A Systematic Review of Public Tender Awards in Eswatini: Analysing the Value and Distribution of Contracts under the Public Procurement Act, 2011, and its Contribution to Decent Work (SDG 8)
Keywords:
Public Procurement; SMEs; Economic Growth; Job Creation; EswatiniAbstract
This study assessed the impact of public procurement tenders awarded for goods, services and service and its contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work) in Eswatini. It specifically analyzed tender types, monetary values, and the participation of local versus foreign entities. Employing a convergent parallel mixed-method design, the study utilized the PRISMA 2020 framework to analyze 225 tenders awarded in the 2023/2024 fiscal year. This was supplemented by an analysis of the local Construction Industry Council (CIC) reports (2020–2024) and qualitative interviews with 22 procurement officials and senior managers. The results showed that total awards reached US$39,890,922, with “Works” dominating at 69%. While locals comprised 98% of the workforce, critical gender and stability gaps emerged: women’s representation plummeted to 14%; permanent employment dropped to 32%, and skilled labour fell to 43%. Findings reveal a direct link between procurement cycles and employment volatility. To mitigate job losses, the study recommends establishing clear project cash-flow plans and addressing delayed payments by procuring entities. Future research should investigate the impact of payment delays on contractor sustainability. This research contributes to global scholarship by empirically linking public procurement execution to the achievement of SDG 8 targets for women and youth in a developing economy.
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