 The number of projects with CDD components is increasing and the question 'how to address procurement' is more pertinent. What is evident is that community projects require a more flexible approach. This need derives from the fact that the environment in CDD projects is different and greater flexibility is needed in order to get the job done. Yet, this flexibility requirement presents a new challenge to the traditional procurement practices. CDD procurement should be handled as something new and innovative. Also, community based procurement should be decentralized, but the borrowers have to be yet convinced about this.
Characteristics of a successful CDD project are:
1. Maximum community ownership and sustainability;
2. Completion of the scope of work as planned;
3. Actual cost within budget as estimated;
4. Timely delivery and completion;
5. Compliance with agreed quality standards;
6. Maintenance plan in place;
7. No misappropriation or misuse of funds; and
8. Positive impact assessment.
In order to have successful community projects with sensible procurement arrangements, it is essential to complete proper capacity assessment. It needs to be determined in the capacity assessment what aspects of a project the communities can handle themselves and what aspects should be handled by NGOs or other agencies. Understanding needs to be developed of who are the players in the communities, what are their roles, what are their capacities. Most importantly, capacity action plans should be developed so as to not focuse only on procurement and contract management but also cover inseparable matters like sub-project preparation, organization and coordination, banking, project budget and accounts, record keeping, etc. The project team should involve more Bank country office personnel with local knowledge and language skills to assist in this process.
It is also important to develop well-written operation manuals (OM) where ground rules are set forth. The OMs should be written in a clear and simple language for purposes of implementation by communities that need to understand the exact process. That is, the OMs need to lay out how the procurement process will work in practice.
Procurement can not work in isolation and is directly related to other issues. Because of this, all the task team members must be communicating with each other and the most suitable ways for procurement need to be carefully coordinated by all parties involved.
There is a need for specific CDD procurement training that is tailored for community needs.
 Â Presentation on Procurement under CDD projects (81k ppt)
 Notes from the BBL (10k pdf)
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