Overview
The inefficiencies in public procurement and supply chain practices across most African economies hinder the potential for accelerated inclusive socio-economic development. With low growth rates and increasing unemployment, the current economic trajectory is unsustainable. However, there is an opportunity to leverage public procurement and supply chain management as strategic tools for advancing social objectives and fostering economic growth. In addition to their primary goal, these practices can be utilized to generate employment, boost domestic manufacturing capacity, and support emerging sectors like renewable energy. Given the substantial portion of government budgets allocated to procurement, there is a pressing need for reforms to ensure that public spending prioritizes sustainable solutions that address contemporary challenges effectively. This reform is essential for optimizing the impact of public procurement on socio-economic development in Africa.
What We Do
We conduct research to assist government institutions in leveraging their procurement buying power towards integrated socio-economic empowerment policies, mainstream gender and youth in public procurement and champion the socio-economic empowerment of disadvantaged individuals. Through our research, we transform public procurement and supply chain practices into powerful tools for promoting inclusive and sustainable development. By addressing policy gaps, building local capacities, improving financial access, promoting sustainability, ensuring transparency, generating knowledge, and fostering partnerships, we aim to create a procurement environment that supports economic growth, reduces inequalities, and advances sustainable development goals across Africa.
Key Research Focus Areas
Here are some key research focus areas:
- Policy Analysis and Development: Research existing procurement policies to assess their inclusivity and effectiveness in promoting economic development.
- Impact Assessment: Conduct empirical studies to evaluate the socio-economic impact of procurement initiatives on marginalized groups, SMEs, and local communities.
- Financial Access and Support: Examining the financial barriers faced by SMEs and marginalized groups in accessing procurement opportunities and identifying strategies to overcome them.
- Supplier Diversity and Inclusion: Exploring strategies to promote diversity and inclusion in supplier networks through procurement practices.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Investigating the role of PPPs in advancing inclusive economic development through procurement collaborations between the public and private sectors.
- Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks: We design robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track the implementation and impact of inclusive procurement policies.