Total Dematerialization: Civil Society as a Key New Partner in Change Management

SENEGAL – TOTAL DEMATERIALIZATION

Senegal has identified the digitalization of public procurement as a fundamental pillar for accelerating the transition of its economy towards an information society. This initiative also aims to achieve the government’s goal of modernizing public administration through the development of more innovative and efficient procurement processes.

Pierre Liger, an expert recruited by the World Bank and assigned to ARCOP, is tasked with guiding the selection of the optimal solution for the complete digitalization of procurement procedures. To this end, workshops were held in May and June, and the July sessions will include civil society organizations, particularly those specializing in new technologies.
The technical assistance mission strongly recommended organizing these final workshops at IRCOP, starting from July 29.

Modernizing procurement processes and practices is essential to leverage modern technology. This involves revising how contracting entities prepare tender documents, how bidders submit their offers, how fees are collected for purchasing tender documents, how bid guarantees are managed, how processes are evaluated, and how communication with bidders and other stakeholders is handled, as well as managing contracts and addressing complaints.

Streamlined and revised procurement processes and practices will enable stakeholders to operate more transparently, efficiently, cost-effectively, and quickly while reducing the administrative burden on contracting entities and bidding organizations. The e-GP system will be designed in accordance with the new public procurement legislation to offer effective online processes that adhere to the core principles of good public procurement governance: transparency, accountability, anti-corruption, efficiency and effectiveness, rule of law, fairness, accessibility, as well as engagement and awareness of civil society.

Stakeholders have been selected based on specific criteria. These primarily include traditional partners such as the Central Directorate of Public Procurement (DCMP), the main administrator of SYGMAP; the Budget and Financial Reforms Coordination Project (PCRBF), which supports funding; the Directorate of Automated Information Processing (DTAI), which hosts the infrastructure; and KERMEL.

Some contracting authorities have also been targeted: SENELEC, APIX, AGEROUTE, ARTP, the Port Autonome de Dakar (PAD), and the Ministry of National Education. These entities, with their extensive experience in procurement and significant procurement volumes, will provide valuable feedback to establish a digitalization project that meets current standards.