MEDIA

Echoes from the field

The ALSF trains Angolan Civil Servants in Public Procurement Procedures.

(Group photo, Workshop on public procurement procedures - ALSF©2022)

 

Luanda, Angola, 14 October 2022 - From 12 to 14 October 2022, the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) provided training on Public Procurement Procedures for Angola civil servants.

In a bid to enhance the capacity in public procurement, the ALSF brought together about 30 Angolan officials in a three-day workshop. The participants received practical and effective training on the structuring, management, execution of public procurement procedures and verification of compliance with local laws and regulations, as well as international standards and best practices. The workshop was facilitated by legal counsel from the international law firm Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares Da Silva & Associados (MLGTS).

In 2017, the Angola government initiated a legislative reform to induce private sector-led growth and competitiveness and attract foreign investment. The reform included the private investment law passed in June 2018, a competition law approved in May 2018, and the creation of a competition authority. Efficient public procurement has been identified as one of the keys to fostering private sector-led growth and competitiveness. Thirty selected government officials from various government ministries, departments, and agencies involved in public procurement participated in the training, including staff of the Court of Auditors, the Attorney General's Office, and the National Public Procurement Service (SNCP). Commenting on the training, the Director of the SNCP, Ms Lígia Vunge, underscored the relevance of the training as an opportunity to “provide the participants with the tools and knowledge to improve the Angolan public procurement process performance and the proper and efficient application of the law”.

Mr Pietro Toigo, AfDB country representative in Angola stated that "This seminar is part of the Government of Angola's efforts to improve the efficiency of public spending and maximise the impact of the public budget on the country's development, which the African Development Bank (AfDB) and ALSF are supporting with other partners such as Agence Française de Développement (AFD). After introducing a modern legal framework in line with good practices, it is important for the country to enter a phase of implementation of existing laws and regulations to deliver improved services to the Angolan people,"

For the ALSF, Mr César Vamos Ver, Legal Counsel, noted that “ The ALSF's support aims to provide knowledge resources and equip Angolan civil servants with international standards and best practices in the public procurement sector, to strengthen the country’s legal and institutional framework in public procurement”.

The participants benefited from theoretical and practical approaches to the challenges of a public procurement process. They learned specific techniques for preparing procedure documents, responses to requests for clarification, evaluation of proposals, preparation of jury reports, and responses to complaints, which will contribute to good governance and enhance efficiency and value in delivering public projects.

 

About the SNCP

The mission of the SNCP is to ensure the operability, regulation, supervision and oversight of the public procurement of goods and services by public contracting authorities. It further aims at supporting the Executive in defining and implementing public procurement policies and practices.

Contacts

Aldmiro Matoso, Head, Department of International Studies: aldmiro.matoso@minfin.gov.ao

 

About the ALSF

Hosted by the African Development Bank since 2008, the ALSF assists African governments in negotiating complex commercial transactions, providing legal and technical assistance and developing capacity building tools in the key sectors of infrastructure and public-private partnerships, energy, natural resources and extractive industries, as well as on sovereign finance and creditor disputes.

Contact us

Eve Ehoura, Communication Officer : e.ehoura@afdb.org

Nelly Farah Nguegan, Capacity building Coordinator: f.nguegan@afdb.org

ALSF Website : https://www.alsf.int