Welcome to the 18th East Africa Procurement Forum

1. Formation of a Secretariat
2. Individual Country Assessment
3. Holistic Approach to Capacity Building
4. Common Procurement Curriculum
5. Anti-Corruption Debate
6. Presentations by Various Sectors
7. Record Keeping
8. Future Studies
9. Law to protect whistle blowers

1. Sustainability of the forum. A suggested registration fee to be introduced for the Authorities.
2. E-Procurement. The need to embrace E-Procurement for an improved and more effective procurement system, create more public awareness on E-Procurement so as to get suppliers' confidence; and have an E-legislation to support E-procurement.
3. Judicial Review. The need to identify the impact of High Court decisions on Procurement cases and especially on areas of the Procurement Law requiring amendments, and to sensitize Judges on Procurement Laws so as to have decisions that are in tandem with the purpose and spirit of the Procurement Law.
4. Capacity development in Public Procurement. The need to train SMEs, have a rewarding scheme for the procurement profession, harmonize training programs, set up a rating scheme or rating agency for procurement services, professionalize the procurement profession, and create more awareness in Public Procurement.
5. Harmonization of Public Procurement. The need to harmonize the procurement systems in the region so as to have uniformity on procurement procedures and laws especially on cross-border procurement, which can be done through agreeing on basic principles (e.g. rule on non-discrimination, equal treatment etc.), scope of membership and application, the thresholds, essential requirements for tendering procedures, and field of enforcement.
6. Code of Conduct for procurement practitioners. There is need to devolve a code of conduct for all who practice in the procurement profession incorporating the good and bad practices and having sanctions for the bad practices.
7. Role of SMEs in Public Procurement. The need to build capacity for SMEs and disadvantaged groups through training, creating an enabling environment for them to access government procurement.
8. Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). There is need to encompass Public Private Partnership for an improved and efficient success in Public Procurement.
9. Implementation of recommendations. There is a crucial need to implement these key issues raised as way forward in both the 1st and the 2nd East African Public Procurement Forum as that is the main reason for having these forums.
10. Next Forum. The member countries will each appoint a member of a technical committee to plan the next forum. The Directors will continue discussions and meetings towards a possibility of a regional cooperation or network.

1. Issues of the opening session.
2. Follow up on Implementation of the 2nd EAPF Resolutions.
3. Enforcement of Compliance with Procurement Legislation and Emphasis on Performance and Tools for Measurement of Compliance and Performance in Public Procurement: Lessons Learnt.
4. Harmonizing Procurement Rules in the Region.
5. Development of ICT Application in Public Procurement.
6. Promoting Engagement of Civil Society to Monitor Procurement Process Outcome.
7. War on Corruption in Public Procurement — Recent Achievements.
8. Innovations in Procurement Methods and Procedures.
9. Procurement Complaints.
10. Meeting of CEOs and Board of Directors of Procurement Oversight Bodies.

1. The EAPPF must be held regularly and therefore shall be annual in order to avoid organization inconsistency and ensure sustainability and continuity in the Forum. The Forum should be held around June of each year.
2. Given the need for follow-up on the implementation of resolutions from EAPPFs, an institutional framework should be established in two stages: an Interim Secretariat rotating among the Oversight Authorities and a permanent desk within the EAC Secretariat. A detailed proposal thereon will be submitted to supervising Ministries for approval. Once approved, the Interim Secretariat will start with Rwanda.
3. Promote professionalism by establishing procurement professionals' Associations commissioned to enforce rules of ethics in procurement.
4. Regulatory Bodies should adopt measures to mitigate inconsistency and malpractices pertaining to Technical Specifications and contract management in order to enhance procurement-supply relationship.
5. Embrace e-procurement and put in place procurement journals to efficiently meet outreach purposes towards transparency and equal opportunity by solving the issue of poor communication between Procuring Entities and Suppliers.
6. Promote access of SMEs to Public Procurement opportunities.
7. Public Entities should look into ways of integrating procurement plan with budget processes to address lack of procurement plans which result in urgent procurement procedures, delayed payments, delivery of substandard goods, services or works.
8. The Private Sector (suppliers) and the Public Sector (procurement entities) need to work together as partners and establish long term relationship for mutual benefit and achieving value for money.
9. Enforce current Public Procurement laws in EAC Member States to eradicate corrupt and fraudulent procurement practices causing losses to Governments.
10. The Civil Society should be involved in monitoring compliance with procurement rules and contract outcomes.
11. There should be a strong partnership of the Public Sector, the Private Sector and the Civil Society aiming to fight against procurement related corruption.
12. Promote PPP in order to achieve comprehensive efficiency in procurement.
13. Local companies should form joint ventures for them to increase delivery capacity if they are to compete with foreign companies operating in the region.
14. Public Procurement Oversight organizations should contribute in training the Private Sector, mainly SMEs, on Public Procurement Rules.
15. Appeal mechanisms should be developed to impartially handle complaints in order to increase the confidence of suppliers in Public Procurement procedures and enhance competition.
16. Public Procurement Oversight Bodies in the region need to make a step further in the regional integration process by harmonizing procurement regulations.
17. There must be a political will if Public Procurement systems in the region are to be efficient. Leaders at higher levels of governance in the region need to come on board in fully enforcing Public Procurement laws.
18. Each and every Public Procurement Oversight Body party to these resolutions shall execute the same according to practical implementation measures, the report of which should be assessed in the next EAPPF.
19. Next EAPPF will be hosted by Burundi, preferably in June.

