Centre Launches $7,500 Grant For Grassroots Procurement Monitors

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has unveiled a $7,500 Small Grant Fund to support 36 grassroots organisations in Nigeria in tracking procurement processes within their states.

PPDC chief executive officer, Lucy Abagi, announced the initiative at a press conference in Abuja on Monday. This followed her recent recognition as the Procurement Transparency Advocate of the Year at the 7th African Procurement and Supply Chain Summit in Lagos.

“This fund is our way of empowering local voices to lead transparency efforts in their communities.

“It marks the beginning of a Pan-African campaign to build a continent-wide network of procurement accountability champions,” Abagi said.

According to her, each participating organisation will receive approximately $200 in mini-grants to support their local procurement monitoring activities.

She said applications for the grant will open on 31st July, 2025, via the upgraded Budeshi portal, developed in partnership with Devon Technologies.

Abagi urged local civil society organisations to take advantage of the opportunity to register and strengthen their impact.

She added: “We are empowering local NGOs to track 2023–2024 federal procurement projects in their communities.

“The best organisations will be recognised with the Best Procurement Monitor Award based on performance and impact.”

Reflecting on her award, Abagi said, “This honour is not just about me. It belongs to our team at PPDC, our partners, and every citizen who has demanded accountability from the government.”

She reaffirmed PPDC’s commitment to ensuring public resources serve the people. She noted their work through policy advocacy, community engagement, and technology, particularly through Budeshi- Nigeria’s first Open Contracting Data Standard platform.

In his remarks, PPDC Board chairman Chibuzor Ekwekwuo praised the organisation’s long standing role in advancing procurement reforms.

“PPDC played a pivotal role in the passage of Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act.

“From federal policy to grassroots monitoring, PPDC has driven transparency across multiple levels,” he said

He noted the centre’s contributions in establishing Africa’s first procurement observatory, securing a World Bank award, and supporting similar efforts in Uganda and Malawi.

Despite its achievements, Ekwekwuo said PPDC remains committed to “aspirational goals” and emphasised the importance of partnering with the media to ensure accountability.

Devon Technologies representative, Ireoduwa Omojola, said the portal simplifies project registration and monitoring for civil society groups, government agencies, and the public.

She explained, “The new Budeshi interface is mobile-friendly and allows users to apply, upload documents, and track their applications.

“It also enables citizens and CSOs to comment, upload photos, and provide feedback on projects in real-time.”

Omojola added that the platform’s dynamic dashboard visualises procurement data across states, offering a clear picture of awards and project stages.

“Through this, we aim to activate citizens’ power and scale transparency into a Pan-African movement,” she said.