Comparison between the compliance and effectiveness of procurement process under GoB and donor funded projects in ICT division

Abstract

Effective procurement is key element of successful implementation of both GoB and donor funded projects. A study was taken to compare the compliance and effectiveness of procurement process under GoB and Donor funded projects in ICT Division. It was conducted in 19 projects during January to December 2024 of which 15 were GoB, and 4 were donor funded projects. An open and close ended questionnaire was prepared to collect the data based on the practical situation and scenario. In ICT Division average projects value of 15 GoB funded projects was Tk. 877.12 crore, whereas in 4 donor funded projects it was Tk. 2801.81 crore which is 3.19 times higher than GoB funded projects, average project duration were 6.00 years in GoB and 4.50 years in donor funded projects, average number of package/project of works, services, and goods were 38.04, 20.80, and 25.75, respectively in GoB funded projects whereas in donor funded projects it were 3.00, 25.75, and 15.00, respectively. In GoB funded projects in some case, the tender and REOI advertisements were not published in highest circulated newspaper like Prothom Alo and Daily Star, but in donor funded projects it was always published in highest circulated newspapers. Both GoB and donor funded projects under ICT Division comply the PPA 2006, and PPR 2008 guidelines, in addition to that donor funded projects may comply some additional guidelines like, ISO 90001, ISO 20400, and Systematic Tracking of Exchange in Procurement (STEP) etc., and have to take concurrence in some important stages of procurement from the authority of donor office. Value for money varied in GoB and donor funded projects 75-95%, 90-95%, respectively. In donor funded projects efficiency in procurement was ensured appointing suitable procurement experts and continuous capacity development training, but in 7 GoB funded projects there were no any procurement expert. For free and fair competition, and freedom to innovation some additional measures were taken in procurement in donor funded projects. Supplier risks observed minimum in donor funded projects vii due to strong monitoring, regular training, mentoring, advance payment, running bill payment etc. Absence of procurement expert was a vital issue for some GoB funded projects in ICT Division, but political influence, and inefficient bureaucracy were challenges both for GoB and donor funded projects. The ICT division strived to achieve accountability, transparency, and efficiency in all its procurement activities. The absence of procurement experts, political influence and unskilled manpower are the major constraints of it specially for some GoB funded projects. Ensuring procurement expert, strong monitoring and regular training on procurement for key officials could be a somewhat solution of it.