22 June 2009
Paulo Mwazyunga owns a small consulting firm in Dar es Salaam that has been offering business management expertise to both the private and public sectors for almost two decades.
Recently, he spotted an interesting opportunity in the form of a “request for proposals” from the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority. The Authority was looking to develop a new human resources strategy and Paulo felt that his firm was well-placed to take on this challenge. After committing a significant amount of time and resources to the proposal, Paulo was thrilled to discover that the combined score for the technical and financial elements of his submission was higher than any other bidder’s. However, when the final decision on the contract was made, his firm was not successful.
A just result
Shocked and disappointed, Paulo decided to launch a complaint, which is what took him to the DFID-supported Public Procurement Appeals Authority (PPAA), a government body that helps to settle disputes arising from the public procurement process. After reviewing Paulo’s case, the PPAA agreed that he had reasonable grounds for an appeal and offered to represent him throughout the appeal process.
Eventually, Paulo won his claim and was awarded compensation for legal and filing fees. “The PPAA did their best to make sure justice was served,“ says Paulo. “They were there for me.” He did not experience any repercussions from his appeal, he adds, and has noticed lately that similar requests for proposals are being advertised in a much more transparent way.
It is thanks to the work of the PPAA that this is happening. Businesses have become more aware of their right to appeal and are more confident that the appeals process will deliver a just result. Together with other anti-corruption efforts currently being undertaken by the Tanzanian government with DFID support, the PPAA is helping to create an environment in which Tanzanian businesses, large and small, can flourish.
Facts and stats
- DFID is supporting the PPAA and other key government agencies in the fight against corruption through the Tackling Corruption Project (TCP).
- DFID is providing £6.3 million for five years (2008-12) to strengthen Tanzanian government institutions involved in investigating and prosecuting grand corruption.
- Recent corruption-sensitisation workshops held by the PPAA attracted 150 companies that supply goods and services to government tender boards. The workshops resulted in an increase in new appeals by 137% from 2007 (70% of which were upheld).
- In 2008, Tanzania’s Director of Public Prosecutions handled 153 case files - an 85% increase in cases from 2007. This was made possible through the hiring of an additional 154 state attorneys to cover the increased workload. Further resource improvements coupled with institutional capacity-building and increased public awareness will see more cases of corruption prosecuted successfully.