APPROACHES TO PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REFORM AND CAPACITY BUILDING Capacity Building in Procurement: The case of Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda Richard Olowo, Procurement Hub Coordinator, AFTPC Fiduciary Forum 2010, The World Bank, Washington DC.

Summary Main Message Definition of Procurement Capacity What has been achieved Ethiopia Southern Sudan Uganda The Approaches used for Capacity Building What are the Issues Way Forward

Main Message Low procurement capacity has persisted despite the implementation of Capacity Building Strategies over the last three to seven years. Presentation aims to encourage a greater focus on and more innovative approaches to the building of public procurement capacity

Definition of Procurement Capacity Capacitated Procurement System acts in a well coordinated manner, delivers effectively and efficiently, with fairness, value for money and accountability Areas in which capacity is built: Institutional Development – rules of the game and incentives Organizational structures, processes, and resources Human Capital – skills and knowledge of practitioners

Achievements – Ethiopia (1) Institutional Development. Procurement law & directives in place at federal level & in the regions; SBDs disseminated; Oversight body created with 30% staffing; Complaints Review Board created; Procurement Services Agency established. Organization. One entity, ERA, has well-resourced & functional structures. Procurement Audits carried out

Achievements – Ethiopia (2) Individuals. Awareness created in many entities; 41 graduates from Training of Trainers; PSCAP procurement performance improved; Awareness created in many local Businesses

Achievements – S. Sudan (1) Institutional Development. Interim Public Procurement & Disposal Regulations in place at the GOSS; Procurement Policy Unit created. Organization. No PIUs - MDTF projects implementation streamlined into ministries. Contracts Audited and recommendations made to SSACC

Achievements – S. Sudan (2) Individuals. Staff trained in Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Procurement at GATC; TAs in ministries implementing MDTF projects; Use of procurement agent; Awareness created in some local Businesses

Achievements – Uganda (1) Institutional Development. Procurement Laws, Regulations and Guidelines for National & Local Governments & Parastatals in place; SBDs disseminated; Public Procurement Website in place; Complaints Review Mechanism in place; Public Procurement Policy Unit created; Institute of Procurement Professionals of Uganda (IPPU) operational; Corruption in Public Procurement Surveyed

Achievements – Uganda (2) Organization. Procurement Structures functional nation-wide Corporate Plan & Annual Reports of PPDA published Procurement Audit Reports posted on website and Recommendations followed up by Parliament, the Media and for Training purposes Public Relations Office functional Major Newspapers dedicate days to publish bidding opportunities

Achievements – Uganda (3) Individuals. Standards for procurement courses established High enrolment for University Degree courses in Procurement Entities providing internship opportunities Mass awareness training of Public Officials, Politicians, Civil Society & Media conducted Hand holding support provided to entities Awareness created in local Businesses TPPAs prequalified for use by weak Procuring Units

Approaches (1) Prior actions that Government must achieve in order for approval of full amount of a PRSC CPARs or CIFA Recommendations and follow up Making TTLs aware of the importance of procurement capacity building throug Including procurement capacity building Components in Projects e.g. PSCAP Experience sharing workshops for several countries Business Outreach Seminars for the local Private Sector

Approaches (2) Regular follow up of reforms progress by Procurement Working Group of Government and Development Partners Provision of hand holding support by Bank Staff or Consultants Procurement Clinics to discuss specific issues identified in Procurement Post Reviews Provision of accredited Bank Consultants as faculty for the procurement courses conducted by regional institutions: ESAMI, GIMPA, ISSADE, CESAG Participating in CPPR and including actions to address procurement capacity building

Issues Who prepares and the Content of Capacity Building Strategies Assuring the quality of policy dialogue Country ownership of reform actions Making the case for procurement as a profession and the need to invest in it Opposition to allocation of resources for Capacity Building initiatives Follow up of Actions; Monitoring and Evaluation

Way Forward Need for comprehensive Guidance on Capacity Building in Procurement Need for Monitoring Indicators with Incentives for Achievement even without PRSC Need to coordinate Benchmarking of procurement performance (AFR OBSERVATORY) and Regular Experience Sharing Forums