Transparency and the fight against corruption in public procurement: issues, progress and prospects

The issue of transparency in public procurement is of crucial importance in ensuring efficient and fair purchasing processes. Because of the large sums of money involved, public procurement is particularly vulnerable to corrupt practices. This article analyses the current issues, the measures adopted to promote transparency, and future prospects in the fight against corruption.

The importance of transparency in public procurement

Public procurement accounts for a significant proportion of public spending, representing between 10% and 15% of GDP in many countries. However, this scale attracts risks of unethical practices, with significant economic and social consequences, such as misallocation of resources and loss of public confidence in public institutions.

Transparency and integrity have thus become essential requirements for guaranteeing a reliable public procurement system that is attractive to businesses. Transparency reduces the opacity of processes and discourages attempts at fraud or favouritism, by increasing the visibility of calls for tender, selection criteria and award decisions.

Strategies and tools to promote transparency

To increase transparency, several countries and organisations have introduced tools and regulations to improve the management of public contracts:​

• Transparency portals: Many governments have developed online platforms that centralise information relating to calls for tender. These portals provide publicly accessible access to tender notices, award decisions and signed contracts. This encourages independent monitoring and prevents abuse.
• The use of blockchain: Blockchain is proving to be a promising way of ensuring greater traceability and transparency. By recording each stage of the allocation process in an immutable way, it reduces the risk of manipulation and guarantees the reliability of information.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is increasingly being used to analyse tender data and detect irregularities. It can identify abnormally low or similar bids, revealing possible collusive arrangements.
• International regulations: International standards and agreements, such as the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, provide frameworks for aligning practices between different countries. The European Union, for example, has introduced directives to harmonise the rules for awarding public contracts, facilitating competition and reducing the possibility of favouritism.

Challenges to overcome

Although significant progress has been made, a number of challenges remain in implementing full transparency:

• Resistance to change: Some public authorities and businesses are still reluctant to adopt technologies such as AI and blockchain, because of the high costs and technical complexity.
• Complexity of regulations: In some cases, anti-corruption regulations are perceived as too complex, discouraging SMEs from entering public procurement markets. Simplification and harmonisation of regulations is therefore necessary to attract a greater number of players.
• Cultural and political issues: Transparency is also a cultural issue. In some contexts, practices of favouritism or collusion are still tolerated, and it may be difficult to eradicate them without a change of mentality within the institutions.

Towards a transparent future: outlook

For the future, transparency in public procurement should be enhanced by complementary initiatives:

• Strengthening training and awareness: Public officials and suppliers should receive regular training to adopt good ethical practices and understand transparency mechanisms.
• Citizen participation: Public consultations and feedback tools could be incorporated to involve citizens more closely in public procurement decisions, thereby strengthening public confidence.
• Continuous technological innovation: Extending the use of advanced technologies will enable real-time monitoring and auditing of transactions, thereby reducing the risk of fraud.

Conclusion

Transparency and the fight against corruption are now at the heart of public procurement reforms. By adopting increased transparency practices and technological tools, governments and companies can not only improve the integrity of processes, but also strengthen public confidence and the efficiency of markets. The combination of strong political will, advanced technologies and public involvement promises to transform the public procurement landscape for the long term, leading to a fairer and more efficient future.