Effectiveness and Efficiency of Public Procurement Processes for IFAD-Funded Agricultural Projects in Zimbabwe: Lessons from the Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project
This study examines the effectiveness and efficiency of public procurement processes in IFAD-supported agricultural projects in Zimbabwe, namely the Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project (SACP). Zimbabwe allocates around 60% of its national budget to public procurement, but institutional weaknesses such as corruption, political meddling, incapability, and insufficient transparency undermine its success. Through a mixed-methods approach, consisting of surveys and interviews across five of the more diverse provinces, the research assesses buying behavior, attitudes among stakeholders, and business chokepoints. Findings reveal moderate perceptions of transparency, high issues related to delays, limited awareness of policy, and bureaucratic inefficiency. Despite improvements in compliance and supplier quality, issues of long cycle times and capacity shortcomings persist. The research highlights systemic vulnerabilities such as weak institutional controls, weak digital infrastructure, and misdirected priorities that seem to erode value for money and project success. Drawing on institutional, principal-agent, and transaction cost theories, the research elucidates internal and external drivers influencing procurement performance. The research advocates for better regulation systems, capacity building, and the adoption of technologies such as e-procurement systems to enhance transparency and accountability. Recommendations emphasize tailored training, policy reforms, and digital innovations to optimize resource utilization, reduce delays, and foster sustainable development outcomes in Zimbabwe’s rural agricultural sector.
Cite this paper
Kudai, T. (2026). Effectiveness and Efficiency of Public Procurement Processes for IFAD-Funded Agricultural Projects in Zimbabwe: Lessons from the Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project. Open Access Library Journal, 13, e14763. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1114763.
Dzuke, A. and Naude, M.J.A. (2017) Problems Affecting the Operational Pro-curement Process: A Study of the Zimbabwean Public Sector. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 11, a255. https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v11i0.255
Moyo, J., Ndlovu, M.J. And Paulos, L. (2023) An Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Purchasing System Employed by the Public Sector in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Research in Education Humanities and Commerce, 4, 117-134. https://doi.org/10.37602/ijrehc.2023.4510
Mabhodha, S. and Choga, F. (2021) The Impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on Pro-curement Processes: Case of Zimbabwean Urban Councils (2009 to 2018). Open Journal for Information Technology, 4, 25-34. https://doi.org/10.32591/coas.ojit.0401.03025m
Munyede, P. and Mapuva, J. (2020) Exploring Public Procurement Reforms in Rural Local Au-thorities in Zimbabwe. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 10, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.5296/jpag.v10i1.15156
Tukuta, M. and Sar-uchera, F. (2015) Challenges Facing Procurement Professionals in Developing Economies: Unlocking Value through Professional International Purchasing. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 9, 1-9.
Waci, J.M., Kariuki, P.W. and Mwirigi, P.M. (2024) Procurement Practices and Value for Money in State Corporations in Kenya. PLOS ONE, 19, e0303879. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303879
Khan, M.R., Alam, M.J., Tabassum, N., Burton, M. and Khan, N.A. (2022) Investigating Supply Chain Challenges of Public Sector Agriculture Development Projects in Bangladesh: An Application of Modified Delphi-BWM-ISM Approach. PLOS ONE, 17, e0270254. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270254
Asirifi, E.K., Ocansey, E.O.N.D. and Peprah, E. (2025) Evaluating the Effectiveness of Public Pro-curement Methods under Ghana’s Act: A Systematic Literature Review. Open Access Library, 12, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113861
Ntangeki, G.G., Changalima, I.A., Justus, S.N. and Kawishe, D.C. (2023) Do Transparency and Accountability En-hance Regulatory Compliance in Public Procurement? Evidence from Tanzania. African Business Management Journal, 1, 29-40. https://doi.org/10.58548/2023abmj11.2940
Govindan, K., Jain, P., Kr. Singh, R. and Mishra, R. (2023) Blockchain Technology as a Strategic Weapon to Bring Procurement 4.0 Truly Alive: Literature Review and Future Research Agenda. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 181, Article ID: 103352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2023.103352
Patrucco, A.S., Walker, H., Luzzini, D. and Ronchi, S. (2018) Which Shape Fits Best? Designing the Organi-zational Form of Local Government Procurement. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 25, Article ID: 100504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2018.06.003
Van Staden, A., Fourie, D.J. and Holtzhausen, N. (2022) Development of an Accountability Framework in the Public Procurement System: Case of the Emerging Market. Corporate Governance and Organizational Behavior Review, 6, 71-84. https://doi.org/10.22495/cgobrv6i2p7
Manpaya, M., Owusu-Manu, D., Baiden, B.K., Edwards, D.J. and Ashayeri, I. (2023) A Systematic Review of the Linkages between Corporate Governance Systems and Procurement Practices in Public Procurement Entities. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 18, 711-728. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2023.18.3.1173
Chipenda, C. (2023) Revisiting Enduring Labour Questions and Social Reproduction Dynamics in Rural Zimbabwe’s Post Land Reform Context: Implications on Citizen Welfare and Wellbeing. International Journal of Community Well-Being, 7, 87-119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-023-00202-z
Mentta, T. and Maldaye, M. (2020) Accountability in Public Procurement: The Case of Federal Public Organizations of Ethiopia. Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research).
