Public contracting is the largest marketplace in the world.
Governments spend around $13 trillion dollars a year on contracts with private companies: this spending is vital to deliver services to citizens, to public governance, and to global development.
Yet many governments don’t seem to know what they are buying and selling, for how much, and with whom they are dealing. Contracting is the government’s number one corruption risk (the OECD, UNODC, and EU all agree).
Open contracting seeks to transform public procurements by opening up the entire chain of public procurement data and documents from planning to tender, contract, implementation and works with local reformers to put that data to use, so that the money in public procurement is spent more effectively, honestly and fairly.
The challenge aims to support the creation of tools based on open contracting data.
We want to encourage collaborations & partnerships of non-governmental actors with central & local authorities creating innovations that contribute to:
Support data-driven analysis, financial & civic control over public spending
Empower authorities to deliver better value for money and boost their efficiency
Create fairer competition
Detect and prevent fraud & corruption
Drive effective goods & service delivery for citizens
Weekly check-in calls with mentors, invited experts & OCP team members to help your projects evolve
9 teams that will get to the finals (3 per country) will receive $ 5,000 USD of seed funding to develop their projects
Finalists will receive approximately 20 hours of OCP technical assistance per team throughout the program
Finalists will get priority access to OCDS helpdesk and data analysis support if relevant for the project, with up to 20 hours per project
Three grand prizes of $15,000 USD each (1 per country) of direct financial support over the course of the program, depending on team progress and needs.
(Note: teams must demonstrate progress and momentum prior to receiving financial support)
Winners will receive support for documentation, and communication from OCP comms consultants to develop 1 blog/story and other communication materials.
Connections and collaboration with a global network, including other reform teams, experts and funders, to share ideas and learn together on the journey to achieving impact, as well as celebrate and elevate success in global fora, such as conferences.
Innovation Challenge 2021 in the EECA region supports projects from Moldova, Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan.
We are looking for data journalists, civic technologists, hackers, open data enthusiasts, citizen activists & government innovators who understand the transformational impact on people’s lives that better public contracting can have.
If you have any doubts about applying for the Innovation Challenge, register and come to the Q&A sessions and ask all your questions on30 April and 6 May.
Ideally, teams should include experts in public procurement, advocacy, and technical/IT expert. However we can help to find relevant technical experts if needed.
Projects need to use open data. The priority is to use procurement data published using the Open Contracting Data Standard and/or the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS) but can also use other open contracting data. We encourage projects to find ways to make closed data more accessible and actionable. Ideally use one of the available APIs to public procurement systems of Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. Applicants may use any other data sources to strengthen their
projects (eg. beneficial owners, assets declarations, etc).
Our preference is for open source and openly licensed projects.
Tools are powerful but transformation comes from their use. Winning projects need to demonstrate how they will apply the tools to achieve real change.
We love key performance indicators and other hard M&E measures. We want to know how projects are planning to track
their progress and impact.
Innovations are clearly added value to existing work and the funding provided is catalytic to the organization
We believe that innovation often comes from collaboration. We encourage that projects involve stakeholders from the government or local authorities and civil society sectors.
The Innovation Challenge will be open for entries from 15 April until 15 May. During this month we will have two Q&A sessions – 30 April & 6 May for all your questions. To enter, participants must complete the application form.
All entries will be assessed for compliance with the eligibility criteria. All teams that pass the eligibility criteria proceed to Phase 1 of the Incubation. Participants for Phase 1 will be announced on 21 May.
Participants will take part in four weekly online workshops to strengthen their project proposals with a focus on the theory of change, collaborative approaches of civic tech start-ups with government, civic tech sustainability, and accessing procurement data via API in Moldova, Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan. Participants will have one month to progress their projects and to prepare an up to 5-minute long video presentation about their project (this can be a simple screen recording with audio). All projects will be evaluated according to the judging criteria. Finalists of the Innovation Challenge will be announced by 29 June. The nine strongest teams (three projects per country) will receive financial support of US$5000 each, and tailored incubation support during Phase 2.
During Phase 2, finalists will receive mentoring and tailored expert support, including workshops, meetings & discussions with officials, developers, donors & other stakeholders to empower their tools implementation, and learning sessions across selected projects. During two months, finalists should develop a minimum viable product (MVP) and start implementing their tools. Finalists should fill in a more detailed questionnaire until 6 September. Finalists will pitch their tools, highlighting their MVPs, progress during the challenge, plans for further implementation on 10 September. The judges will select the three winners receiving US$15,000 in financial support each (one per country) to implement their tools.
