The BUILDPROC Project Procurement Certification and Diploma Programme, facilitated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to enhance participants’ procurement knowledge and skills through an advanced, blended learning approach. Three procurement officers from the National Procurement Commission (NPC)—Ms. Hane Hekwa, Mr. Ernest Tunama, and Ms. Josephine Makiba—have embarked on this journey, reflecting NPC’s commitment to professional development aligned with international standards.
Module 1 focused on Procurement Fundamentals, Principles, and General Practices. This module laid a strong foundation covering essential procurement topics crucial for effective management, including strategic procurement planning, procurement methods, and contract systems. Participants gained insights into aligning procurement activities with project objectives, ensuring measurable results, and applying various procurement methods to meet specific project needs.
Module 2 delved into Procurement Processes and Procedures. Building on Module 1, it provided in-depth knowledge on bid preparation and evaluation processes for goods, works, and consulting services. The module emphasized the development of technical specifications and Terms of Reference (TOR), crucial for ensuring procurement outputs align with project goals. Participants also explored evaluation methodologies, legal aspects of contracts, and best practices in contract management.
Key Learning Insights and Challenges: The participants engaged in self-paced learning, interactive webinars with ADB experts, and practical assignments. Key insights included developing strategic procurement planning skills, managing risks, and applying evaluation techniques to ensure value for money. However, participants faced challenges such as facility limitations, relying on personal devices, and balancing course requirements with regular work duties. Despite these obstacles, the program fostered both technical competence and adaptive skills, with optimism for improved resources in future modules.
NPC acting CEO Joe Sapa acknowledges the strategic partnership with ADB to build staff capacity. Module 3 of the BUILDPROC program will see two participants of the course (Ms Hekwa and Ms Makiba) travel to Fiji for the Advanced Procurement Strategy level focussing on specific procurement methodologies and regulatory framework. Mr Sapa also acknowledges ADB sponsoring the trip and supporting to develop staff capacity.
