ROME, 22 March, 2011 –The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support COMESA Member States promote procurement policy reform.

It is a fundamental responsibility of every sovereign country to spend funds collected through taxation for the benefit of its citizens. In so doing, laws and systems must be in place to obtain the most suitable goods and services at the fairest cost, operate in a transparent manner, provide open and fair competition to vendors, and avoid or eliminate corruption and the appearance of corruption.

IDLO’s extensive experience in procurement training and technical assistance has helped governments and institutions worldwide advance the integrity of corporate governance, ethics and compliance in the public sector, to implement anti-corruption mechanisms and to improve the overall regulatory systems.

Commenting on the signature, Mr. Jeffrey S. Waldron, Acting Director-General of IDLO noted: “The strengthened cooperation between our Organizations will drive the effort to improve legal infrastructures of developing countries. Our shared action plan will set in motion the development of regulatory and legal frameworks, and the provision of training and technical assistance will enhance procurement systems, including legislation and capacity building”.

Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya, COMESA Secretary-General, added: “Sustainable economic and social progress in our Member States needs increased cooperation and integration in all fields of development, from trade, customs and monetary affairs, to transport, technology and energy. We believe that the partnership with IDLO will prove fundamental in the effort to achieve our common goal of developing well-governed public and private sector institutions.”