Enhacement of Procurement Reforms in the Public Sector

Abstract

Procurement needs to be mainstreamed and professionalised. It should be seen as a core activity and a central element of expenditure planning, rather than as a mere purchasing or downstream clerical function and supply activity. It therefore needs to be addressed at strategic (long term planning), managerial (efficient use of public resources) and tactical (mechanics of procurement) levels.

There is a need to look towards common diagnostic tools and standards. The World Bank’s Country Procurement Assessment Reviews suggest key problem areas to include corruption, lack of trained personnel, poor procurement capacity planning, uncompetitive procurement methods, gaps/conflicting provisions in legislation and a lack of standard bidding/contract documents.

The overwhelming requirement is to develop procurement related skills development and training at individual, institutional and national levels. Capacity building initiatives to date have focused on legal reforms and procedural aspects, although there are now signs of increasing attention to long term needs at organisational and institutional levels. Donors, too, need to strengthen their own capacities to undertake this work.