On September 18, 2023, the USAID-funded Fiscal Accountability and Sustainable Trade (FAST) Project jointly with the Department of Public Procurement under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic officially launched the E-Contract Management Module.
The E-Contract Management Module has been developed and implemented to enhance transparency and accountability in public procurement management. Since 2021, the project trained more than 50 employees of the Department of Public Procurement, trainers of the Training Center under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic and employees of the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic were on the effective use of the module.
The E-Contract Management Module presents the following advantages:
• Improved efficiency of public procurement through automation of tasks and work processes
• Increased transparency: the module provides a centralized repository in which all contract-related information is stored and accessible;
• Improved interaction and communication between contract stakeholders;
• Contract tracking and reminders: the module helps manage the milestones and deadlines.
Deputy Minister of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic Ulugbek Kalenderov, USAID Mission Director in the Kyrgyz Republic Kaya Adams, Director of the Department of Public Procurement Bayaly Dosaliev and FAST Project Team Leader Niaz Shinwari participated in the launching ceremony and gave opening remarks.
“This new E-Contract Management Module enables stakeholders – those who are procuring goods and those who are supplying goods – to understand the procurement process of the government. This module can allow them to monitor contract modifications or any price increases that are happening in the course of the contract. It can monitor any changes to the calendars of the procurement. The things that are being procured through the government are things like textbooks for schools, or the contract to repair a healthcare clinic. These are things that touch people’s lives on a day-to-day basis. We care about it also because the people who are involved in the system want to know that it is honest, transparent, and fair,” noted Kaya Adams, USAID Mission Director in the Kyrgyz Republic.
“The E-Contract Management Module will help improve the processes of entrepreneurship, trade and service provision. It has the potential to become an important mechanism for promoting competitiveness. It will help improve the activities of new business entities and develop fair competition between companies participating in tenders. The module was introduced to ensure transparency of public procurement,” says Ulugbek Kalenderov, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic.
To manage complaints related to public procurement the Department of Public Procurement created an independent committee. Members of the Committee work on a voluntary basis to oversee and respond to complaints. The USAID-funded FAST Project handed over 15 new laptops and bags to members of the Independent Committee during the official launch of the E-Contract Management Module.
USAID-funded Fiscal Accountability and Sustainable Trade (FAST) project, implemented by DevTech Systems, Inc., has supported the government of the Kyrgyz Republic’s reform of public procurement systems and processes where needed in order to improve transparency and reduce corruption. The introduction of the E-Contract Management Module will contribute to ensuring that public procurement processes in the Kyrgyz Republic are more open and transparent.