Winners will have bi-weekly check-ins with the Open Contracting Partnership team. We will facilitate the advocacy and deliver in-kind support for documenting and communicating via our communication consultants to develop one blog/story about the project and team.
Tool development cost 
Piloting/testing expenses, including workshops, local travel 
Staff/consultants time 
Admin costs up to 5% 
The challenge will not fund аny kind of equipment
IT WIN
IT WIN – will focus on the development of instruments for price per item comparison and enhance it with a module that may detect the collusion of suppliers via the affiliation in the national company register.
Burkitvis
Burkitvis – the team wants to create an open-source red flags identification engine & an engine for context analysis of tender notices & contracts.
OpenTender.kz
OpenTender.kz – will improve the tool for price-per-item comparison by adding a library of user selections, risk indicators, ratings of buyers and suppliers, CPV selection feature).
AGER
AGER – will develop a set of risk indicators, to be able to detect possible fraudulent procurement procedures. The team will strengthen the tool with a solution for profiling the buyers and suppliers. It should help to collect and structure the data about the violation of the procurement law by both parties.
Kloop Media
Kloop Media – they want to set up a red flag engine and a pipeline of communication with the bidders, media, and control agencies to inform them about the violations of the procurement regulations and procedures;
Positive Initiative
Positive Initiative – will construct an aggregator of medicine prices for vital medicines from several sources in Moldova. It will provide an access to the public analytical module that enables price-per-item comparison, analysis of competition, methods of procurement, and procurement efficiency.
BAA.kg
BAA.kg – will design the analytical dashboard that will collect information about the medicine prices from the national database of medicines, state statistical service, public procurement portal & pharmaceutical distributors.
Datanomix
Datanomix – proposed a comprehensive approach that includes building a CRM which will identify unjustified restrictions of competition & signs of imitation of competition in tenders (collusion of suppliers), and automatically generate letters to buyers and control agencies.
Managing Director for Development and Export of the Astana Hub (International Technopark of IT Startups Corporate Fund).
Experience in a leading position in a large international company GS Group. Founder of the IT company Cododrome (Lithuania). He worked as COO at the Russian company YellowRockets. He has experience in organizing and conducting acceleration programs, including managing the most technologically complex tracks of the largest accelerator in Russia and Eastern Europe GenerationS (AeroSpace – 2015, TechNet – 2016). Ha was a headliner of the Agro & MedTech and FinTech tracks of the GenerationS 2017 accelerator and the main tracker of the PwC Russia Accelerator 2019-2020, and the main tracker of the accelerator of the international technopark of IT startups Astana Hub 2019.
Yahiya has international work experience in managing and delivering IT projects at the global level. He has been one of the first project managers, who has been certified in PMP (PMI, Inc) and since then delivered many projects both at global and regional levels. After spending time in the UK working for S&P500 companies, he has returned to Kazakhstan to apply his knowledge and experience in the financial services sector. Currently, he works as Managing Director at SoE «Center for Electronic Finances».
For 10 years Pavel has been working on the development of the Kazakhstani innovation ecosystem. In 2012, he co-founded the MOST business incubator, was an entrepreneur, venture investor until 2018. At various times he worked as director of the Institute for Development and Economic Policy, representative of the Global Entrepreneurship Network in Kazakhstan, high commissioner of the World Business Angels Investment Forum. Member of the Eurasia Policy Group of the World Economic Forum and a graduate of the Global Shapers Community. In March 2018, he was invited to work in the quasi-public sector – Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC National Infocommunication Holding Zerde, coordinated the creation and development of Astana Hub and QazInnovation.
