Tema-Ghana, June 19, CDA Consult – The ECOWAS Commission organised a three-day workshop in Lagos, Nigeria as part of the Annual Procurement Capacity Building workshop in an effort to increase the capacity of procurement authorities.
The ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Internal Services, Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, highlighted that the organization’s procurement standards are based on transparency, which necessitates thorough examination of the procurement activities supported by suitable documentation and disclosure.
“Transparency necessitates the constant and prompt dissemination of pertinent procurement information to all interested parties, through easily accessible and widely available sources at reasonable or no cost, and adequate reporting of procurement activity.
Prof. Darma emphasised during the workshop that openness necessitates the application of confidentiality measures, where justified, in a document sent to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema.
According to him, the principles of equity, fairness, and equal opportunity refer to the fair division of rights and obligations between the contractual entity, bidders, and consultants, as well as equal opportunity and treatment for all service providers.
It also needs reliable channels for handling grievances relating to procurement and offering redress.
Prof. Darma emphasised that the principles of effectiveness refer to how well ECOWAS goals are accomplished and specific issues are promptly resolved in accordance with due process.
The principles of the economy and value for money, according to Mr. Seydou Bangoura, Director of Administration and General Services, refer to the effective, efficient, and economical use of resources, which necessitates an assessment of pertinent costs and benefits.
Additionally, it necessitates an evaluation of non-price, non-sustainability, and quality qualities as well as Life Cycle Costs (LCC), when necessary.
Mr. Bangoura made the observation that value for money may not always be indicated by price alone.
He stated that most procurement agreements are time-sensitive and make an effort to prevent waste and delays. The procurement procedures must be proportionate to the value and hazards of the underlying project activities in order to be efficient.
In accordance with the best interests of the ECOWAS community and the beneficiaries of the proceedings, he stated, the use of monies, resources, assets, and authority must be restricted to their intended uses.
“Terms of Reference (ToR) and Technical Specifications for Public Procurement shall be designed to ensure equal opportunities for both men and women,” he stated.
The acting director of human resources, the director of strategic planning and monitoring and evaluation for ECOWAS, as well as a number of procurement experts and actors from ECOWAS Institutions, Agencies, and Technical Departments are additional resources.
At the conclusion of the training, the ECOWAS Procurement Officials were instructed to follow best practises with regard to the rules and guidelines in the ECOWAS Procurement Code and Manual.
In order to assist the efficient implementation of projects and programmes, the participants were also urged to share and debate their experiences with and concerns about procurement.
