AN organization meant to monitor and ensure value for money in public service delivery was officially launched in Dar es Salaam.

Going by the name - Tanzania Contract Monitoring Coalition (TCMC), the group is expected to put in place a procurement system that delivers value for money, and enhance transparency in public procurement contracts. Launching the alliance, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Chief Executive Officer Dr Ramadhan Mlinga said efficiency and transparency in public procurement was vital as the country struggles to achieve development targets.

He noted that almost 100 per cent of government development budget is spent in procurement of different services for developmental projects, including schools, health centres and roads. Dr Mlinga noted that statistics show that in the past two financial years, 4.5trn/- was spent on contractual procurements, and in 2011 the amount was 37.53trn/-.

"Public Institutions should ensure procurement of facilities and other services are of standard equal to the amount of money spent, according to the public procurement Act of 2004 regulations," he explained. He noted that the coalition's objectives are similar to those of the PPRA, which should ensure that value for tax payer's money spent by public institutions.

Dr Mlinga noted that there are still challenges facing Public Procurement including dishonesty and corruption, lack of tendering reports, poor management of contracts and lack of adherence to procurement laws.

"PPRA has for sometime sought ways to involve the public who are the targeted people for services from public institutions, and I am happy that this Coalition will help address this," he explained.

The TCMC Chairman Mr Julius Kabyemera said a baseline study will be undertaken in the near future that will propose the approach to monitoring and finalizing the structure of the coalition. He noted that the coalition will enhance transparency through creation of tools and processes that will enable stakeholders monitor public procurement contracts to ensure value for money.

"The Coalition will engage with public sector procuring entities to enhance the effectiveness of controls in procurement contracts in delivering value for money at all levels; national, regional, district, division, ward and village," he explained.

Among the 22 CSOs forming TCMC include Institute of Engineers Tanzania, Tanzania Civil Engineering Contractors Associations, Tanzania Roads Association, Construction Sector Transparency, Contractors Association of Tanzania, Tanzania Mining and Construction Workers Union, PPRA, Business Action Against Corruption, Daima Associates Ltd and Medical Women Association of Tanzania.

TCMC is an umbrella organization of multi-stakeholder groups, alliances of civil society organization engaged in advocacy for better livelihoods, the TCMC.