The National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) has organised an internal training for its staff as part of efforts to strengthen the use of the digitised Price Norm reporting system under the Electronic Government Procurement (E-GP) platform.
According to the Authority, the training focused on building the capacity of staff to capture, validate and publish price norm data using the new digital system, which is expected to improve efficiency and transparency in public procurement across Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the session, members of the E-GP technical team explained that the move from manual reporting to a fully digital process will help reduce errors, speed up work, and make procurement information easier to access. They noted that the reform forms part of wider government efforts to modernise procurement and strengthen accountability in the use of public funds.
Participants were introduced to the E-GP portal, where market price data collected by field officers will be uploaded, reviewed internally, and later published for public reference. The system also allows staff to create price norms by entering item details, categories, specifications, and other required information before approval.
Facilitators further explained that the Item Master database will serve as the central record for all items used in the price norm system. Staff were trained on how to upload data using Excel or CSV files, as well as how to update or edit existing records to maintain accuracy.
The NPPA said the training is part of ongoing preparations for the full rollout of the digital procurement system, which is expected to make government procurement more transparent, consistent, and accountable.
The Price Norm, developed by the Authority, is used as a reference guide for market prices of commonly procured items and helps government institutions ensure value for money when spending public resources.
Officials at the training welcomed the initiative and called for continuous capacity-building sessions to support the successful implementation of the E-GP platform nationwide.
