Master in Public Procurement Management for Sustainable Development

The International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITC- ILO) in partnership with the University of Turin (Faculties of Law and Economics) & UNCITRAL (UN Commission on International Trade Law) offers this Master in Public Procurement Management for Sustainable Development that explores the legislative, regulatory, organizational and managerial foundations of a modern Public Procurement System. The programme is designed as a blended learning opportunity that combines policy/theory prescriptions with applied assignments and research work. It provides participants with direct access to expertise from academia, international organizations, think tanks and the private sector. It prepares them for a range of executive and managerial functions connected with public procurement management and its supervision.

Over the past decades sound public procurement management has become a key milestone of good governance and national progress. Its significance for social and economic development is reflected in the fact that it constitutes a sizeable proportion of the national economy (15 to 30 per cent of national GDP). It is a valuable instrument for the promotion of environmental protection and “pro-social equity” policies and has, historically, been used by governments to encourage more equitable economic growth. More recently, with the onset of “climate change”, relentless advance of globalization and the increased role of the private sector in governance, public procurement has emerged as an important market-based incentive for promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Through public procurement, governments can “raise the bar” for the respect of labour and environmental standards by all market operators, thereby improving the “quality of jobs” and facilitating the achievement of national sustainable development goals. Hence the term “sustainable procurement”

Public procurement has evolved from a simple routine clerical function conducted within an isolated department of a ministry into a key function of the government’s “corporate management”. Today’s procurement professionals have to deal with increasingly dynamic markets, rapidly evolving technologies and ever-more complex legal and contractual frameworks. In addition to compliance with prescribed regulatory obligations, procurement practitioners also have to demonstrate their governments’ adherence to international agreements in human rights, labour and the environment as well as mitigation of corruption. Reconciling the tension between the aforementioned sustainability objectives and the framework of international trade agreements, while respecting the primary obligations of “best value for money”, transparency and accountability, requires an array of new competencies in procurement.

This program carefully interweaves all these knowledge areas and corresponding application competencies throughout the procurement process for goods, works and services.

Who attends this Master?

Public procurement practitioners, managers, and officials of ministries, local government bodies, and public expenditure supervisory bodies; procurement and financial auditors from the public and private sectors; project managers and procurement personnel from investment and technical cooperation projects financed by development agencies (IFIs, the United Nations, the EU, NGOs); recent university graduates who intend to work in the field of public procurement or public expenditure management; procurement trainers and professionals involved in the development and implementation of national procurement training programs and certification schemes; procurement practitioners from the private sector; procurement consultants and procurement advisors

Even with social distancing and other restrictions related to the coronavirus, last year the Sustainable Development Programme was able to complete the second phase of the 14th edition of the Master in Public Procurement Management for Sustainable Development.

The 16th edition is still ongoing.

Why should I enroll?

Students learn by studying, collaborating, and observing practitioners in action.

• This Master draws from the ITCILO’s training portfolio, the ILO’s research, and the Università di Torino’s academic expertise.

• Dedicated tutors are available to answer questions and provide support throughout the learning journey.

• Teaching methodologies include lectures, workshops, and case studies, as well as an online platform for readings, videos, and exercises.

The Master is a flagship of the Turin School of Development (ITCILO) delivered as a first-level Masters by the Faculties of Law and Management of the University of Turin. It prepares students to apply their knowledge in a range of executive and managerial functions connected with public procurement management and its supervision. It provides students with direct access to expertise from academia, international organizations, think-tanks and the private sector to respond to current and future challenges. It explores the legislative, regulatory, organizational and managerial foundations of a modern public procurement system.

The overall objective of this Master’s program is to help bridge the current deficit in qualified human resources and to enable procurement professionals to cope with the challenges of regulating, executing, and monitoring public procurement in an economic and socially responsive manner while mitigating adverse environmental impact.

