civil society

							Strategies for Enhancing Procurement Reforms:

  Monitoring Results & Involvement of Civil
           Society: Bangladesh Case

                                                      Zafrul Islam
                                        Lead Procurement Specialist
                        (Fiduciary Forum, NCC, VA; March 25, 2008)
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                 Session: Key Parts




   Strategies in Monitoring Results for effective Reform

   Monitoring: Procurement Management Information
    System (PROMIS)- “Supply Side”

   Monitoring: Involvement of Civil Society- “Demand Side”




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Framework for Reform and Monitoring Results



Reforms:
 Design of a robust & sustainable package for
  procurement reform considering the context (country).
   1st reform package includes: nodal agency; legislations;
    and capacity development
   2nd reform package includes: institutionalizing capacity
    development; strengthening monitoring; electronic
    procurement (e-GP); social accountability

Monitoring Results:
 Measurement of contribution of reform to improve
  efficiency, transparency & accountability of the system.
   Procurement management information system used by
    procuring entities (PROMIS)
   Outcome and/or process monitoring by civil society         3
    Monitoring Results through MIS (PROMIS)
       (“supply side”- compliance based)



   Developed a real-time centralized procurement
    performance monitoring system (PROMIS)
   PROMIS uses a set of indicators to monitor results and
    performance of public procuring entities
   PROMIS central server is at the proc. policy unit (CPTU)
   Direct linkage of CPTU’s PROMIS with procuring entities
    through online (web-based) and off-line connectivity

   Proc. Monitoring Coordinator (PMC) at procuring entity
    monitors its own performance while the system transfer
    relevant data to CPTU for country-wide monitoring
                             to
    PROMIS is being enhanced nd introduce e-procurement
    (e-GP) in phases through 2 reform package           4
                   PROMIS Key Indicators



   Customized indicators based on OECD-DAC approach
   Bidding opportunity
   Publishing contract awards (> specified threshold)
   Bidding time
   Bidders’ participation & responsiveness
   Procurement method
   Time for bid evaluation & approval
   Bidders’ Protests & resolution
   Contract variation
   Late payment
   Direct contracting/ sole source selection)           5
Data Flow Diagram: CPTU & Procuring Entity
                     1. Login to CPTU-MIS site
    Procuring
                     2. Online Data entry
     Entities
                     5.2 Reports




   Ministry
    GoB                                             Internet
                                                               Web Server Database
       5.3 Reports                                                         Server


     IMED                                                         CPTU-MIS site


      5.1 Reports     3. Automated hourly
                      download of data from CPTU-
                      MIS site

     CPTU
                       4. Approval of Data and                             6
                       available online for reporting
                       and view


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              Civil Society in Monitoring:
             (“demand side” intervention)


Key elements:
   Creating greater social awareness to demand best value
    for public money & held government accountable for it
   Engaging civil society through a long-term intervention in
    monitoring procurement process and outcomes

Building blocks: for social awareness
   Communication strategy
   Education program
   Behavior change
   Advocacy program
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       Civil Society Monitoring Contd……




Building blocks: civil society engagement
   Engaging beneficiary/ civil society/ business and/or
    media apex body

   Public access to procurement related information

   Technical training to media professionals

   Establishing a government-contractors forum

   Creation of formal civil society group for monitoring
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          Civil Society Monitoring Contd……


Key developments:
   Government formed a public-private stakeholders council
    (PPSC), headed by the Minister for Finance & Planning
   PPSC has members from high govt. officials, key civil
    society groups, think-tank, business bodies, contractors
    associations
   Formation of government-contractors forum is on the way
   Communication strategy being developed
   Social awareness: anti-bribery billboard; music video,
    road show, rallies, short plays, street drama
   Education: introducing social accountability mechanism,
    training of selected NGOs on procurement
   Advocacy: users of public goods & services; “to do and not
    to do” for officials, bidding community, and politicians 9
     Procurement Performance Comparators




Average Time Elapsed: IFB to Contract Award

CPAR (up to 1998)            Sample Study (FY05)
8% contract    4 months      39% contract   5 months
21% contract   8 months      18% contract   8 months
28% contract   12 months     34% contract   12 months
43% contract   > 12 months   9% contract    > 12 months


Average Time Elapsed: Bid Opening to Contract Award
Cabinet Committee level approval    :       > 9 months
Ministry level approval             :       > 7 months
Department/ Agency level approval   :       > 5 months

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           THANK YOU !!!!!

(zislam@worldbank.org; CPTU website: www.cptu.gov.bd)
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