She explained how DFID has continued to push for greater evaluation, transparency and accountability in its contracts, as well as encouraging competition in the marketplace.
The Department for International Development will continue to focus on getting the best value for money from its investments for development.
This was the main message from the Development Secretary, Justine Greening, in her speech at DFID’s third annual supplier conference. She explained how DFID has continued to push for greater evaluation, transparency and accountability in its contracts, as well as encouraging competition in the marketplace so that the very best businesses and NGOs win the tenders.
With budget cuts expected for most government departments, DFID is in a privileged position of having a ring-fenced budget, however it is now under more pressure than ever to prove its value for money.
In her speech, Justine Greening pointed out many of DFID’s successes over the years, including its response to the Ebola crisis.
“We saw with the Ebola outbreak: there are procurement situations where we’re having to – not only work in difficult places – but do it at a break-neck speed”, explained Justine Greening.
“Our humanitarian response to Ebola in Sierra Leone was about the supply chain, it was about logistics, it was about procurement. Overall we did 6 treatment centres, we delivered 3 labs that tested a third of all the supplies collected in Sierra Leone, we trained 4,000 frontline staff, we procured over a million safety suits, 150 vehicles, including ambulances.”
Justine Greening finished by noting there is no room for complacency, and that now is the time for innovative businesses and NGOs to seize the moment and help DFID contribute to global development.
See the Development Secretary’s speech in full on the DFID website.