An electoral procurement process aims at delivering all requested goods and services of the required quality, quantity and standards within the established timelines for the agreed price.

An electoral procurement process may face number of different challenges:

• Timely disbursement of funds available for procurement purposes
• Staffing the procurement unit with competent staff. Staff should have a clear understanding of materials and services required. When foreign consultants (perhaps from UNDP) are working on procurement, they should possess country specific knowledge such as, for example, the need for water resistant, solar energy/long lasting batteries/generators for remote areas, language requirements, and so forth
• Coordination between the various actors involved, local stakeholders, especially the EMB, and including international organisations (if providing technical assistance to the procurement process)
• Ensure that the procurement process complies with the legal framework of the country
• Clear and early development of requirements and specifications (where politically and legally possible) for electoral goods and services ensuring confidence among all stakeholders that the procured items are appropriate
• Achieving the support and buy-in of all stakeholders for the procurement process
• Familiarisation with published and approved practices developed within the particular area
• Examination of potential technological and skills transfer to EMBs, rather than only seeking “total” solutions
• Cost-effectiveness through a transparent and competitive process
• Exploration of long-term sustainability and its relation to operational costeffectiveness and quality assurance, and possibly alignment with other similar national initiatives and expertise
• Well planned and well organised management of the supply chain, including transportation and delivery in-country, packing, in-country distribution, interim warehousing at both central and regional level for various types of material, as well as secure storage in-between elections
• Consideration of environmental aspects, including disposal
• Avoidance of unrealistic expectations that cannot be met in a timely fashion, or in subsequent elections.