Tanzania’s push to modernise public procurement and strengthen local participation has taken a significant step forward after more than 2,000 suppliers were trained on the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST).
The training, conducted by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) in collaboration with the Public Procurement Appeals Authority (PPAA), was held in four regions Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza and Mbeya targeting suppliers involved in government tenders as public procurement shifts fully to digital platforms.
The sessions focused on practical use of the NeST system, with participants taken through the Public Procurement Act and its regulations, suppliers’ obligations in public procurement, and the electronic sale of goods and services.
Other areas covered included online negotiations, submission of performance guarantees, processing of contract payments, and the electronic handling of complaints and appeals.
Opening the training in Dar es Salaam, PPRA Director General Denis Simba said the programme was aimed at addressing long-standing challenges faced by suppliers in accessing public tenders and ensuring they are well equipped to operate within the digital procurement environment.
He said the Public Procurement Act of 2023 provides special preference to local contractors, noting that all projects valued at up to TZS50 billion must be implemented by Tanzanian-owned firms, a move intended to boost domestic capacity and retain economic value within the country.
Mr Simba said the NeST system has significantly improved transparency and efficiency in public procurement, while helping the government obtain better value for money by curbing irregular practices that previously undermined the process.
He urged suppliers to uphold integrity and strictly comply with procurement laws and regulations, noting that the system has created a more predictable and business-friendly environment.
The PPRA chief also said NeST has been integrated with other government systems, including those used for business registration and verification, a development expected to simplify compliance requirements and address challenges such as delays in payments to suppliers.
PPAA Manager for Appeals Management and Legal Services Florida Mapunda said the training also sought to strengthen suppliers’ understanding of the electronic complaints and appeals module embedded in the NeST system.
She said the law now requires all public procurement to be conducted electronically through NeST, prompting PPAA and PPRA to establish a digital mechanism for submitting and managing complaints and appeals.
According to Ms Mapunda, the module has simplified the submission of complaints arising from procurement processes while improving record-keeping and traceability, thereby enhancing accountability and fairness in public procurement.
The one-day training sessions were held on January 10, 2026, with more than 500 suppliers trained in each of the four regions.
Authorities said the initiative is part of ongoing reforms aimed at deepening digitalisation in public procurement and ensuring local suppliers are well positioned to benefit from government spending.