Vaccine procurement guide launch / Thailand vaccine procurement issue / Philippines foreign-funded infrastructure

Bridging the Gap in Vaccine Procurement: How to Build Transparency for Public Trust (Webinar/Resource).  “[We] have created a new guide to fill that gap. Covering 15 priority pieces of information that should be shared along the vaccine procurement cycle, this guide provides in-depth context and examples of what the key issues around vaccine contracting are, and why public disclosure matters. Join our launch event [on Wednesday 14 July, 2pm GMT] as we walk through the key phases of the guide, and share success stories from both governments and civil society around the world”

Direct link to guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CV3wrpXKlNGtl3evfbu1HCETItz1wbiE5HhJyDYcLmY/edit

Open Contracting Partnership: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwqf-uprDgjGtB-CG2obpT7OwBraALVLRW6  

 

As COVID-19 Spreads, Thai Govt Stuck in Self-Made Trap (Opinion).  Thailand’s vaccine saga keeps going from bad to worse. Mounting questions have met few answers. For example, to what extent is Thailand’s lack of highly coveted US-made vaccines attributable to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act? The FCPA prohibits US companies from making payments in cash or in kind to foreign officials. American companies and their managers are liable to both jail terms and fines for under-the-table tea money.”

Thitinan Pongsudhirak/The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-column/as-covid-19-spreads-thai-govt-stuck-in-self-made-trap.html  

 

Transparency, accountability a must in foreigner-funded infrastructure projects in PH–study.  “A locally-published think thank study is batting for increased transparency and accountability from government when it comes to infrastructure projects in the Philippines that have been funded by other nations, particularly China.”

Ellson Quismorio/Manila Bulletin: https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/07/transparency-accountability-a-must-in-foreigner-funded-infrastructure-projects-in-ph-study/