At the end of the program, participants will have acquired a wide spectrum of knowledge and skills covering:

• internationally accepted principles of governing sound public procurement systems;
• legislative and regulatory frameworks, as well as corresponding institutional models for the successful discharge of the functions of a modern procurement system;
• economic theory, assessment tools, and financial analysis techniques, as well as accounting standards relevant to public procurement operations;
• strategies and instruments for embedding social, environmental, and human rights at the relevant steps of the procurement process/supply chain;
• promotion of corporate social responsibility through public procurement;
• execution of the procurement process for goods works, and services (including innovative contracting modalities like public-private partnerships and e-procurement);
• risk management in procurement operations;
• procurement audit;
• control and reporting techniques for procurement operations;
• design of systems for the prevention and detection of fraud and corruption in public procurement;
• general interpersonal skills (negotiation techniques, team building, and report writing).

Part I – Distance learning

The Distance learning period is designed to impart to the participants the necessary grounding in the key learning disciplines of the Master namely:

• Introduction to the legal framework for public procurement
• Introduction to Procurement Management
• Introduction to the economics of public procurement

Part II – Face-to-face

The second part consists of face-to-face learning: lessons will be held in Turin at the ITCILO campus from 8 April to 21 June 2024. Attendance of classes is compulsory. This is the core period of instruction, incorporating application work and group/individual solutions to assignments.

During this part, participants will study 23 compulsory “core themes” covering the expanded contents of the Three Learning disciplines of the Master as follows:

• International Legal instruments governing PP (WTO, EU, UNCITRAL, WB, COMESA)
• Institutional models for PP and integration with Public Expenditure Management
• Economics of Procurement Management, game theory, and reverse auctions
• Companies Balance Sheet analysis and financial reporting standards
• The design of centralized public procurement strategies*
• Procurement Process: Project cycle and risk management
• Procurement methods
• Intellectual Property issues related to Public Procurement
• Public Procurement in the Health Sector
• Procurement Management of Supply Contracts
• Procurement of Physical Services
• Works Procurement Management
• Procurement of Consultancy services
• Procurement in the Utilities sector and Defense Procurement
• Procurement remedies (bidders’ complaints procedures)
• Contract Law and Dispute Settlement
• Supply Chain Management: Logistics, Insurance Policies, and Incoterms
• Legal framework and Economics of Public-Private Partnerships
• Sustainable procurement: social, economic and environmental considerations in public procurement
• Advanced Contract Management
• Fraud and Corruption in Public Procurement
• Procurement Audit
• E-procurement (Legal issues and implementation models)

Part III – Final dissertation

The third part is the preparation and submission of a final dissertation. Participants are required to carry out individual research and submit the final dissertation on a selected procurement topic, under the guidance of their supervisor. The outline of the final dissertation is to be presented in Turin by June 2025 and is to be completed before 13 October 2025.

What will I be able to do?

This intensive, year-long Master combines online and residential work for students at different stages of their careers.

• Control and report techniques for procurement operations
• Manage risk in procurement operations
• Design systems for the prevention and detection of fraud and corruption in public procurement

Why Study at the TSD?

The Turin School of Development (TSD) is a leading international institution in the field of development cooperation, it offers a unique learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical experience.

Why choose the TSD?

There are many reasons to choose the TSD for your graduate studies. Here are just a few:

• Academic excellence: The TSD is a leading international institution with a reputation for academic excellence.
• Practical experience: The TSD offers a unique learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical experience.
• Expert faculty: Our faculty are renowned experts in their fields, with extensive experience in research, teaching, and policy-making.
• Global network: The TSD has a strong alumni network that spans the globe.
• The Campus: The TSD campus is located in a beautiful and safe area of Turin. The campus is home to a variety of amenities, including tennis courts, volleyball courts, a soccer field, and a gym. The campus is also close to a variety of restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions.

The TSD is a great place to study if you are looking for a challenging and rewarding academic experience. The TSD offers a unique learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical experience. The TSD also has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and welcomes students from all backgrounds.