Public infrastructure data access still poor
By Wezzie Gausi:
A report on the Public Procurement Data Analysis on the Information Platform for Public Infrastructure (IPPI) has shown that although strides have been made in complying with publishing infrastructure data on the IPPI portal to make information available to the public, the level of compliance is low.
On July 12 2022, there was a presidential directive requiring all public agencies to publish information on infrastructure projects on the IPPI portal with the aim of empowering the public with information on public infrastructure projects.
But according to a 2022 report published by the Malawi Human Rights Commission, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Partnership for Transparency and Construction Sector Transparency Initiatives (Cost), only 140 projects from 31 agencies were uploaded on the IPPI portal.
The report also indicates that, out of these 140 projects, only 74 (53 percent) were analysed in detail from 12 agencies selected at random.
“Most institutions scored below 50 percent for publishing data sets. Only Mzuzu City, Zomba City and Lilongwe District councils published data sets scoring a maximum of 62 percent, 57 percent and 54 percent, respectively.
“The study identified 89 data points in the IPPI for ongoing projects and 96 for completed projects under 14 headings,” the report reads.
Meanwhile, CHRR Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa has said there is a need to ensure that President Lazarus Chakwera’s directive is complied with fully.
The Information Platform for Public Infrastructure (IPPI) was developed by Cost Malawi in 2018 with the aim of supporting implementation of Formal Disclosure Requirement which is a requirement in the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, passed by Parliament and assented to by the President in 2017.
The National Construction Industry Council hosts the IPPI on behalf of Cost Malawi; allowing infrastructure procurement agencies to disclose project data and information in accordance with the Public Procurement Regulations of 2020.
