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18 January 2013 | Anna Reynolds
Suppliers to the Department for International Development (DFID) will be expected to sign up to a code of conduct before securing contracts, following a review into spending.
DFID has published a ‘statement of priorities’ which suppliers will be expected to commit to in writing, setting out how they will deliver on five key areas. These commitments include:
● Improving value for money throughout the life of the contract and driving efficiency across the supply chain.
● Acting with professionalism, being honest about capability when bidding and applying a zero tolerance policy to fraud.
● Delivering transparency over costs.
● Taking responsibility when things go wrong; and
● Aligning themselves with DFID’s priorities, which include looking for ways to develop local markets, reflecting DFID’s international development goals and commitment to poverty reduction.
Secretary of state for international development Justine Greening said in a statement: “Suppliers need to show they are delivering the very best value for taxpayers' money in delivery of the development budget. This statement of priorities and expectations challenges suppliers to demonstrate that they are continually striving to improve the value for money they offer to DFID.”
Greening commissioned a probe into DFID’s spending on independent aid experts in September 2012 after media reports millions of pounds was paid out during 2011/12 to firms that worked on third world programmes.
