TIBi H engagement in improving the public procurement

TIBi. H engagement in improving the public procurement system in Bi. H Elvira Mujkić, Project coordinator TIBi. H www. ti-bih. org www. transparency. org

Our work is. . . 1) oriented towards conducting high quality relevant studies into the state of corruption in Bi. H 2) based on advocacy activities for improvement of the legal framework 3) to initiate and actively participate in the development of laws, regulations, strategies and other important documents.

Improving the public procurement system in Bi. H, through: • Situational analysis and creation of recommendations for improving the legal framework and the implementation of the Public Procurement Law in Bi. H; • Cooperation to strengthen the capacity of institutions in the public procurement system in Bi. H; • Forming coalitions with other stakeholders – NGOs and the business sector – to ensure more effective advocacy for system improvements; • Provision of legal advice to aggrieved bidders by the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre; • Organisation of and participation in trainings for contracting authorities, bidders, NGOs and the media on the relevant laws and public procurement practices.

Analysis and recommendations for improving the legal framework and the implementation of the Law A number of amendments aimed at: • Increasing transparency and oversight by introducing detailed regulations requiring every public institution to publish their procurement plans and reports; • Preventing abuse through introduction of stricter provisions on conflict of interest and restrictions on the conclusion of contracts between related parties; • Strengthening accountability through introduction of stricter sanctions for violations of the Public Procurement Law.

• Conference “Improving the Public Procurement Law” (the Public Procurement Agency, the Procurement Review Body, CSOs ) • Process of coordination of activities with CSOs that are active in this field (Account, Tender, FOD, the Association of Employers, etc. ), with the aim of taking joint action and coordinating activities. • Public awareness raising activities - > 200, 000 citizens, a two-way communication with citizens Links: https: //ti-bih. org/prezentacija-inicijative-za-izmjene-zakona-o-javnim-nabavkama/ https: //ti-bih. org/analiza-novog-zakona-o-javnim-nabavkama-bih-i-pratecih-podzakonskihakata-maj-2015/

• representatives of the ruling parties in the PA Bi. H confirmed that they would consolidate the proposed amendments and initiate the amendment process (June 2015) • the coalition of NGOs presented the amendments at a press conference held at the Parliament (December 2015)

Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre • 2004 • The commitment to engaging directly with citizens through provision of legal advice to victims of corruption • fully justified • more than 10, 000 citizens of Bi. H receiving legal advice to date • In 2015, ALAC provided legal advice to over 700 people and acted in more than 200 cases of irregularities reported by citizens

Cooperation - strengthening the capacity • Together with a coalition of NGOs (Account, Tender, FOD, the Association of Employers, etc. ), TI Bi. H put forward a set of amendments to the Public Procurement Law, aimed at strengthening anticorruption mechanisms and enhancing transparency. • organised a training workshop for journalists in cooperation with the Journalists’ Club Banja Luka (BH Journalists) Partnership with TI Czech Republic: • link public procurement professionals from Bi. H and the Czech Republic • comparative analysis and definition of the anti-corruption standards for public procurement (6 cases and recommendations) • TI Bi. H organised a study visit to the Czech Republic for representatives of legislative and executive authorities of Bi. H

Monitor contracting in public enterprises • identifying potential cases of conflict of interest in public procurement • advocacy efforts for the improvement of the legal provisions relating to conflict of interest • specific examples to show inadequate regulations may lead to lawful misappropriation of millions of marks • FOI requests • Data Base http: //tibih-database. org/

Source of information: Øwww. ti-bih. org Ø https: //ti-bih. org/godisnji-izvjestaj-2015/ Ø https: //ti-bih. org//wpcontent/uploads/2016/01/Transparency. Publikacija_201. pdf Ø https: //ti-bih. org/projekti/anti-koruptivni-standardi-zajavne-nabavke/

THANK YOU www. ti-bih. org www. transparency. org