The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority implemented the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST) to digitize the full procurement lifecycle, expand participation of SMEs and special groups, enhance transparency, reduce corruption risks, improve value for money, and lower the environmental footprint of public spending. Previously, procurement processes were manual and paper-based, limiting access, increasing administrative costs, and causing significant delays, particularly within decentralized entities such as schools, health facilities, hospitals, villages, and ward offices.

NeST delivers a standardized and automated platform that covers procurement planning, tender publication, bid submission, evaluation, contract award, contract management, and payment processing. The system was developed and is maintained by full-time Tanzanian government ICT professionals using open-source technologies, strengthening national digital sovereignty and reducing reliance on external vendors. Since implementation, the number of registered economic operators increased by 77.1% in FY 2024/25 compared to FY 2023/24, while more than 61,000 lower-level entities have been integrated into the digital platform. Procurement timelines have improved substantially, with National Competitive Tendering reduced from 145 to 58 days and International Competitive Tendering from 215 to 75 days.

Transparency and accountability are reinforced through comprehensive audit trails and compliance with the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS). Environmental benefits include the elimination of 288.57 million printed pages and avoidance of 64,768 tCO₂e within two years. These measurable outcomes advance SDGs 9, 12, 13, and 16 by strengthening digital infrastructure, promoting resource efficiency, supporting climate mitigation, and reinforcing accountable public governance.

https://nest.go.tz/

• International

• Youth
• Older persons
• Women
• Indigenous and nomadic peoples
• People with disabilities
• The unemployed
• The poor
• Migrants
• Refugees and internally displaced people
• Remote and rural communities

NeST is built on open-source architecture, enabling adaptation without high licensing costs and minimizing dependency on external vendors. NeST modular design comprising supplier registration, e-tendering, e-contract management, e-auction, and reporting which allows phased implementation aligned with institutional capacity and reform readiness. Developed and maintained by local ICT experts, the system demonstrates that sustainable digital procurement solutions can be designed and operated using domestic technical expertise which is the full-time government employees.
NeST represents a scalable and replicable digital procurement model for developing countries pursuing electronic Government Procurement Systems (e-GPS). Its replicability has been demonstrated through benchmarking engagements with Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Uganda and Malawi, whose delegations have studied Tanzania’s approach as a reference for their own reforms.
Also, the Tanzania legal and regulatory framework further reinforces replicability by providing a structured governance and compliance model that can be adapted to other jurisdictions. Operationally, NeST has proven its scalability and has been rolled out nationwide, which covers more than 61,000 lower-level entities, and is integrated with key government systems to ensure interoperability and effective public financial management. This comprehensive implementation confirms its suitability for replication in comparable governance environments.

Institutionally, the system embedded within the national public procurement regulatory framework and its use is mandatory for procuring entities at central and local government levels, including health facilities, schools, and ward offices, ensuring long-term operational continuity beyond individual leadership or project cycles. Operational evidence demonstrates sustainability and scale, as the platform is rolled out nationwide and serves more than 61,000 lower-level entities, while processing a rapidly increasing volume of transactions and supplier registrations, reflecting strong user adoption and systemic integration.
Financial sustainability is strengthened through participation and registration fees authorized under procurement regulations, providing a structured cost-recovery mechanism that supports system maintenance, upgrades, and operational services without sole reliance on external funding.
Technical Sustainability is strengthened by the presence of full-time local ICT professionals, the majority of whom are under 35 years of age, who design, operate, and maintain the platform. This internal technical capacity reduces reliance on external vendors and supports continuous system enhancement through domestic expertise, structured knowledge transfer, and long-term institutional retention of skills.
Operational evidence shows strong scalability and adoption, demonstrating sustained user engagement. Governance sustainability is further supported by Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) integration, which enhances transparency, auditability, and public accountability, strengthening institutional trust and compliance. These combined institutional, financial, technical, and governance mechanisms ensure that the system remains sustainable, adaptable, and capable of long-term service delivery and digital procurement transformation.

NeST advances the core principles and action lines of the WSIS, particularly C2 (information and communication infrastructure), C3 (access to information and knowledge), C4 (capacity building), and C7 (e-government), by providing an inclusive digital platform that publishes procurement opportunities and contract data online in compliance with OCDS standards, enabling citizens, civil society, and oversight institutions in the community to monitor public spending and strengthen transparency, ethical governance, and participatory accountability. It promotes digital inclusion and community participation by allowing youth, women, persons with disabilities, and local suppliers including those in rural and underserved areas to access procurement opportunities remotely without the need for physical travel or complex paper submissions, thereby expanding economic participation and reducing geographic barriers. Local ICT professionals develop and maintain the system using open-source technologies, fostering knowledge transfer, digital skills development, and technological self-reliance within the community while creating professional opportunities for young experts. Automated workflows replace paper-based processes, reducing environmental impact and improving institutional efficiency, which aligns with WSIS objectives on sustainable development and ethical information societies (C10). Collectively, these outcomes empower communities through access to information, digital participation, and transparent governance, demonstrating how ICT-driven reforms contribute to inclusive socio-economic development and the realization of WSIS values at the local and national levels.