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The National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Chief Executive Officer Fodie J. Konneh, has held a strategic engagement with an African Development Bank (AfDB) delegation led by Governance Officer Madam Andara Kamara to review progress on the implementation of key public procurement reforms.
The meeting formed part of the Bank’s ongoing assessment of policy reforms under its budget support operations, following its decision to resume budget support to Sierra Leone.
Discussions focused on major procurement reform measures, including recommendations from the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS), the digital transformation of public procurement through the Salone Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System, institutional capacity development, and the professionalization of the procurement cadre.
Responding to the delegation’s request for an update on the MAPS implementation process, Mr Konneh said Sierra Leone completed the assessment within a record period and has already begun implementing several key recommendations.
He noted that the review of the Public Procurement Act, 2016, one of the flagship recommendations from the MAPS assessment, has reached an advanced stage. He added that Sierra Leone’s MAPS assessment was officially launched by the MAPS Secretariat in May 2026, demonstrating the country’s commitment to aligning its procurement system with international standards.
Mr Konneh acknowledged the support of the World Bank and the African Development Bank, which each led the assessment of two of the four MAPS pillars.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the Salone e-GP System, a flagship public sector reform aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in public procurement.
The NPPA CEO informed the delegation about the recent soft launch of the Procurement Requisition and Bid Publication modules, following the successful deployment of the User Management, Supplier Registration, Price Norm, and Annual Procurement Planning modules.
He said the phased implementation of the e-GP System is strengthening transparency, enhancing efficiency, and laying the foundation for a fully digital public procurement system.
Both parties further discussed the need to strengthen institutional and human resource capacity, with emphasis on continuous training, certification, and developing a competent procurement workforce capable of managing modern procurement systems.
Mr Konneh also highlighted the Authority’s transition from a procurement system focused mainly on contract awards to one that places greater emphasis on contract monitoring, management, and administration. He said this shift has exposed weaknesses in project implementation and contract execution, highlighting the need for stronger oversight mechanisms and improved institutional capacity.
The discussions also covered international best practices, including the adoption of the Most Advantageous Bid (MAB) approach where appropriate, instead of relying solely on the Lowest Evaluated Bid (LEB). The meeting also emphasized the importance of strengthening procurement reporting through the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) to promote transparency, accountability, and public access to procurement information.
Concluding the engagement, Mr Konneh reaffirmed the NPPA’s commitment to implementing MAPS recommendations and consolidating gains made under the procurement reform programme. He called for continued support from the African Development Bank in institutional development, capacity building, digital transformation, and logistics to sustain reforms and strengthen public financial management in Sierra Leone.
