Procurement

The fiduciary responsibility in its charter requires the African Development Bank to ensure that the proceeds in the projects and programs financed by it are used only for the purposes for which they were granted. The charter also requires that proper attention be paid to economy and efficiency in the procurement processes in Bank funded projects. Accordingly, the Bank prefers the most open competitive procedures for procurement of goods, works and services. Political and other non-economic influences or considerations must not influence procurement in Bank financed projects. The procurement procedures should give fair and equal opportunity to contractors, suppliers and consultants from member countries of the Bank. Transparency is also essential in the procurement process.

The Bank has developed Rules and Procedures for Procurement of Goods and Works and Rules and Procedures for Recruitment of Consultants that govern Bank financed procurement. To assist borrowers, the Bank has, in collaboration with other Multilateral Development Banks, also developed Standard Bidding Documents that should be used for contracts financed by the Bank.

As a part of its development mandate, the Bank is equally active in supporting the development and reform of public procurement systems in borrower countries. As the expenditure through public contracts is a sizeable portion of Government expenditure, increased efficiency, fairness, transparency and equal opportunity are critical for sustainable development and poverty reduction.