By: Fatou Krubally
The Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) recently hosted a Stakeholders Workshop focused on enhancing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) access to procurement opportunities. The workshop, held on Thursday, January 16th, brought together key stakeholders to strategize on empowering MSMEs and increasing their participation in public procurement processes.
Phoday M Jaiteh, the Director General of GPPA, emphasized the importance of MSMEs in the Gambian economy, noting their role as the backbone of entrepreneurship and employment. He highlighted the challenges these enterprises often face in accessing procurement opportunities and outlined three concrete steps the GPPA is taking to create a more inclusive procurement landscape.
“We are working on strengthening our digital platforms to ensure procurement opportunities are widely publicized and easily accessible,” Jaiteh stated. He also mentioned the launch of a capacity-building program and direct support policies, including waiving GPPA registration for MSMEs and simplifying qualification requirements for smaller contracts.
Ibraima Sanyang, Director of Procurement Policy and Operations at GPPA, discussed the ongoing reforms in the procurement landscape, emphasizing transparency, inclusivity, and accountability. He highlighted the recent Procurement Act and Regulations, designed to make procurement processes more accessible to disadvantaged groups, including MSMEs, women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Sanyang underscored the GPPA’s support for local businesses through preference schemes, margin of preference for local suppliers, and exclusive preference and set-asides for specific procurement contracts. These initiatives aim to empower local businesses and ensure a level playing field in the procurement market. Additionally, efforts are being made to support capacity-building for MSMEs and enhance their participation in electronic procurement platforms.
The Permanent Secretary, Babucarr Joof representing the Minister of Finance, echoed the importance of MSMEs in driving economic growth and creating opportunities for sustainable development. He highlighted the significance of the workshop in heralding a new era of electronic procurement, aimed at improving access, transparency, and efficiency in the procurement process.
The workshop served as a platform for collaborative planning and engagement among stakeholders to identify challenges and solutions for enhancing MSMEs’ access to procurement opportunities. The discussions centered on leveraging reforms, funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the Integrated Governance and Public Sector Institutional Strengthening Project (IGPISP), and the proposed Local Content Bill to empower MSMEs and contribute to the country’s economic development.
Overall, the workshop marked a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and sustainable procurement environment in The Gambia, with a focus on empowering MSMEs and ensuring their active participation in procurement processes. Stakeholders expressed their commitment to working together to drive the growth and development of local businesses in the country.
