World Bank Project Implementation Workshop Kicks-Off

A three- day workshop on World Bank sponsored project implementation is currently underway at Dunes Resort Hotel in Kotu.

The retreat is organised by the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) and Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zone Agency GIPFZA.

The forum brought together 35 participants and is being funded by the World Bank.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Modou Secka, said the objective of the workshop is to strengthen the authority's efforts to reform public procurement through the creation of a more efficient and accountable public procurement system in conformity with the GPPA Act 2001 and regulations of 2003.

He revealed that the workshop also aims to address the key challenges faced by projects as it relates to the GPPA Act and regulations, and to carve a way forward in building the capacity of participants in the application of basic procurement procedures and to create a sense transparency and accountability in line with the GPPA act 2001.

For his part, Mr. Amadou Ceesay urged the participants to take the training seriously and make good use of the knowledge gained from the workshop.

He said that the workshop will cover areas such as record keeping, management, procurement planning, fundamental principles and the institutional frameworks underlying World Bank procurement management, public procurement processing and approval procedures methods for GPPA and door agencies.