliver not only economic efficiency but also broader societal and environmental value. In practice, however, many procurement systems remain largely focused on compliance and cost considerations, which can make it challenging to fully integrate sustainability objectives. While considerable efforts have been made to strengthen capacity through GPP training, translating knowledge into consistent practice has proven complex. This highlights an opportunity to further strengthen procurement systems by moving towards the professionalisation of the workforce through competency frameworks, certification approaches, and structured career pathways, so that procurement can more effectively contribute to green and circular economy goals.

Webinar Session:

The EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component is convening the webinar, From Capacity Building to Professionalization: Strengthening the GPP workforce for effective policy implementation, to raise awareness and exchange information about the transformative potential of professionalization for strengthening of GPP workforce, provide practical strategies for effective policy implementation, address challenges, and strengthen networks for future collaborative efforts.

About the Sustainable/Green Public Procurement Stakeholder Platform Webinar Series

The webinar series, hosted by the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component, is strategically designed to equip participants with the knowledge and practical tools to leverage sustainable procurement for innovation and market transformation fostering a more resilient economy. The webinar will guide policymakers and procurement professionals in creating supportive frameworks and overcoming implementation challenges by showcasing successful examples and offering actionable insights. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of sustainable procurement's role in driving innovation, encompassing circular economy practices, reducing carbon emissions, and conserving biodiversity. Thereby, the series aims to increase awareness of best practices, facilitate knowledge exchanges, and strengthen networks among institutions towards sustainable/green public procurement.

Chair:

Zinaida Fadeeva, Team Leader at the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component

Zinaida Fadeeva is the Team Leader of the Policy Support Component of the SWITCH-Asia Programme. Zinaida has over 25 years leading international professional experience in policy for and practice of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and Education for Sustainable Development, amongst others working with the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Studies of Sustainability (UNU-IAS). Her work has focused on diverse topics such as tourism, plastics, construction, small and medium enterprises, procurement and lifestyle. Zinaida has worked extensively with governments, private sector, international organisations and academia in East, South East, South and Central Asia.

Moderator:

Punjaporn Weschayanwiwat, Stakeholder Engagement Expert for the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component

Punjaporn Weschayanwiwat is an independent consultant, stakeholder engagement expert, and professional moderator with over 15 years of international experience in sustainable consumption and production, climate change, circular economy, and environmental management. She currently contributes to the Policy Support Component of the SWITCH-Asia Programme, with a focus on advancing Sustainable/Green Public Procurement and strengthening stakeholder collaboration. Punjaporn has extensive experience facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and policy consultations, working closely with governments, international organisations, private sector, and academia across Southeast Asia.

Speakers:

Erika Bozzay, Deputy Head of the Infrastructure and Public Procurement Division, OECD

Erika Bozzay is the Acting Deputy Head of the Infrastructure and Public Procurement Division in the Public Governance Directorate at the OECD. She leads the policy work on emerging issues in public procurement, supports OECD and non-OECD countries in designing and implementing comprehensive public procurement policies as well as develops evidence and pragmatic tools for policymakers to support whole-of-government responses to the needs of the society and economy through applying public procurement as a strategic tool.

Masud Akhter Khan, Public Procurement Competency Framework Advisor for the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) under the Ministry of Planning, Government of Bangladesh

Masud Akhter Khan is a seasoned public procurement and project management expert with over 20 years of experience in developing legal frameworks, bid processing, and sustainable procurement practices. He currently serves as the Public Procurement Competency Framework Advisor for the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) under the Ministry of Planning, Government of Bangladesh. Previously, he held the position of Director (Rules) at the CPTU for six years and served as a Procurement Officer for a World Bank-supervised project. A highly certified professional, Mr. Khan is an MCIPS (CIPS, UK) and a Project Management Professional (PMP). He also holds distinctions in Public Procurement and Contract Management from the World Bank. As a National Certified Procurement Trainer since 2003, he has led numerous training programs and participated in international study visits across Italy, Australia, and Mauritius to advance global procurement standards.

Esmerina Petutschnig, Programme Officer with the Development and Investment Programme (DEVINVEST) of the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO)

Ms Esmerina Petutschnig is a Programme Officer with the Development and Investment Programme (DEVINVEST) of the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO). Her work focuses on environmental, social and climate standards in international financial institutions and on sustainable public procurement. She is currently responsible for SUSTAIN 2, one of the Centre’s capacity-building projects in this field, delivered in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. A public procurement management expert, Ms Petutschnig has extensive experience in training, mentoring and programme implementation in support of public procurement reform and capacity development. She has contributed to major programmes in Viet Nam, Bangladesh, and to initiatives for IFAD and the Asian Development Bank.

Agenda: