As part of its public procurement modernization strategy, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP) has launched a nationwide initiative dedicated to the digitization of procurement procedures. Through sessions organized in various regional hubs across the country, this initiative aims to strengthen the capacities of public and private stakeholders, while promoting the adoption of digital tools, particularly the APPEL platform.

After its first stop in Ziguinchor, the caravan moved to Saint-Louis where government officials, contracting authorities, and economic operators were made aware of the implications of this major reform. The objective is clear: to support the Senegalese government in its transition to more transparent, inclusive, and efficient public procurement management.

  A platform at the heart of the reform

According to Dr. Moustapha Djité, Director General of ARCOP, these meetings are primarily forums for exchange and training. "The workshop is scheduled over two days. The first day is dedicated to contracting authorities and the second to private sector operators. The objective is to present the platform, which has become the space through which procedures are executed," he explained.

Launched in a pilot phase in mid-October, the electronic platform now allows for several stages of public procurement procedures to be carried out electronically. "Tender notices will no longer be published in newspapers, but directly on the platform. Economic operators will submit their bids there, and contracting authorities will no longer have to receive physical files," explained Dr. Djité.

This transformation marks a break with traditional paper-based practices. Opening bids, analyzing offers, and several other operations will now be conducted online, thus guaranteeing the traceability and verifiability of procedures.

  Transparency, economy and speed

According to the Director General of ARCOP, this reform offers several major advantages. "Digitization allows the Administration to get rid of paper, save money, increase transparency, and above all, speed up the execution of procedures," he emphasized.

This time saving will, according to him, translate into a faster implementation of public projects, directly benefiting the population.

However, he noted that the platform is still in an intermediate stage of development. "Some modules are already operational, others are being designed. Ultimately, all stages of the procedure will be fully digital," Dr. Djité reassured.

Present at the meeting, Dr. Mamadou Mounirou Diallo, regional director of Public Procurement for the Saint-Louis region, welcomed this technological innovation. "The platform will significantly reduce our workload and all concerns related to transparency," he stated.

He illustrated the concrete impact of this reform with a striking example: "For an economic actor in the commune of Boki-Ladj, on the border of Bakel, it sometimes takes twelve hours to travel to submit a file in Saint-Louis. With the platform, all of this becomes unnecessary," he explained.

According to him, digitization will also reduce the costs associated with awarding contracts, which are often poorly understood by the public. "This platform is a real boon for both public and private stakeholders. It's a tool for digital sovereignty that will sustainably modernize our public procurement system," he concluded.

Through this national caravan, ARCOP reaffirms its commitment to building a more efficient, transparent, and resolutely digital administration. This structural reform is fully aligned with the digital transformation strategy undertaken by the State of Senegal.