Support to public procurement reforms

Efficient Public Procurement systems are essential to the achievement of development goals. Public procurement mechanisms are key elements to the overall efficiency of public sector management because they can contribute to a better allocation of resources towards development objectives and improved governance in the public sector. Weak and corrupted procurement systems often lead to a waste of public financial resources and higher transaction costs and, therefore, undermine development efforts.

Within the framework of promoting good governance for a better use of public resources and since the International Conference on Reforms of Public Procurement in Africa held in Abidjan in November 1998, the Bank Group has been assisting Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in reforming national procurement systems.

Through its governance department (OSGE), the Bank Group is currently supporting two regional projects on public procurement:

• The Public Procurement Support Project in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) worth UA 4 million. The objective of the project is to modernize and harmonize public procurement systems in the eight Union’s member countries by effectively implementing the common public procurement regulatory framework adopted by WAEMU in December 2005. The project is jointly financed by the AfDB, the WAEMU Commission, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and International Organization of Francophone (OIF).
• The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Enhancing Procurement Reforms and Capacity Project worth UA 5.6 million. The objective of the project is to enhance public procurement systems of COMESA Member States by modernizing and harmonizing the laws, regulations and procedures and by strengthening the countries’ capacities to manage modern public procurement systems.

The Bank Group’s assistance to RMCs in strengthening procurement systems also include participating in sectoral and diagnostic studies (CPARs, and other assessment tools) and providing financial assistance through budget support operations.

In line with its commitments under the Paris Declaration, the Bank Group is working together with other development partners in establishing tools and strategies to move towards the use of country systems regarding procurement.

By assisting countries to modernize and strengthen their public procurement systems at both regional and national levels, the Bank Group seeks to improve governance and development impact, as this will open the way for development partners – in particular the Bank Group – to use country procurement systems, which will facilitate the implementation of projects and improve overall public financial management capacity in RMCs.