TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY AT THE HEART OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ISSUES IN AFRICA

Issues related to technological innovations and sustainability were central to the themes developed during the 5th General Assembly of the African Public Procurement Network (RACOP), held from November 11 to 14, 2025, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

The challenges linked to technological innovation and sustainability are both timely and essential for advancing good governance, economic resilience, and equitable development. Indeed, these themes had a particularly beneficial resonance for Congo, which was represented at these meetings by a delegation from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP), led by its Interim Director General, Davy Wolfgang OPOKO. The theme of technological innovation is of particular interest to Congo, which is engaged, with the support of technical and financial partners, namely the World Bank, in the project to digitize the public procurement system.

It is worth noting that public procurement represents a significant share of national budgets (17%) of the GDP of African countries and plays a crucial role in public service delivery and economic growth. Thus, their transformation through innovation, including digital technologies, AI, and data analysis, can significantly improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability.

Integrating sustainability into public procurement decisions contributes to environmental protection and long-term development objectives by aligning public spending with climate and social commitments.

Regional collaboration promotes the harmonization of standards and the power of collective negotiation, thereby reducing fragmentation and stimulating Africa's integration agenda through frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Together, these pillars offer a powerful strategic approach to repositioning public procurement as a transformative tool for Africa's sustainable development.

It should be recalled that the Republic of the Congo has been a member of RACOP since its creation in October 2018 in Lomé, Togo. Today, this organization comprises 53 member countries grouped into five sub-regional networks: North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Its governance structure includes the General Assembly, the President, the Vice-President, and the Technical Secretariat based in Lomé. The General Assembly, composed of the heads of national public procurement regulatory authorities, is the supreme decision-making body that sets the strategic direction, elects leaders, and guides key decisions. The General Assembly meets once a year.