E-Procurement Adoption and Perceived Procurement Efficiency in Malawi: A Case Study of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA)

This study examines e-procurement adoption and perceived procurement efficiency in Malawi, focusing on the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA). It responds to the need for evidence on how digital procurement reforms are experienced in a developing-country context. A mixed-methods approach combined structured questionnaire responses from 68 participants with semi-structured interviews involving 15 participants. The findings show that respondents generally associated e-procurement with faster procurement activities, improved documentation accuracy, fewer errors and duplication, and better access to procurement information. Specifically, 49 of the 68 questionnaire respondents (72.1%) reported a significant reduction in procurement time, while 19 (27.9%) reported a moderate reduction. In addition, 62 respondents (91.2%) reported improved documentation accuracy and 57 (83.8%) reported reduced errors and duplication. These results represent participants’ assessments rather than independently verified changes in procurement performance. The study did not analyse comparable administrative records, baseline indicators, or before-and-after performance data; therefore, it cannot quantify the actual change in procurement cycle time, transaction costs, or compliance rates. Interviews also identified continuing constraints, including poor internet connectivity, system downtime, limited ICT skills, and reliance on manual procedures for some approvals. The study concludes that e-procurement is perceived as useful for improving procurement processes at PPDA, but stronger performance monitoring is needed to establish its measurable effects. Continued investment in infrastructure, training, and institutional support remains important.

E-procurement, Perceived Procurement Efficiency, Digital Procurement, Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA), Malawi, E-Government Procurement, Procurement Reform

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