About Us

Description

The Chief Executive of the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency assumes overall responsibility for the successful implementation of the ESPPRA policies and programmes, development of the ESPPRA Strategic partnerships and corporate relations as well as ensuring the ESPPRA sustainability.

Core Functions

1. Development of sustainable procurement strategies and implementation of actions that will result in the modernization of Public Sector Procurement in Eswatini with a view to making it efficient and effective.
2. Building and maintenance of a strong multi-disciplinary management team to deliver value for money in terms of responsiveness, reliability and overall cost benefit, without loss of quality while adhering to the new Procurement Act.
3. Ensure Government policies including private sector initiatives, public sector reforms, and anti-corruption measures are extended to public procurement.
4. Assist the Agency to accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to the evaluation and improvement of the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.
5. Act as a consultant on various systems that are currently being developed by advising on the necessary controls required and on the strengthening of those already identified by the Executive Committee and the Board.
6. Ensure that the Agency processes are in place to mitigate against any risk that may negatively impact on the achievement of its mandate as per the Public Procurement Act of 2011 and all relevant policies.
7. Ensures that the Agency’s assets are adequately safeguarded.

Description

Section 20 of the Act, 2011 makes provision to remodel the Agency to a revenue centre. The Unit will therefore be responsible for resource Mobilisation leading to sustainable Agency financing and improved and more efficient internal facilities management. It will ensure the Agency meets all its financial obligations.

Core Functions

1. Being responsible for all Finance and Administration related matters of the Agency including the day-to-day management and administration and providing administrative support to all Directorates of the Agency.
2. Managing the funds of the agency in accordance with section 20 of the Act.
3. Preparing and submitting to the Board for its approval, a Management Plan, including a budget, setting out its objectives and planned activities for the next year.
4. Preparing and submitting to the Board for approval any estimates supplementary to the budget of the current financial year.
5. Ensuring that expenditures of the Agency are made out of the funds of the Agency in accordance with approved budget or supplementary estimates

Description

The Unit provides capacity building and technical support to procuring entities and persons involved in procurement which is of paramount importance in enhancing compliance with the PPA, 2011. Towards this, the Agency intends to develop capacity building programmes to facilitate better understanding of the PPA, 2011, regulations, Circulars and Procurement principles.

Core functions

1. Planning and drawing up of strategy for capacity building, to support and strengthen the public procurement system
2. Assessing training needs required for the public procurement system and delivering programmes to deal with shortcomings
3. Establishing standards and performance criteria required at each level of operation
4. Identifying institutions that would provide formal programmes for academic qualifications to meet professional standards required at all levels of operation
5. Designing and implementing procurement training programmes suitable for other professionals associated with the procurement function
6. Liaising with Office of Head of the Civil Service and other relevant public institutions for career structure in the public service for procurement professionals.

Description

Section 10 of the Procurement Act requires the Agency to report on the performance and functioning of the public procurement system in the country and recommend changes.

The Agency is further required to monitor compliance with the Act and procurement performance by procuring entities, as well as conducting audits of any procurement activities governed by the Act.

In this regard, a key mandate of PPA 2011 is to enforce standards developed under Act, therefore the Agency will through this unit strengthen its monitoring to ensure players involved in public procurement adhere to procurement laws and regulations.

To facilitate effective and efficient monitoring, the Agency intends to implement a public procurement performance monitoring framework and an automated risk-based compliance monitoring system.

In addition, the Agency will ensure audits are undertaken to all procuring entities and reports are submitted to the relevant budgetary, oversight and law enforcement bodies

Description

Section 8 (1) of the PPA Act 2011, dictates that the Agency shall examine and recommend ways of introducing in public procurement, at appropriate stages, the use of information and communications technology, and other technical innovations, where such technology promotes the objectives of this Act. The IT unit works with the relevant internal and external stakeholders to introduce the use of ICT to improve the services offered in the public procurement environment.

The IT unit will contribute to data and information management and maintenance of systems for the management and public dissemination of procurement data, statistics and information through the modernisation of the Public Procurement System.

The set-up of a comprehensive e-Government Procurement solution will be given the highest priority in terms of providing resources, given its impact in the overall public procurement system for Eswatini and adopting enterprise IT capabilities, best practice and standards.

Description

Adequate human resource capacity is key in ensuring that the Agency achieves its mission and objectives. The Unit will assist the Agency strengthen its human resource capacity through alignment of its structure with strategy, staff training, providing a conducive work environment, enhancing staff welfare and offering competitive terms of service.

The unit will further ensure inclusive participation of women in management and decision making. For effective monitoring of performance, the Agency will implement an automated staff performance management system. In addition, the Agency will pursue implementation of an organizational culture change programme aimed at enhancing performance and productivity.

Further, ESPPRA intends to rebrand within the strategic period 2020-2025 to reflect the transition from just another public entity to a solid regulatory Authority. The Agency has been concerned with regulating the public procurement system capable of attaining desired socioeconomic outcomes and best value for money. The unit will therefore assist strengthen its capacity to deliver quality services by building capacity for the Board as well as staff.

The Unit will also lead in development and improvement of internal systems, processes and procedures. As part of the new strategy, the unit will lead in promoting a culture of high performance through clarification of values, reinforcing positive behaviour and encouraging open communication. This will go hand in hand with providing conducive working environment to staff, improve staff welfare and strengthen governance.

Description

Housed under the Corporate Affairs wing, the procurement office is responsible for overseeing all Agency Procurements in accordance with the Public Procurement Act. As a procuring entity itself the Agency too just like other public entities is expected to follow the right channels in all its procurements.

Description

Section 9 (b) (ii) of the Act provides that the Agency shall issue circulars and instructions to provide further guidance on the interpretation and application of the PPA Act and public procurement regulations issued under the Act. Legal Unit shall be the unit charged with this responsibility and shall further attend to complaints from Public Entities, attend to complaints from suppliers by providing secretariat services for IRC and Conduct suspension and disqualification of defaulting suppliers. The Unit will also provide internal legal advisory services.