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European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The Primary Award was developed with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) specifically to offer support to international funding to its clients. The Award provides a benchmark to evaluate essential and fundamental procurement processes, enabling the EBRD to assure funders that they have robust systems in place that comply with legal, regulatory and ethical requirements. It also provides a framework to verify and regularly audit processes to protect against and prevent fraud, corruption and bribery in the supply chain.

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The Primary Award in action

Six organisations have been through the CIPS Primary Award certification process, either as part of a funding body’s loan agreement, or to help the organisation independently apply for funding for public sector projects. All companies have seen significant benefits across their whole organisation.

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Public Enterprise for State Roads

PESR is responsible for the maintenance of all state roads covering the geographic area of the Republic of North Macedonia. The organisation worked with a CIPS professional who guided them through the whole process, helped identify strengths and weaknesses, and gave tips and advice on how to improve their overall performance. As a result, the productivity and efficiency of the procurement team increased.

PCRS Motorways

PCRS Motorways is responsible for completing the construction of new motorways and high-speed roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The biggest challenge they faced in procurement was the efficient use of time and resources. Since undertaking the certification process, they have been able to address this challenge, as well as make significant improvements to their code of ethics, skill gap development, and compliance.

PC Highways FB&H Ltd

PC Highways FB&H ltd. is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the country’s highways. When seeking funding from the EBRD for one of its biggest infrastructure projects, a prerequisite of the loan agreement was to achieve the CIPS Primary Award. The organisation used this as an opportunity to improve the approach and professionalism of their procurement function.

PEMRI

The organisation underwent the Primary Award certification as a result of a CIPS and EBRD initiative to ensure that appropriate procurement governance and controls were in place for effective and legally compliant purchases. It was the first company on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia to obtain the CIPS Primary Award certificate.

Romanian Water Companies

Compania de Apa Oradea was the first Romanian firm to achieve the CIPS Primary Award. Thanks to the programme, it has improved the procurement function in a number of ways, such as developing the strategic capabilities of its procurement staff, improving efficiencies, and encouraging transparency and accountability.

Belgrade Waterworks and Sewerage

Every year, the company’s activities depend on the procurement of materials, the servicing of equipment, and the execution of works. While working towards the CIPS Primary Award certification, the team considered all aspects of BW&C’s procurement process – and identified the potential risks that arise.

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Why choose the CIPS Primary Award?

  • Global benchmarking: It becomes the standard to assess and measure potential clients.
  • Improvement: It provides a framework to help client companies to improve their procurement and supply capabilities.
  • External verification: It will help build the business case for financing projects.

Assessment categories 

We assess an organisation’s procurement function across five categories, common to every business in any sector or market.

  1. Leadership and organisation
  2. Strategy
  3. People
  4. Processes and systems
  5. Performance measurement and management

We will guide organisations through the process of collating evidence in each category and submitting it online. The independent CIPS awarding body will verify the evidence to determine whether the level is met to achieve the award. The award is valid for three years. However, the organisation can choose to work towards higher award levels from CIPS.

For more information about how the CIPS Primary Award can help your organisation, get in touch.
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