1. Regular annual organization of the session between August and November.
2. Establishment of an EAC Permanent Secretariat — a team of experts from Public Procurement Regulation Authorities should be chosen to study how to create it.
3. Organization of a meeting of Managing Directors in charge of Public Procurement within three months, at Kampala, to study strategic measures to set up the Permanent Secretariat.
4. Promotion of the Public Procurement status for defending their physical and professional integrity.
5. Encouragement of professionalism of the Public Procurement Sector by setting up a post-graduate course on Public Procurement.
6. Development of communication systems: creating e-procurement and independent magazines.
7. Development of a system that allows the Public Procurement Authority to be funded.
8. Independence of the Public Procurement Regulation Authority.
9. Access to small and medium means of communication.
10. Organization of national Forums to evaluate public actors' performance in each country.
11. Promotion of civil society and the private sector's participation in different Public Procurement Regulation organs.
12. Efficiency of the Code of Ethics in judicial structures related to Public Procurement.
13. Creation of a regional structure composed of Public Procurement National Associations of Professionals.
14. Appointment of Uganda to host the 6th Public Procurement Forum in November 2013.

1. All partner states need to develop a procurement policy.
2. All partner states need to develop a preferential scheme for its citizens.
3. There is a need for a regional professional body for procurement professionals.
4. Partner states need to enhance capacity-building initiatives for persons involved in procurement.
5. Partner states should hasten the implementation and development of e-procurement.
6. Regulatory oversight of procurement activities by civil society organizations, media and the private sector should be facilitated to complement government mandate.

1. Member countries shall respectively develop a procurement policy and report in the next Forum.
2. Member countries shall develop a preferential scheme for its citizens and regional preference and report in the next Forum.
3. Member countries need to enhance capacity building for persons involved in procurement.
4. All member countries should hasten implementation/development of e-procurement.
5. Member countries recognize the role played by CSOs, media and individuals in extra-regulatory oversight of procurement to complement oversight by the regulatory authorities.
6. Tanzania was nominated to host the next forum.

1. Harmonization of procurement policies. The EAC Secretariat should develop a regional procurement policy with input from partner states. Partner states should review their procurement processes, methods and tools in line with the regional procurement policy. Partner states should incorporate provisions for ensuring that social, economic and environmental aspects are embedded in Public Procurement frameworks.
2. Harmonization of Procurement Practices. Partner states should commit to having harmonized legislation, standards and practices for the region.
3. Harmonization of provisions for Blacklisting of Bidders in EAC. The EAC Secretariat should coordinate the review of the provisions for blacklisting of bidders in the region with inputs from partner states.
4. Establishment of a Common Portal for publication of opportunities in EAC. The EAC Secretariat should develop a common electronic portal for publication of procurement opportunities and contract awards in the region, with inputs from partner states and in line with the provisions of Article 35 of the Common Market Protocol.
5. Automation of Procurement Processes, Methods and Tools in the region. Partner states should speed up establishment of e-procurement systems.
6. Budgetary constraints faced by procurement oversight bodies in the partner states. Partner states should allocate sufficient budget to speed up further procurement reforms.
7. Capacity to handle interstate projects procurement. The EAC Secretariat should initiate capacity-building interventions for the partner states' institutions to handle interstate projects procurement.
8. Empowerment of the private sector to fully and efficiently participate in Public Procurement. The EAC Secretariat should, with inputs from partner states, institute mechanisms for promoting local content and development of SMEs through Public Procurement.
9. Hosting of the next East African Public Procurement Forum. Rwanda shall host the ninth East African Public Procurement Forum.

