New CAF Course on Digital Data and Innovation in Public Procurement

CAF—development bank of Latin America—offers a new online course on the role of data and digital innovations in integrity of public procurement. This six-week MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is scheduled to start on March 17. Registrations are open.

This online training has been designed to show how to use some digital innovations and foster data usage to minimize opportunities for corruption in public procurement processes, regardless of the legal or institutional regime that regulates them. Participants will also have an opportunity to propose initiatives to optimize the incorporation of technological innovations for smart procurement. 

This MOOC is mainly aimed at public officials interested in the subject, with special emphasis on those working in agencies responsible for public works and infrastructure, as well as in the anti-corruption and government procurement departments. During the six-week, 36-hour training, participants will be able to explore, at their own pace, literature and specific cases of use of digital technologies and disruptive techniques to apply data sciences to the assessment of certain corruption risks. 

The course is divided into four modules that address examples and case studies in order of complexity. In the first, the public procurement data is analyzed, and the second defines the tools for data analysis. The third module includes a data analysis to contribute to the integrity of public procurement, and lastly, a segment on advanced data science techniques to fight corruption.

“The course illustrates concrete mechanisms to reduce corruption risks, but also improve the quality and efficiency of government procurement by leveraging data intelligence and new technologies,” said Carlos Santiso, Director of Digital Innovation at CAF. “This initiative sends confidence signals to markets, which in turn fosters greater plurality, competition and efficiency in managing government resources to supply public goods. We seek to build capacities among officials in charge of public procurement processes.” added Santiso

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