The UK and Honduras share their experience in the professionalisation of public procurement
International experts and Honduran officials analysed the latest advances in the professionalisation of public procurement, and shared experiences and international best practices.
Experts from the British consultancy International Governance and Risk Institute (GovRisk) held a high level seminar with the competent authorities in Honduras from 8 to 10 August to identify and prioritise national requirements in the professionalization of public procurement.
The objective of the project is to identify needs and next steps in the design of a national agenda in this area. More than 50 people, including ministers and senior officials, were trained under the programme. This is the second stage of a joint initiative of the British Embassy, GovRisk and the National Office of Contracting and Procurement of the State of Honduras (ONCAE).
The workshop was led by experts from GovRisk, Dr. Jorge Claro, former Head of the Office of Policy and Coordination of Acquisitions of the Inter-American Development Bank, and Oscar Chinea, one of the leading experts in this field in Latin America. The training was developed around the design of specific guidelines aimed at ensuring that public funds are used for the purposes intended, enabling public officials to adapt in a changing environment, and minimising the potential for corruption.
The British Ambassador to Honduras, Carolyn Davidson, said:
I am pleased that the British government is supporting this technical assistance programme to share best international procurement practices. This will complement the Honduran government’s efforts to boost the development of the country and attract investment.
ONCAE Director, Veronica Iveth Bueso Leiva, said:
We are extremely pleased to collaborate with GovRisk and the British Embassy to help address the needs of the country. This programme provided a timely boost to the Accreditation Program for Public Purchasers we have just launched in Honduras and will be of vital importance in our own national development efforts.