Public Procurement Reforms in Ethiopia: Policy and Institutional Challenges and Prospects
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Date
2011-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study assessed key public procurement challenges in the Federal Government’s public
sectors and presents recent empirical evidences. The thesis begins by elaborating the background
of the Ethiopian public procurement with regard to its historical genesis in the past three regimes.
In addition, the study raised important questions about the legal and institutional frameworks that
govern the procurement system of the Federal Government. Also questions about the integrity
and transparency of the procurement operations and practices have been raised.
The major objective of this study is to assess the FGE’s public procurement system. In order to
do so, the researcher has identified four thematic areas on which public procurement is assessed.
These are legal and regulatory frameworks; institutional frameworks; public procurement
operations and practices; and procurement integrity and transparency. These are the most widely
recognized benchmarks against which public procurement is assessed by the World Bank and
OECD.
Methodologically this study is designed as descriptive. Unstructured interviews have been
conducted with different stakeholders. In addition different secondary data i.e. legislations,
reports, website publications, and researches from the PPA and other concerned public
organizations have been collected. Data have been analyzed thematically on the aforementioned
benchmarks.
The results of this study show that a significant achievement has been made in reforming the
Federal Government’s procurement system. A new legal framework, which is based on universal
standards, has been drafted. Also, secondary legislations have been issued. The institution
responsible for the oversight of the public procurement system, however, has many setbacks in
front of it. In addition, the research shows that insuring transparency and accountability is still at
the middle of a road.
Recommendations in the study are suggested including strengthening the capacity of the Public
Procurement Agency’s workforce, making the legislation more comprehensive; work with
different stakeholders like the civil society organizations and the media on insuring transparency
and combating corruption
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Keywords
Institutional challenges