About us
The National University Commission (NUC), Bureau of Public Procurement [BPP], Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs are presently implementing together ‘’the World Bank funded project known as SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL STANDARDS ENHANCEMENT (SPESSE). The project is being coordinated by the National University Commission (NUC).
The main objective of the project is to build the capacity of officers through certification with online tools in the areas of procurement process, environmental and social standards at the already established Six Centers of Excellence in Six Federal Universities. The Federal Universities include; University of Lagos, University of Benin, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Ahmadu Bello University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and Federal University of Agriculture, Markurdi.
The Social Standards Node of the project cuts across the three implementing Ministries (Federal Ministry of Women Affairs- FMWA, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment-FML&E, and Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development-FMH&UD (Lands Department). The FMWA as the coordinating ministry has the Project Coordinator while FML&E and FMH&UD have focal person each on the project.
PROJECTS FOCUS
The Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) project, is aimed at eliminating the inadequacies presently existing in Procurement, Environment and Social safeguards implementations caused by lack of trained quality professionals in the sectors. The project is expected to strengthen the capacity of Social Standards practitioners to effectively manage social services delivery in Nigeria.
The project will also contribute to increasing the supply of skilled workers which is critical for the achievement of efficiency in infrastructure, planning and service delivery as well as achievement of high rate of economic growth. It is expected that graduates benefiting from the project enters the labour market with superior skills that will make them more productive. It will compliment Governments efforts at Federal and State levels to modernize Social Standards practices.
STATE OF SOCIAL STANDARDS PRACTICE IN NIGERIA
The provisions of the new World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) that relate to social aspects such as gender, labour, protection of vulnerable groups, social inclusion, community health and safety, land acquisition, and resettlement are under the purview of different ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). These include the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Department of Lands in the Federal Ministry Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, amongst others. Typically, while these Ministries and Departments make policies on the different social aspects directly under their purview, they do not have regulatory provisions that address social risks holistically. Furthermore, the current capacity for enforcement and implementation of social risk management mechanisms within these MDAs is considered low, requiring the development of capacities to increase the effectiveness of social risk management in development projects.
Despite the institutional challenges, there is increasing demand for designing and implementing projects in a manner that is environmentally and socially sound. Nigeria has a huge infrastructure deficit and has critical challenges in the delivery of social services which has led to an increase in financial flows into these critical sectors. Such financial flows come with obligations to apply sound environmental and social principles.
Study Resources
Handful of learning resources to help you prepare for the certifications exam.