USTDA Strengthens Partnership with Botswana on Value-Based Procurement

(USTDA) Provides Procurement Advisors to Botswana's Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources

GABORONE, BOTSWANA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to the Republic of Botswana's Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR) to enhance the Agency's partnership with Botswana under its Global Procurement Initiative (GPI): Understanding Best Value. The grant will fund two senior advisors to help the MMEWR receive the best value for its money in upcoming water and energy procurements.

"There is no question that project and program management play an increasingly important role in organization value chain management, translating into successful organizational performance and growing the economy. This program provides a valuable service to the government of Botswana by increasing the capacity and professionalization of its procurement workforce," said MMEWR Permanent Secretary Boikobo Paya, who signed the grant alongside U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Michael J. Murphy. "The MMEWR looks forward to working with procurement advisors to strengthen the sustainability of future infrastructure procurements."

The U.S. Chargé d'Affaires stated: "The United States has an interest in maintaining Botswana as a strong partner. For Botswana to be strong, we need Botswana to be prosperous. The purpose of this grant is to ensure that Botswana is able to make informed decisions about strategic infrastructure projects that are vital to its future success."

The grant is part of USTDA's ongoing efforts to help Botswana establish best-value procurement practices and policies. In March 2014, USTDA and its GPI partner, the George Washington University Law School's Government Procurement Law Program, provided training for 37 officials from Botswana's Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board and nine government ministries, including the MMEWR. This fall, USTDA will host follow-on procurement training for a group of senior Botswanan procurement officials during an orientation visit to the United States.

These activities will bolster Botswana's capacity to carry out more effective and sustainable procurement investments and to attain greater value for its government. The GPI will also advance the government of Botswana's goal of becoming a center for excellence in public procurement in Southern Africa by 2018.