LOCALCONTRACTING

Local contracting refers to the involvement of small-scale contractors or community organisations in infrastructure development or service delivery. Their involvement leads to the creation of local employment and skills, especially where local resource-based technologies are adopted. Transparency and sustainability are also increased as a result of community monitoring, especially where participatory techniques are used. 

Cartier Consult is active in the development of suitable contracting mechanisms and regulations that facilitate the participation of small-scale contractors and community organisations. This also includes the preparation of suitable designs and working methods that allow the use of local resource-based technologies, resulting in greater employment creation and a higher degree of sustainability. The preparation of training material and capacity building for small-scale contractors and community organisations also forms a core activity for Cartier Consult.

Small-scale contracting

One of the main areas of expertise of Cartier Consult is the promotion of road maintenance microenterprises. These are basically groups of local people who organise themselves into a microenterprise that can be contracted to carry out routine road maintenance on a continuous basis. 

These groups are assisted in the creation of a microenterprise and receive training in enterprise management as well as the technical aspects of maintenance. At the same time, administrative procedures regarding contracting, inspections and payments are developed for use by the relevant authorities, taking into account existing legislation, resources and capacities.

Community contracting (community driven development - CDD)

In the case of community contracting, the community is made responsible for the implementation of the infrastructure works or service delivery. This generally entails the creation or strengthening of a community organisation that represents the wider community and acts as a counterpart in the contract. This results in a very participatory and transparent system resulting in greater sustainability.

The community organisation is assisted in the set-up of proper systems that allow for transparency and monitoring by the wider community, while the members of the organisation receive training in project management, especially regarding contracting (of labour and contractors) and supervision. After a participatory planning phase, the community organisation (with external assistance) is responsible for the implementation and subsequent operation and maintenance of the infrastructure or service. Local employment generation, technical  quality and the high degree of transparency are highly appreciated by community members. 

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