ECOWAS procurement specialists met in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 26 to 30 October 2026 for a capacity-building workshop on procurement planning, organised by its Procurement Division with GIZ support.
Opening the workshop, Mr Seydou Kassory Bangoura, Director of Administration and General Services, said effective procurement planning is essential to the timely implementation of programmes and projects and to ensuring efficiency, transparency, accountability and value for money.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Services, Mr Kalilou Sylla, he explained that procurement planning connects approved budgets and operational priorities with the procurement activities required across the ECOWAS Commission, its agencies and institutions.
According to the Commission, the workshop was held in the wake of deliberations on recommendations arising from the mock audit, and in view of the need to strengthen public procurement planning ahead of the adoption of the budgets of the Agencies and Institutions by the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee in December 2026.
The technical discussions centred on two areas: the preparation of the ECOWAS procurement plan, and the procedures for transferring goods and merchandise purchased by ECOWAS between Member States.
Sessions addressed the purpose, structure and preparation of the ECOWAS procurement plan and worked on translating approved work plans and budgets into realistic, actionable procurement plans.
The Commission said the sessions promoted a consistent approach to procurement planning across ECOWAS agencies and institutions, aligned with approved budgets, work plans and implementation schedules.
A dedicated technical session covered applicable procedures, documentation requirements and practical arrangements relating to customs duties, taxes and charges, with the stated aim of facilitating timely cross-border movements in accordance with applicable requirements.
A session facilitated by GIZ gave ECOWAS and procurement specialists the opportunity to discuss agreed priorities for institutional support and follow-up actions arising from relevant mock audit recommendations.
At institutional level, the Commission said the workshop helped improve the quality and timeliness of procurement planning, strengthen coordination between procurement teams and requesting departments, and support more effective implementation of approved budgets across ECOWAS entities.
Comments