More heads are better than one: The perks of community-led procurement process

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One of the approaches employed by Pope Francis Village is the integration of communities in the entire aspect of procurement management. A structure called “Community Support Group” (CSG) has been set-up primarily to ensure that communities are represented and consulted in all activities relative to the relocation project. Under the CSG are different teams composed of selected community members  responsible for communication and logistics, purchasing of construction materials, monitoring of delivered and requested materials and tools,  payment of suppliers and laborers, maintaining health and safety measures at the project site and over-all housing management. Through the facilitation and support of technical, social and secretariat teams, the CSG holds meeting every Saturday for regular updating on tasks, milestones achieved, challenges and problems arising from the project implementation and how the various teams managed to resolve these.

Updating and feedbacking sessions are usually done during
 the weekly meeting of the Community Support Group.
Most of the interviewed CSG members attested that they have gained additional skills set from their direct involvement in procurement management.  Since they have been more hands-on in canvassing and purchasing of construction materials, they have learned to effectively deal with various suppliers. They are also capable of identifying materials of different specifications and are not easily tricked by suppliers when it comes to quality and quantity of materials delivered to the project site.

Architect Honeyleth Ladiero-Balunso assisting the
Supply Team in the inventory of purchased materials.
Materials stocked at the warehouse are properly accounted
by the Supply team members.
Majority of the members were also full-time housewives before they joined the CSG, with high school commonly as the highest educational attainment.  Through their training and constant exposure to the project, some have emerged as experts in carpentry works, steelworks, masonry and even in financial management.
A CSG member assisting a skilled steelman in fabrication
of reinforcement steel bars for foundation work.
Collective actions also guarantees transparency and greater project accountability. This is especially true when making transactions with suppliers or contracting a particular service. When more warm bodies are involved in the procurement process, check and balance is ensured as this would mean more suppliers offering much lower quotes for materials are reached-out. Also, the tasks of documenting and reporting financial transactions are not only done by one person, hence averting any fraudulent act. More importantly, the CSG members serve as conduits of information and grievance concerns of laborers, which is necessary to ensure that these are not left unaddressed  and that harmonious working relationship is established at the community.

Purchase and finance team representatives
delivering check payment to chosen suppliers.

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