Posted on 30 June 2018.
While public procurement is estimated to account on average for 15-20% of GDP in developing countries and about a third of national government budgets, it is also one of the areas most vulnerable to corruption. The large value of the transactions and interaction between government officials and private sector representatives exposes the public procurement sector to high risks of corruption. Preventing and combating corruption in public procurement is central to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public services, and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Recognizing this challenge, the Anti-Corruption Commission of Myanmar (ACC) made it one of its priorities to address the corruption risks in public procurement.
Following similar workshops in Indonesia and Cambodia, UNODC conducted "
Training on Identifying Corruption Risks in Public Procurement" in Naw Pyi Taw, Myanmar, from 20 to 22 June 2018, to which 25 government officials from the ACC participated. In the training, participants learned how to identify corruption risks and red flags in each stage of the procurement process, starting from pre-tender to tender and contract management and execution. Measures of how to address and prevent the identified corruption risks were also discussed.
Participants also learned how to develop an action plan that is realistic and mindful of time and resource constraints to implement these measures.
The ACC is planning to conduct similar trainings with line Ministries and support them in developing their own risk assessment and action plan.
