Effective qualifications-based and gender-responsive procurement as a tool to enhance the resilience of transport systems
Transport & Urban Development
21 May 2025, from 15h30h to 16h30h (GMT+02:00), Leipzig, Germany. Held in the margins of the International Transport Forum (ITF) 2025 Summit, the Official Side Event “Effective qualifications-based and gender-responsive procurement as a tool to enhance the resilience of transport systems”, will discuss how strategic procurement enables transportation authorities to create infrastructure that is both structurally resilient and socially responsible.
While the transport sector currently receives around 29% of climate finance, it faces the largest investment gap of any sector. Against this backdrop, it is pressing to address how to effectively use the resources available to deliver resilient transport networks, and to ensure that they are fit for purpose and robust against multiple challenges.
Effective procurement in the transport sector not only drives cost-efficiency, but also strengthens the resilience of road networks and transport systems, particularly by ensuring that high-quality innovative materials, expert contractors, sustainable practices and risk management are integrated into infrastructure projects.
Resilience, in this context, means building roads and transport systems that can withstand a range of challenges, from extreme weather events to the pressures of increasing urbanization and increase in transport demand. Procurement practices can also foster a more diverse and equitable workforce, contributing to long-term project success and resilience.
The side event builds on the on-going cooperation between the UfM Secretariat and International Road Federation (IRF), and is organized in collaboration also with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC).
About the ITF Summit
The ITF Summit is the world’s largest gathering of transport ministers and the premier global transport policy event. Since 2008, ministers from ITF’s 69 member countries, heads of international organisations, parliamentarians, and leaders in industry and academia have met annually during the Summit to discuss the future of transport and mobility through the prism of a strategic topic of global importance. Summit participation has grown to over 1200 participants from more than 80 countries, well beyond the 69 member countries of the ITF.
The ITF 2025 Summit on Transport Resilience to Global Shocks will take place from 21 to 23 May in Leipzig, Germany, under the Presidency of Chile, with Azerbaijan and Czechia as first and second Vice Presidents, respectively. This year, participants will reflect and share perspectives on how to ensure the continuity of transport systems amidst disruptions such as natural disasters, pandemics, cyber-attacks, and geopolitical crises. Discussions will centre on policies for adapting to, mitigating and recovering from these shocks, with an emphasis on transforming systems into more sustainable and resilient networks.
Link to related activity:
