Vince McCabe, UNOPS Director of Procurement; David Noble, Chief Executive of CIPS and Jan Mattsson, Executive Director of UNOPS.

The partnership aims to develop the procurement and supply chain management capacity of national governments.

Government spending accounts for more than 25 percent of GDP in least developed and developing countries and the efficient use of public funds is crucial to a country’s ability to deliver goods and services to people in need.

Developing the capacity of national governments to better manage the procurement process and raise standards in supply chain management saves money and ensures the quality and timeliness of goods and services procured. It is also a precondition for the transparent and accountable use of public funds.

In order to enhance its contribution to these goals UNOPS is working with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) to support national capacity development in these fields. This will be done by jointly providing consulting services, procurement training, project management and CIPS organisational certification.

CIPS is an international not for profit membership organization, with 60,000 members in 150 countries. CIPS exists to promote and develop high standards of professional skills, ability and integrity among all those engaged in purchasing and supply chain management.

At the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations, David Noble, Chief Executive of CIPS, said: “Working with UNOPS we have an exciting opportunity to increase the professionalism of procurement and supply chain management in least developed and developing countries and deliver real benefits in terms of efficiency and accountability.”

Jan Mattsson, Executive Director of UNOPS, said: “If countries are to achieve the poverty reduction targets set out in the Millennium Development Goals it is crucial that least developed and developing countries enhance the skills they need to efficiently procure and deliver goods and services.

“Developing national capacity in these areas through training and certification, as well as by the introduction of internationally recognised standards, is a sustainable way to promote development and ensure that national governments own the process.”