Procurement in Africa: Plotting the way forward

African purchasers face many hurdles in the battle for recognition. Here we look at how different countries deal with the task ahead.

"Challenges, challenges, challenges"... is the mantra repeated by many of the CIPS Africa branch chairs when they gather once a year at the Institute for Purchasing and Supply South Africa (IPSA) and CIPS annual conference.

These buyers are the focus of procurement and CIPS activity in their country. They are responsible for promoting the profession; increasing membership and helping fellow practitioners overcome an array of difficulties.

The challenges they face are plentiful and often specific to their own boundaries, but a handful of issues are shared by the whole continent.

Misheck Kaoma, who represents the whole of Africa on CIPS Council, argues one of the biggest problems buyers face is the struggle for recognition.

"Authorities in the public and private sector don't appreciate, and promote, best practices in procurement because they don't trust the professionals handling the buying. They would rather spend the money themselves," he says.

As well as battling a tide of low recognition, buyers across Africa cope with a lack of training facilities and corruption.

Along the way, however, there are a number of success stories, breathing hope and empowerment into the profession.

Above all, the branch chairs are connected by a passion for procurement and express their problems and visions through emotive rhetoric.

During the conference SM had the opportunity to catch up with some of these key figures. What follows is a snapshot of their country specific experiences and plans for the future.

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