International Handbook Of Public Procurement (Book Review)

Abstract

Public procurement is an important sub-sector in the economy with a substantial contribution towards national development at macro and micro level. As a result, the sub-sector has experienced rigorous reforms worldwide to accommodate better practices and harmonise the legal framework to deliver the best outputs. However, apart from the aforementioned, there has been an absence of specific literature to guide practitioners and researchers on practical public procurement undertakings and the perspectives arising. The legislation and guidelines are neither self-sufficing nor a panacea to all challenges and flaws arising in public procurement. Hence, having literatures profiling public procurement practices is paramount and this book came timely to document discussions on public procurement with experiences from different countries and international institutions. A number of scholarly articles have been incorporated with different themes and/or orientations including public procurement systems, electronic procurement as well as public procurement methods and practices. Despite the observed contributions, still some debates are missing in the book which (if included) could have added more rigorous discussions and perspectives. Also, discussion paper(s) on the diffusion of electronic procurement in the developing countries particularly in Africa would have been contributory since there are a number of challenges inhibiting the proposed system reforms in public procurement. Likewise, public procurement is not immune to conventional risks, hence, inclusion of paper(s) with a meticulous discussion on the respective risks and their mitigation strategies is still wanting. Even so, the book is very useful and instrumental towards guiding researchers, trainers, consultants and practitioners with interest in public procurement initiatives and undertakings.