Budget Advocacy Network Launches Reports Showcasing Gaps of Women Securing Contracts Through NPPA

In a meeting held at the New Brookfields Hotel on Tuesday, Budget Advocacy Network launched three reports showcasing gaps and challenges of women securing contracts through the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA).

Abubakarr Kamara, the National Coordinator of BAN, highlighted the significant impact of procurement on the national budget, accounting for over 45% of expenditures.

He emphasized the government’s commitment to empowering women, children, and persons with disabilities as outlined in the Medium-Term National Development Plan, particularly under Cluster 5, to enhance women’s empowerment across political, social, economic, and cultural spheres.

Kamara underscored the importance of achieving gender equality, a key Sustainable Development Goal, which aims to provide women with equal access to economic resources and opportunities.

The reports presented at the ceremony focused on analyzing the legal framework of public procurement from a gender perspective, with the overarching objective of identifying gaps and challenges hindering gender-responsive procurement practices in the country.

Furthermore, the reports put forth evidence-based recommendations to guide legislative and policy reforms aligned with sub-regional, regional, and global procurement standards in promoting gender-responsive procurement.

Kamara elaborated on the selection criteria for procurement activities conducted by MDAs between 2021 and 2023, specifically focusing on the inclusion of women-led businesses in these processes to assess their participation and impact.

The studies conducted also identified barriers impeding women’s involvement in public procurement and aimed to deepen the understanding of the characteristics and practices of women-led businesses that either facilitate or hinder their engagement in procurement activities.

This research serves as a foundation for fostering a more inclusive and equitable procurement environment that supports the empowerment of women in Sierra Leone.

During a panel discussion, Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority, Fodie Kanneh, emphasized the timeliness of the reports and announced plans to review the NPPA Act in 2025.

Kanneh assured stakeholders that the recommendations from the reports would be carefully considered and incorporated into the review process.