Maliganya, E.C. (2015) The Next Age of Public Procurement Reforms in Tanzania: Looking for the Best Value for Money. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2709842
Gálvez-Rodríguez, M.D.M., López-Godoy, M., Saraite-Sariene, L. and Caba-Pérez, C. (2024) World-wide Trends in Public Procurement Efficiency Studies under the Lens of Award Criteria. Sage Open, 14, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241297400
Bernal, R., San-Jose, L. and Retolaza, J.L. (2019) Improvement Actions for a More Social and Sustaina-ble Public Procurement: A Delphi Analysis. Sustainability, 11, Article 4069. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11154069
Boykin, E.A., Lofaro, R.J., McCue, C.P. and Prier, E. (2024) Advancing the Practice of Public Procurement Per-formance Measurement: A Framework for Conceptualizing Efficiency and Effec-tiveness. Public Money & Management, 45, 349-359. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2024.2361832
Matas, S., Oplotnik,Ž.J. and Jagrič, T. (2025) Can We Have Both? The Challenges of Efficiency Outcomes in a Public Procurement System and Reaching the Strategic Goals of Procure-ment. Sustainability, 17, Article 2475. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062475
Ambe, I.M. and Ba-denhorst-Weiss, J.A. (2012) Procurement Challenges in the South African Pub-lic Sector. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 6, a63. https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v6i1.63
Petersen, S.H., Frederiksen, N., Bronke, J., Thomson, C.J. and Nielson, J. (2024) Making Meaning of the Piece-work System. https://local.forskningsportal.dk/local/dki-cgi/ws/ cris-link?src=ucl&id=ucl-9f58111f-f074-49c6-b04a- a4da5bd4ea71&ti=Making%20Meaning%20of%20the% 20Piecework%20System
Monterroza, L.A.G. and Quintero O’meara, M.J. (2023) Un nuevo enfoque al concepto de calidad/precio en la contratación pública colombiana. IUSTITIA, 8, 137-148.
Ndrecaj, V., Tlemsani, I. and Mohamed Hashim, M.A. (2025) Unveiling Dynamic Capabilities in Public Pro-curement: Myths, Realities, and Strategic Transformation. Administrative Sci-ences, 15, Article 134. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15040134
Fer-nández-Pérez, R. and Luque-Vílchez, M. (2022) Public Administration Ac-countability on the Social Pillar of Sustainable Procurement: A Documentary Analysis. Spanish Journal of Finance and Accounting, 53, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/02102412.2022.2145008
Akaba, T.I., Norta, A., Udokwu, C. and Draheim, D. (2020) A Framework for the Adoption of Blockchain-Based E-Procurement Systems in the Public Sector. In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Springer International Publishing, 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44999-5_1
Selman, A.D., Klitgaard, A., Jørsfeldt, L.M. and Heiselberg, H.L.D. (2024) Shaping the Future: The Role of Educators in Construction Programs towards Climate Legislation in a Danish Context. https://local.forskningsportal.dk/local/dki-cgi/ws/cris-link? src=ucn&id=ucn-ddffbd37-d260-480d-a65b- fbd28f48fb1c&ti=Shaping%20the%20Future%20%3A%20 The%20Role%20of%20Educators%20in%20Construction%20Programs%20 Towards%20Climate%20Legislation%20in%20a%20Danish%20Context
Shonhe, T. and Scoones, I. (2021) Private and State-Led Contract Farming in Zimbabwe: Accumulation, Social Differentiation and Rural Politics. Journal of Agrarian Change, 22, 118-138. https://doi.org/10.1111/joac.12473
George, K., Dembedza, M.P. and Lesley, M. (2024) Understanding Perspectives of HIV/AIDS Affected House-holds on Food and Nutrition Interventions and Social Protection Programmes in Zimbabwe. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, Article 1358203. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1358203
Dza, M., Fisher, R. and Gapp, R. (2013) Procurement Reforms in Africa: The Strides, Challenges, and Improvement Opportunities. Public Administration Research, 2, 49-57. https://doi.org/10.5539/par.v2n2p49
Hove, M.T., Ngwenya, H. and Madhazi, K. (2024) Digital Advisory Systems in Zimbabwean Agriculture: Op-portunities and Constraints. Agricultural Sciences, 15, 1315-1339. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2024.1511072
Idrus, A. (2024) Exploring Public Finance Policies: A Qualitative Inquiry into Fiscal Policy Analysis, Gov-ernment Financial Management, and Public Sector Financial Health. Golden Ra-tio of Finance Management, 4, 87-99. https://doi.org/10.52970/grfm.v4i2.481
Fourie, D. and Malan, C. (2020) Public Procurement in the South African Economy: Addressing the Sys-temic Issues. Sustainability, 12, Article 8692. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208692
Chikwere, D., Chikazhe, L. and Tukuta, M. (2023) Value for Money in Public Procurement: Experience from Zimbabwe’s Rural District Councils. Cogent Social Sciences, 9, Article ID: 2244746. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2244746
Calapre, G.O. and Paspasan, R.M. (2024) Procurement Process Optimization: A Quantitative As-sessment of Alternative Procurement Strategies. International Journal of Re-search and Innovation in Social Science, 8, 1326-1340. https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2024.8110106
Chikazhe, L., Bhebhe, T., Tukuta, M., Chifamba, O. and Nyagadza, B. (2023) Procurement Practices, Leadership Style and Employee-Perceived Service Quality towards the Per-ceived Public Health Sector Performance in Zimbabwe. Cogent Social Sciences, 9, Article ID: 2198784. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2198784
Gray, N. (2021) When Anti-Corruption Fails: The Dynamics of Procurement in Contemporary South Africa. Review of African Political Economy, 48, 369-384. https://doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2021.1932789
Khan, M.R., Tabas-sum, N., Khan, N.A. and Alam, M.J. (2022) Procurement Challenges in Pub-lic-Sector Agricultural Development Projects in Bangladesh. Humanities and So-cial Sciences Communications, 9, Article No. 447. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01468-y
