With recent leadership changes at the U.K. Department for International Development, the future of U.K. aid is under increasing scrutiny. The department is under more pressure than ever to show it is providing taxpayers with value for money. Part of that has involved a transformation of its procurement and commercial practices over the past few years.
The reforms promised to boost competition for DFID contracts, to bring more value for money, and to enhance their supply base through increased transparency, accountability, and competition. However, some contractors have complained that the added burden is squeezing profits and pushing smaller firms out of the market.
As part of the changes, more attention is also being paid to communication around DFID’s pipeline of funding opportunities and the announcement of Early Market Engagement schemes for DFID programs. These are released twice a year, at the end of Q2 and Q4, via the DFID supplier portal, which can be also found on Devex’s funding platform.