Fatshimétrie, September 4, 2024 – During a crucial workshop held in Kananga, Kasai Central in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a major recommendation was made: the installation of public procurement units in provincial ministries and other structures. This approach aims to strengthen the transparency and efficiency of public procurement procedures in the region.
The participants in this workshop stressed the importance of setting up these units within provincial and local government entities, as well as in certain public services. This initiative is part of a desire to combat unethical practices and promote healthy and virtuous governance.
Albert Ngalamulume, one of the speakers, insisted on the need to scrupulously respect the rules on public procurement, in order to prevent any form of corruption or favoritism. He called for full ownership of the established procedures, stressing the importance of training and awareness-raising for the actors involved in this process.
The Governor of Kasai Central, Joseph Moïse Kambulu, encouraged participants to put into practice the lessons learned from this 8-day workshop. He highlighted the main objective of this meeting: to enable stakeholders, including agents of the project management and public procurement units, as well as the provincial directorate for public procurement control, to master the new legal and regulatory framework governing public procurement.
Discussions during this workshop focused on crucial themes such as the efficiency of procedures, transparency, methods of awarding contracts, and the consequences of any breach of ethics. Experts from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP) shared their expertise alongside local skills, with the aim of providing concrete and sustainable solutions to these issues.
This initiative was made possible thanks to the financial support of the “Encore” project, supported by the World Bank, thus demonstrating the importance of international cooperation in promoting good practices in public procurement.
In conclusion, the installation of public procurement units in provincial ministries is a crucial step in ensuring transparent and efficient management of public funds in the Kasai Central region. It demonstrates the commitment of local authorities and stakeholders to promote exemplary governance and combat corruption.