GPPA, the
Gambia public procurement authority, recently trained another 60 government
officers in the Gambia public procurement systems at the Ocean Bay Hotel.
That was the fourth training seminar conducted by the GPPA in the past months, and brought the total number of government officers trained to more than two hundred.
According to a press release from the office of the GPPA, the seminar was delivered by GPPA specialist procurement officers supported by the EU-funded short term technical assistance consultants.
The EU-funded consultants, including Serge Bertrand, are supporting the implementation of the reform of the procurement regulatory framework, and improving the procurement management capacity and Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).
GPPA is responsible for the regulation and monitoring of public procurement in The Gambia; monitoring performance of procuring organisations to ascertain efficiency and compliance with the applicable legislation, regulations and instructions; providing annually to the Minister of Finance a quantitative and qualitative assessment of procurement activities in The Gambia; and could refer to the Auditor General any violations.
The release stated that there is wide agreement that significant public spending takes place through the public procurement system, and that a well-functioning procurement system ensures that government funds are used effectively to achieve efficiency and value for money, in the delivery of programmes and services by the government.
Up to 70 per cent of government budget is spent through a public procurement process, the release added.
A focus of this seminar was consideration of achieving value for money, and value for money does not necessarily mean the lowest price.
The design, development and delivery of these training workshop was just the start for GPPA, which is developing its 2015 training plan that should see further government officers trained, including Members of National Assembly and its PAC/PEC.
Officers from the National Audit office, accounting officers, internal auditors, subvented institutions and members of the new procurement cadre would also be trained.
GPPA is also planning to train suppliers and contractors on how to do business with the government.
GPPA is also further planning to offer training regionally to assist all officers unable to access training in Banjul.
The training demonstrates GPPA’s commitment to building the capacity of stakeholders of the Gambia public procurement system, according to the release.
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