Support to Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority
Background
This project is part of the transparency and accountability portfolio of UNDP, dealing specifically with improving the public procurement systems in the country. In Uganda it is estimated that 60-70% of the national budget is spent through the procurement systems. Building the capacity of the procurement sector for efficient management and accountability of public resources is thus seen as a critical intervention of UNDP.
The enactment of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, no. 1 of 2003, led to the formation of a regulatory body called the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), which replaced the Reformed Central Tender Board (RCTB). UNDP supports the PPDA through targeted capacity building interventions at the central and local levels.
Development objectives
The broad aim of the project is to build capacity of PPDA to effectively establish public procurement systems in the country. UNDP supports the capacity building function of the Training and Capacity Building (TCB) department of PPDA, which entails developing procurement and disposal capacity.
This is accomplished through training of PPDA staff, establishment of systems and procedures, and restructuring the public procurement and assets system to enforce compliance of the procurement requirements under the new procurement law. This in turn is aimed at ensuring improved accountability, integrity and transparency, and increased value for money in application of public funds.
Key activities & expected results
Some of the key activities of the project include:
development of PPDA regulations, statutory instruments, and associated training modules
development of guidelines and an institutional framework for the formation of a local procurement professional body for procurement practitioners (cabinet paper prepared)
TOTs and resource pool generated to build the capacity at different levels of central and local government
development of a procurement plan for procurement and disposal entities
identification of institutional linkages and capacities (e.g. the NUFFIC NPT project, etc.)
development of user guides and manuals on the PPDA regulations
drafting of training policy and national training framework and awareness creation for stakeholders on procurement and procurement requirements
The key result of the project is to build sustainable capacities in the public procurement and disposal sector through sensitization, training, line support/on the job training, and systems design for the different stakeholders. Besides creating the appropriate capacities within the PPDA, the project also aims at extending support to the different entities involved in public procurement.
Implementation phase
The project is being implemented with a specific focus on strengthening the local government capacities for this year.
