Officials trained on Sound Practices in Procurement

The primary role of a procurement professional is to purchase goods and services with the best possible combination of quality, service and price. The process of procurement or purchasing generally involves making buying decisions under conditions of scarcity. It does not imply a mere transaction involving a buyer and seller; rather, it is the foundation of strong and collaborative relationships with suppliers. It requires execution on multiple fronts such as technical, commercial, legal, interpersonal and managerial. Therefore, it is imperative that organisations employ staff with adequate knowledge of the entire procurement process to ensure organisational success.

In its effort to address the capacity gaps in the area of procurement that exist in many organisations, the Business Development Unit (BDU) of MEFMI conducted a workshop on Sound Practices in Procurement from 11 to 15 October 2021. The workshop enhanced the knowledge and skills of procurement professionals in procurement processes and execution from multiple fronts.  MEFMI expects that the knowledge acquired in the workshop will enhance participants’ capacity to perform their tasks in an efficient and cost-effective manner to ensure organisational success.

The workshop was attended by 40 participants (17 males and 23 females) drawn from various sectors of seven (7) MEFMI member countries and Seychelles. The MEFMI countries included Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The workshop was facilitated by Messrs. Chamu Kadembo and Francis Shingirai Nhunzvi, who are experts in both strategic and operational procurement.

 

Prepared by Cristina Dimande