Page 44 - Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities - A U4SSC deliverable

• Data: Use open procurement data to analyse and share information to predict and manage
critical supply chains. Collecting tagging all contracting processes and budget lines with
“COVID-19” to ensure high-quality, open and complete data, disclose technical comments
from suppliers, and publish all contract awards under the emergency framework. Our research
shows that this should also include information about suppliers.

• Innovative partnerships: Build innovative partnerships with business and civil society. Issue a
list of essential medicines and devices so markets can react accordingly and encourage start-
ups and data-driven civil tech projects.
• Civic monitoring: Trust and support civil society to play an important role in monitoring efficient
spending and delivery of goods and services. Create clear feedback channels and spaces for
meaningful participation.

Emergency telecommunications and other information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are
critical for monitoring the underlying hazards and for delivering vital information to all stakeholders,
including the most vulnerable societies at risk.

The Guidelines for national emergency telecommunication, developed by ITU, is a critical tool
to assist policymakers in developing a clear, flexible and user-friendly national emergency
telecommunications plan with a multistakeholder approach. The NETPs set out a strategy to enable
and ensure communications availability during the disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and
recovery phases by promoting coordination across all levels of government, engaging stakeholders
to think through the life cycle of a potential disaster or any emergency, determining the required
capabilities for emergency responses, and establishing a governance framework of roles and
responsibilities.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which provided irrefutable proof of the importance
of ensuring that digital information, services and products are digitally accessible by all people
and citizens, including older persons and persons with disabilities during emergencies and crises
situations, ITU also developed Guidelines on how to ensure that digital information, services and
products are accessible by all people, including persons with disabilities during the COVID-19
pandemic. These guidelines are available in all six UN languages, as well as in 22 additional
languages.

3.1 Introduction to buying effectively during an emergency or crises

This advice is intended only to be used in an emergency, which includes “dos and don’ts” to ensure
fair and transparent procurement. In all other circumstances, follow the practical steps to take
towards smart sustainable procurement’ section of these Guidelines.

30 Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities | May 2023