Small states, high stakes - a policy proposal to deliver welfare via public purchasing

Abstract

The article shows how and to what extent Caribbean British Overseas Territories (BOTs) can adopt social award criteria in public procurement. In the past decade, BOTs have experienced economic distress, political misdemeanours and rising perceptions of corruption. Lacking public procurement experience, how can these small, remote and socially unequal territories make the most of UK-led reforms? The article proposes inserting social award criteria in Caribbean BOTs' public procurement frameworks using a three-phase roadmap based on inspecting its potential, checking the legal framework and implementing the policy via legislative amendments and guidance. Experiences in the EU, the UK and the Latin America and Caribbean region show successful results, primarily in small communities at the local level. The methodology used is desk-based research leading to a worldwide survey of successful practices and a legal and policy analysis of its application to Caribbean BOTs.