Askar earned BA in International Journalism from Tashkent State University in 1999. In 2002 he received MA Media Studies degree from the University of Ulster, UK. From 2002 to 2007 he taught journalism courses at Karakalpak State University in Nukus, Uzbekistan. From 2007 to 2009 he served as project coordinator at Eurasia Foundation’s Almaty office. In 2009 Askar joined SFK as a coordinator of transparency and accountability related projects
Founder of the IT company “Unique Technologies“, one of the first companies in Kyrgyzstan (since 2003), began to export software development. He was the founder and chairman of the “Kyrgyz Association of Software Developers and Services”, the founder of the “High Technology Park of the Kyrgyz Republic” and “IT Academy”. Promotes the IT ecosystem of the Kyrgyz Republic to the global market with the motto: “Live in Kyrgyzstan, work with the whole world!” #KyrgyzstanaZhashapBүtkүlDүynөMenenIshte. The project “#ProgrammingAyimdar” contributes to the promotion of female programming, as well as programming among PWDs “#CheksizProgramming.” The goal by 2030 is to create 50 thousand IT jobs in the Kyrgyz Republic and train 50 thousand programmers by that time.
Prior to this position, Shamil was the Executive Director of Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia. Shamil has a strong passion for urban development, civic engagement and social innovations. Shamil is a strong advocate for open data in Kyrgyzstan. With his wife Gulnara, they founded KoldoShop, a social enterprise supporting people with disabilities and single mothers in the difficult life situations in Kyrgyzstan to produce felt crafts and generate income. Shamil is a graduate of Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is a Mason fellow and recipient of Mary and David Boies scholarship and Fulbright Fellowship.
Before joining the Open Contracting Partnership, Volodymyr was head of the Budget Policy Department at the Ukrainian NGO Center Eidos, focusing on budget transparency, good governance, and public finance management at the national and municipal level. He has advocated for open data as a member of working groups under Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance and the state agency of e-governance, Open Government Partnership, International Budget Partnership, CoST Ukraine, and the Reanimation Package of Reform Initiative. He has experience in developing solutions and tools aimed at boosting the accountability of public spending, becoming a finalist of hackathons such as the EU Eastern Partnership Hackathon, Open Data Challenge, Taiwan Presidential Hackathon, DataFest Tbilisi and others.
Dinara Musabekova has over 18 years of experience in civil society. She holds the position of regional research and advocacy expert for the USAID Civil Society Development Project in Central Asia (CSSP). Within the CSSP Dinara established the School of Applied Research to exchange experience and develop a policy analysis on transparency and accountability in public administration. He is a member of the Open Government Forum (OGP) in the Kyrgyz Republic. Before joining the University of Central Asia, she was the Eurasia Foundation Executive Director in Central Asia (EFCA). She has developed many projects aimed at improving local governance, human rights, the rule of law, civic education, conflict mitigation and management, governance, and strengthening legislation that directly benefits civil society actors. At the Soros Foundation, she was the Director of the Public Governance Program and supported think tanks and Kyrgyzstan’s expert community.
Anastasiya joined the Open Government Partnership Support Unit as a program officer for the Eastern Partnership program. Prior to OGP she was a Head of International Relations & Development at Transparency International Ukraine. In 2013-2016 she has coordinated projects related to good governance and Open Government Partnership and since September 2017 became a Head of International Relations at TI Ukraine. Anastasiya was responsible for donor and international affairs, advocacy among the international community including the main strategic partners of Ukraine. She coordinated cooperation with other chapters of Transparency International and its headquarters as well as the development of new programs in the organization.
On the 3rd of Jan 2020, Gabriela Cuneva was appointed to the State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance position. Prior to the Ministry, Gabriela was a Partner of the audit consulting company AskMe SRL, worked as the financial director of the periodical advertising newspaper network Makler SRL and senior consultant, the audit consulting company PriceWaterhouseCoopers Audit SRL.
Nurida, has been working on various positions in the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic since 2000. Since February 2019, she has been appointed to be the Director of the Public Procurement Department under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic. Under the leadership of Nurida Bayzakova, the Public Procurement Department is taking active measures to improve legislation, improve the e-procurement system and ensure transparency and accountability in public procurement of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Before joining the Open Contracting Partnership, Viktor was acting CEO at SOE Medical Procurement of Ukraine – the central purchasing body set up by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine for medical public procurement. Between 2015-2018 he was a Program Director at Transparency International Ukraine. His portfolio included five significant initiatives – ProZorro, ProZorro.Sale systems development, DOZORRO community building, e-Health system development, and Construction Sector Transparency Initiative implementation. He has experience in the private sector and in government. He headed the procurement risk assessment division in one of the biggest agro-holdings of Ukraine and worked in the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.
