Public procurement systems in spotlight as Tanzania hosts ITAC 2024
DAR ES SALAAM: Over 300 accountability stakeholders from around the world are expected to meet in Arusha for the International Transparency and Accountability Conference (ITAC) 2024.
The conference aims to explore challenges, best practices, and strategies for improving procurement processes in African countries.
Addressing accountability stakeholders and journalists in Dar es Salaam, WAJIBU Institute of Accountability Executive Director, FCPA Ludovick Utouh, said the ITAC, scheduled for August 6-7, 2024, will discuss these issues in light of reports indicating that procurement systems in many African countries are being used to swindle public funds.
FCPA Utouh, the former Controller and Auditor General (CAG) of Tanzania, announced that this year’s conference will be heralded by the theme: “Fostering Effective Procurement Systems for Sustainable Development in Africa.”
He emphasized that 70 percent of most African government expenditures are done through procurement, highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability throughout the procurement lifecycle.
“With procurement accounting for a significant portion of national budgets across the continent, the need for effective procurement systems has never been more pressing,” Utouh said.
During the two-day event, WAJIBU’s Research and Program Manager, Moses Kimaro, stated that international experts, policymakers, practitioners, and scholars will discuss various topics, including modernizing African procurement practices to prevent corruption.
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The meeting will also focus on tech-driven transparency, streamlining processes with e-procurement solutions, enhancing efficiency and accountability in procurement through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and gaining knowledge from worldwide standards and changes in transparent procurement.
Additionally, the role of non-state actors in strengthening oversight functions in public procurement processes and procedures will be discussed.
Kimaro invited stakeholders to attend the event physically or virtually by paying a participation fee of 25,000/-.
Earlier, Mr Adamson Nsimba, Executive Director of the Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO), officiated the opening of WAJIBU’s learning resource center.
WAJIBU also re-launched its newly modernized website, which will be used as a tool to boost transparency and accountability in public spending.
WAJIBU – Institute of Public Accountability is a reputable think-tank established in 2015, with the purpose of fostering an environment that supports public financial accountability (PFA) and good governance in Tanzania.
WAJIBU works to empower citizens and their representatives to demand proper accountability and good governance in the collection and use of public resources, as well as mobilizing public engagement with duty bearers and elected representatives (Members of Parliament, Councilors, and Street/Village Chairpersons) on issues of public financial accountability and good governance.
