The Africa Capacity Building Foundation is currently running a week-long procurement training for its grantees with a view to enhance their capacity to achieve economy, efficiency, transparency and accountability in the Procurement functions of their organizations. The workshop, which takes place at the Crown Plaza Monomotapa Hotel in Harare, Zimbabwe, started on Monday 20th July and is expected to run until 24th of July.
Speaking on behalf of Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie, ACBF’s, Executive Secretary, Dr. Roger Atindehou, Manager Eastern and Southern Africa Operations Department, noted that the role of procurement in effective and successful project implementation cannot be overemphasized.
“Research has shown that up to 75% of public funds are used for the procurement of goods, works, and consultancy and non-consultancy services. It is generally agreed that good procurement systems and procedures are strategic components of proper budget use and effective expenditure management,” said Dr. Atindehou. “It is for this reason that ACBF found it critical to develop procurement capacity within our projects and to ensure that ACBF-funded projects/institutions develop institutionalized procurement functions for effective use of Grant resources.”
He concluded that the workshop was necessary to ensure that the best procurement practices were employed in the procurement management, so as to act in conformity with agreements between ACBF and its grantees.
According to the ACBF Procurement Specialist, Ms. Paschaline Mashingaidze, governments and taxpayers want to see value for public funds spent on procurement of goods, works and services. “Economy and efficiency therefore are the main objectives in public procurement at the national level,” she said.
The procurement workshop will improve the skills and knowledge of participants in the body of knowledge, basic procurement principles, procedures and trends in contracting in Public procurement. It will allow grantees to undertake procurement following prescribed procedures of ACBF and other donor requirements.
“Participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of basic procurement principles – professionalism, transparency, value for money, accountability, fairness and competitiveness and should implement this principles in their work,” said Ms. Mashingaidze.
The workshop also aims to encourage networking and sharing of practical procurement experiences and common challenges among grantees and to provide them with the tools to best address said challenges.
A total of 64 representatives of national and regional organisations from across Africa are attending the workshop.
