PPCC Reinforces Local Leaders Capacity in Public Financial Management
Nearly ninety(90) local leaders from the fifteen political subdivisions of Liberia were beneficiaries of the public financial management capacity building workshop recently conducted by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission(PPCC) in three regions across Liberia namely Southeastern, Central, and Western Regions.
The Southeastern Region which had Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County as its center, brought together participants representing Maryland, Grand Kru, Sinoe, Rivergee, and Grand Gedeh Counties. The workshop for this region ran from August 26-28, 2010, and was conducted in the Grand Gedeh County administration building.
Similarly, representatives from five other counties grouped under Central Region including Lofa, Bong, Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Rivercess Counties, met in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County from August 30-Sept. 1, 2010, while participants from Margibi, Montserrado, Bomi, Cape Mount, and Gbarpolo Counties, grouped under Western Region, met in Kakata, Margibi County from September 2-4, 2010.
The participants, who included assistant superintendents for development, chairman and members of the project management committee, county procurement officers, and county budget/finance officers, were very enthusiastic about the opportunity afforded them by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), and its partners to reinforce their capacity in public financial management. They recounted their bitter experiences with the implementation of development projects in their respective counties, citing among other problems, lack of proper coordination and knowledge about various laws and guidelines governing the usage of county development funds. They however recommended that PPCC undertake more capacity building programs and increase its monitoring and regulatory role by establishing sub offices in the fifteen political sub-divisions of Liberia. They also called for the inclusion of county superintendents and members of parliament in subsequent training workshops so as to acquaint them with their respective roles.
Lectures were delivered in key areas including contract management, procurement planning, budget preparation, methods of procurement, public financial management, budget guidelines, among others.
The workshop was conducted by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), in collaboration with United Nations Development Program, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Department of Budget to reinforce local leadersí capacity in public financial management and to strengthen their ability to determine quality in the procurement of goods, works, consultant services, and contract awards.
