Tanzania’s NeST wins top public procurement award in Africa
Director-General of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), Mr Dennis Simba proudly holds the award recognizing the National e-Procurement System (NeST) as Africa's Best Public Procurement System. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The accolade was received by the Director-General of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), Mr. Dennis Simba, whose authority manages the system. He stated that the award was a significant honour for Tanzania, noting that public procurement is a critical area of public spending across Africa.
Kampala. National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST) has been recognized as the Best Innovative Public Procurement System Project in Africa, clinching the award at the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) conference held in Kampala, Uganda.
The prestigious award, presented under the auspices of the African Union (AU) on November 28, 2024, highlighted NeST as one of the top five projects out of 69 entries across the continent.
The accolade was received by the Director-General of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), Mr. Dennis Simba, whose authority manages the system. He stated that the award was a significant honour for Tanzania, noting that public procurement is a critical area of public spending across Africa.
“This is a great honor for us, as we competed against 69 participants and made it into the top five,” Mr. Simba said.
Mr Simba attributed the success to Tanzania's leadership, particularly President Samia Suluhu Hassan, for spearheading the Public Procurement Law of 2023, which laid the foundation for NeST.
“Special recognition must go to the President, whose vision and commitment enabled the development of NeST, now acknowledged as the best in Africa,” he said.
Developed entirely by Tanzanian experts, NeST has positioned itself as a benchmark for innovation in public procurement.
Mr Simba expressed PPRA’s readiness to collaborate with other African nations to share the technology and foster transformative changes across the continent.
He also commended the Ministry of Finance and the e-Government Authority (eGA) for their collaboration and supervision in building the system.
“The success of this project reflects teamwork and dedication to ensuring the President’s vision is practically implemented,” he added.
The AAPAM conference also recognized Kenya's healthcare delivery system with the Overall Award, while Uganda received a Special Award for hosting the event, which attracted participants from various African countries.
NeST’s success marks a significant milestone for Tanzania and highlights the country’s leadership in fostering innovation in public procurement systems across Africa.