1. Consolidation of previous implementation status. To have a comparative and consolidated implementation status for all partner states to be submitted two (2) months before EAPF.
2. Reduce dependence on foreign contractors and consultants. The EAC Secretariat to carry out a baseline survey for the contribution and participation of local and regional experts/consultants in procurement of high-value complex infrastructure projects. Partner states to put in place strategies for capacity building and technology transfer for high-value complex infrastructure contracts.
3. Partnership between Associations of professionals and statutory bodies. Partner states to establish collaboration and partnership between statutory bodies and Associations of professionals.
4. Centralized versus decentralized systems for procurement of goods. The EAC Secretariat to conduct a comparative study on centralized and decentralized procurement of goods as appropriate. Maintain the decentralized systems but develop guidelines to support the centralized systems where appropriate, to be adopted in the next forum. Partner states to maintain flexibility, innovative ideas and inherent practices respectively.
5. Harmonization of professional training and accreditation. Partner states to harmonize professional training and accreditation for career development through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to be recognized internationally. Regulatory bodies, in collaboration with key stakeholders, to coordinate benchmarking, capacity building and research.
6. Harmonization of administrative review mechanisms. The EAC Secretariat to carry out a study for harmonization of administrative review of complaints or appeals.
7. Harmonization of the procurement regulatory frameworks. Partner states to put in place a mechanism to reduce bureaucracy in procurement functions, and to put in place a mechanism to promote innovation, creativity and professionalism in achieving procurement objectives.
8. Harmonization of E-Procurement standards. The EAC Secretariat should carry out benchmarking to come up with common standards to guide the development of e-procurement systems.
9. Harmonization of Public Procurement frameworks. The EAC should proceed expeditiously to finalize the EAC policy and legislation to meet the East African Monetary Union protocol deadline before the end of 2018.
10. Hosting of the next East African Public Procurement Forum. Uganda shall host the tenth (10th) East African Public Procurement Forum (EAPF).

Sourced from the original programme, where this set of resolutions was labelled "EAPF 2016" alongside the set above — most likely a source labelling error, since it references the 10th EAPF (hosted by Uganda, per the 2016 resolutions) and a deadline of "end of June 2018." Shown here as EAPF 2017 pending verification against PPRA's records.

1. The East African Community should issue report(s) on consultancies undertaken to address e-procurement, green procurement and harmonization of the procurement curriculum in the East African Region.
2. The East African Procurement Forum recommends to the East African Community Secretariat to expedite the approval of the harmonized East African Public Procurement Policy and Legislation through its structures in accordance with the provisions of the East African Common Market Protocol and the East African Monetary Union.
3. The EAC should facilitate research on "Collaborative Cross Border Public Procurement" intended to create an environment that encourages innovation, competitiveness and stimulates new businesses in the region.
4. Regulatory authorities should create a platform/website for delegates to follow up on the status of implementation of forum resolutions.
5. Partner states should submit reports on the implementation of previous outstanding forum resolutions by end of June 2018, to be tabled in the next forum.
6. Partner states should support e-Government Procurement in their respective countries through the provision and prioritization of funding to these projects. The system should also be able to integrate with other existing e-government programs.
7. Regulatory authorities should develop mechanisms or initiatives that increase transparency and fight against corruption in Public Procurement.
8. Partner states without a legal framework on procurement professionalism should expedite the process.
9. Partner states should promote capacity building of local SMEs and special groups to participate in Public Procurement.
10. The draft terms of reference for the establishment of Sub-Committees on Procurement Affairs at the EAC Secretariat be finalized and approved by the CEOs of the Public Procurement regulatory bodies.
11. Next host of the EAPF is Kenya.