1. Introduction
The increase in situations of fragility across the globe require more proactive response approaches and fit-for-purpose rescue, relief, rehabilitation and recovery actions. Such actions are usually implemented through emergency projects mostly funded by public budgets that are oftentimes scarce. Such public expenditures are under the category
of public procurement that is more often than not tainted with misuse and corruption.
National legislations have- at best- reserved some articles to cover procurement under emergency while many international organizations and NGO’s elaborate a little more on the procedures to be adopted. To the detriment of the people under fragile situations, procurement operations could fail further aggravating an already life-threatening
situation. COVID-19 is a clear example of such a situation, since several governments and organizations are still struggling to cope with the failure of procurement systems.
This highly-interactive e-course furnishes a holistic approach to the management of procurement in fragile, conflict-affected and emergency situations starting with proactive planning and elaborating on the tools, techniques and toolkits that a relief officer and a procurement specialist should possess in their rendering of relief and emergency goods, works, physical services and consulting services.
2. Who can attend this e-learning course?
This course is directed to officers and managers working- or may work- in fragile, conflict-affected and emergency situations whether they are relief officers, engineers, medical doctors, heads of units, or procurement specialists. The course does not follow the rules or procedures adopted by any single entity; instead, it is equally open to civil servants, staff of international organizations or local/international NGO’s. Nevertheless, it highlights the practices recommended by major international organizations when it comes to emergency procurement.
3. What will I learn?
The competencies targeted in this course include but are not limited to the following: • develop a thorough proactive response plan along with its detailed procurement approach; • anticipate needs and design requirements; • generate a responsive risk management plan; • engage the market to cooperate for relief; • design and implement the most suitable procurement approach; • monitor economic operator performance to ensure timely and fit-for-purpose delivery; and • several other project, programme, procurement, and contract management competencies and skills.
4. What will I be able to do after this course?
After the course, participants will be able to formulate a strategic procurement response plan, update the same, design relief interventions, launch their respective procurement activities (goods, works, physical services, and consulting services), evaluate, negotiate and award contracts, and monitor delivery as well as the level of attainment of the target relief. Participants will be able to apply a multitude of tools and techniques that will make relief procurement interventions more impactful and far-reaching, such as:
requirements engineering and cost estimation;
• market sounding, supply positioning, and market engagement;
• risk management planning;
• performance management planning;
• bid design optimization;
• value-for-money maximization;
• contract management planning;
• scope, schedule and cost management;
• stakeholder management;
• inspection and quality verification;
• managing disputes and claims; and
• a multitude of other tools and techniques.
5. How is the course organized?
This online course will be administered over E-Campus, the ITCILO Learning Platform. Spread over 6 weeks, it comprises a mix of self-paced study, cases and exercises, expert facilitation and interactive Q&A discussions and sessions. This format will maximize benefit while not constraining participants. The self-paced study includes highly interactive modular content that is embedded with practice, readings, references, etc. Self-paced learning modules will be followed by expert facilitation and interactive discussion to further reinforce learning and knowledge and competency acquisition.
6. Why should I join?
In addition to knowledge, skills and competencies shared during the course, it is a unique opportunity to contribute along with other relief and procurement specialists from around the world to minimizing agony and preserving life. Whether struck by natural disasters or man-made ones, vulnerable populations deserve the highest level of commitment, competency, and professionalism. This course is a forum to actively engage in learning, knowledge sharing, skills development, and attitude reinforcement for furthering the effectiveness, efficiency and value of procurement operations in fragile situations.
How to register:
The deadline for submission of applications is 17 October 2020
Candidates must fill and submit this form: https://oarf2.itcilo.org/MIF/A9713238/en