By Chisomo Phiri
The Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) and the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) on Thursday entered into a partnership aimed at collaborating on research initiatives.
Speaking at the partnership signing ceremony, PPDA Director General Edington Chilapondwa said the MoU formalizes a commitment between the two institutions to pursue concrete initiatives, including joint research projects, collaborative publications, and data-sharing, all aimed at delivering mutual benefits.
“Beyond that, we will co-design and deliver short-term courses tailored to the needs of stakeholders in public procurement and the disposal of public assets.
“This partnership will not only strengthen capacity within CUNIMA and PPDA but also equip stakeholders across the public sector with the knowledge and skills required to enhance service delivery,” said Chilapondwa.
On his part,CUNIMA Vice-Chancellor Professor Francis Moto emphasized the importance of collaboration in research.
“Research cannot thrive in isolation; it requires partnerships. The work we will undertake will address real societal needs,” he said.
Moto added that the MoU will also bolster CUNIMA’s capacity as a growing institution, enabling it to produce impactful and transformative research that benefits the wider community.
The MoU signing ceremony was followed by a public lecture delivered by Chilapondwa, focusing on the new Public Procurement and Disposal Act and Malawi’s National Electronic Procurement System.
