Most Asian economies face two key challenges: expanding welfare services amidst tightening budgetary conditions and stimulating economic growth that generates youth employment. These twin challenges require innovative solutions and have elevated the importance of social delivery organizations (SDOs ' nonprofits and social enterprises) across the continent. Government procurement from the social sector, or social procurement, can take a range of forms. The government could hire the SDO as a knowledge partner (e.g., consulting on the delivery of a service), a service provider (e.g., delivering elderly care services to a community) or a product supplier (e.g., making handicrafts for diplomatic gifts). By procuring from SDOs, governments can leverage the subject expertise and community networks these organizations have built over the years, saving resources that would otherwise be used to replicate knowledge and networks. Furthermore, social procurement allows governments to use market...
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