Conflict, Legitimacy and Government Reform: Equitable Allocation of ...

Panel Discussion
Philippine Procurement Watch Inc.: Philippines Procurement
Watch Inc. aligns and galvanizes the efforts of multiple stakeholders to
monitor the procurement of local government units. By working
together, government, media and civil society players are able to
accomplish more than they could accomplish working independently.
“Procurement reform requires technical competence found in a
combination of people in and out of government. It is vital that they can
complement each other’s unique contributions. People in government
should know when the expertise required is beyond them. People out of
government should appreciate the fact that there are many well-meaning
people in government. A network of like-minded individuals is priceless.
The partnering process therefore is essentially a helping relationship as
opposed to an adversarial relationship. Reformers have to continuously
build bridges instead of emphasizing differences that separate.” 16
CIVICUS: CIVICUS is an international alliance of members and
partners which constitute an influential network of organisations at the
local, national, regional and international levels, and span the spectrum
of civil society including: civil society networks and organisations; trade
unions; faith-based networks; professional associations; NGO capacity
development organisations; philanthropic foundations and other funding
bodies; businesses; and social responsibility programmes. Through its
newsletters, World Assemblies and special projects CIVICUS has been a
powerful force through which to increase understanding and visibility of
the civil society sector and the legal principles necessary for the sector’s
empowerment and to enhance the sector’s resource base.
Affiliated Network of Social Accountability (ANSA): The ANSA
model creates and supports regional networks of practitioners, both
governmental and nongovernmental, in the field of social accountability.
While the networks are relatively new 17 they promise to be an important
16 Maria Kristina Villanueva Pimentel, Procurement Watch, inc.: The Role of Civil
Society in Public Procurement Reforms in the Philippines, taken from http://
www.ippa.ws/IPPC1/BOOK/Chapter_3.pdf
17 With support from the World Bank Institute, ANSA Africa was created in 2007,
ANSA East Asia Pacific was created in 2008 and ANSA South Asia is in its start-up
phase.
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