BLOCKCHAIN FOR TRANSPARENT PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: A FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS

Abstract

Public procurement constitutes a significant share of government expenditure in developing nations, yet it remains highly susceptible to corruption, inefficiency, and opacity. Blockchain technology, with its inherent properties of decentralization, immutability, and transparency, presents a compelling solution to these systemic challenges. This paper investigates the potential of blockchain-based e-procurement systems to enhance transparency, reduce corruption, and improve service delivery in developing economies. Through a rigorous comparative analysis of India's Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal and the Philippines' Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), this research identifies structural vulnerabilities in existing digital procurement frameworks and proposes a comprehensive Blockchain-Integrated Public Procurement (BIPP) framework tailored for low-infrastructure developing nations. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining systematic literature review, case study analysis, and thematic framework development. Findings indicate that blockchain integration can reduce procurement fraud by up to 40–60%, improve vendor transparency, enable real-time audit trails, and lower administrative costs. The proposed BIPP framework incorporates smart contracts, distributed ledger technology, permissioned blockchain networks, and interoperability standards, accounting for the infrastructural and regulatory constraints typical of developing economies. The paper concludes with policy recommendations and a phased implementation roadmap for governments seeking to modernize procurement systems through blockchain adoption.