Niël Terblanché
Namibia’s public procurement system is currently hampered by significant challenges, primarily due to a lack of accurate and accessible data.
The Institute of Public Procurement Research (IPPR) revealed this issue during the launch of the latest edition of the procurement tracker, titled “Data Deficits Undermine Governance and Oversight.”
Frederico Links, an IPPR Research Associate, said that the existing system does not provide adequate data, mainly because the procurement policy unit lacks the necessary resources to effectively monitor and enforce compliance.
He said research found that the absence of precise data is a major obstacle to ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity within the public procurement process.
This shortfall impacts the ability to oversee public service delivery, budget planning, and compliance management.
Despite the enactment of the Public Procurement Act of 2015 and its implementation over the past seven years, accurate and timely data on the operations of the public procurement system remain critically insufficient.
Links said that Namibia has adopted the Open Data Contracting Standard to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public contracting processes.
“However, the practical application of this standard is hindered by data deficits,” he said.
Links also identified a problem with credibility and trust in Namibia’s civil service, citing the belief that political connections have a greater influence on senior appointments than merit and performance.
“This perception exacerbates the challenges faced by the public procurement system, making it difficult to foster an environment of trust and efficiency,” he said.
The report points out that robust public procurement data is essential for effective governance oversight, performance monitoring, and strategic planning.
Without accurate data, efforts to improve public procurement systems are undermined, affecting the overall delivery of public services.
The IPPR’s procurement tracker aims to shed light on these issues and advocate for better data management practices.
Links called for the procurement policy unit to be adequately capacitated to fulfil its mandate, ensuring that public procurement in Namibia adheres to principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity.
He said that addressing these data deficiencies will be crucial in achieving the desired governance outcomes.
