Public Procurement as a Driver of Growth in Developing Countries

Governments contract essential public services via procurements systems. Well-governed and transparent public procurement systems must play a key role in fostering public sector efficiency and establishing citizens’ trust. However, public procurement systems are not always well designed, efficient or transparent.

Given the sheer volume of spending that public procurement systems represent and the essential services they provide, it is vital to explore initiatives that address common procurement deficiencies and the respective reforms needed. For example, open data at all stages of public procurement increases transparency and serves as a disincentive for corruption. One regional initiative that targets this aspect of public procurement is the Inter-American Network on Government Procurement (INGP).

How can procurement systems be setup to minimize corruption, increase competition, reduce price variation and deliver the right services to citizens? How can the global community support and expand on efforts to optimize public procurement systems around the world? What ways can citizens monitor governments and hold them accountable?