Open Contracting Partnership

Building Trust in Government

Public contracting is the largest marketplace in the world. Governments spend around US$ 9.5 trillion a year on contracts with private companies – investments which are vital for delivering vital services and goods to citizens, for good government, and for global economic and social development. OCP shifts government contracting from closed documents and paper-based processes to digital services that are smart, fair, efficient and ‘open-by-design.’

The Open Contracting Partnership (OCP) was launched in 2015 as a silo-busting collaboration across governments, business, and civil society to open up the process of planning, awarding, and delivering these government procurement contracts. OCP shifts government contracting from closed documents and paper-based processes to digital services that are smart, fair, efficient and ‘open-by-design’ – and which drive better outcomes.

OCP works globally, but the Chandler Foundation’s investment looks to help improve government procurement in three countries: Malaysia, Paraguay, and Chile, where OCP has identified promising opportunities for large-scale impact.

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Procurement isn’t only a preventative tool; it can drive performance and innovation too. Open and better contracting can open doors to much better solutions for citizens in health, education, infrastructure, transit, and many other areas. It can create opportunities for many more, and more diverse companies.

Kathrin Frauscher

Kathrin Frauscher

Deputy Executive Director

Procurement

in Paraguay

Open Data Informing Public Policy

Efforts to make public-sector contracts and procurement data available and accessible have allowed students, journalists and civil-service groups to spotlight misappropriated funds and protest graft.

Paraguay’s open data is complemented by an open contracting portal, which has helped deliver measurable savings to the country’s multi billion-dollar procurement budget, while informing public policy for how contracts are awarded.

“Armed with access to information, people have started engaging with how public money is and should be spent.”   

Areas of Impact

A globe showing areas of impact