The Malagasy government has launched a comprehensive reform of its public procurement system, backed by the African Development Bank and the World Bank.

The reform, designed to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, integrity and transparency of the country's procurement system, began with a workshop in Antananarivo on July 9. A key objective is to obtain certification from the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS), an international standard for public procurement effectiveness.

The workshop, co-chaired by Malagasy Minister of the Economy and Finance, Rindra Hasimbelo Rabarinirinarison, and African Development Bank Country Manager in Madagascar, Adam Amoumoun, was attended by technical and financial partners, private sector and civil society representatives, among other officials.

Minister Rabarinirinarison expressed optimism about the assessment's potential recommendations. He called for full stakeholder participation in the ensuing reforms.

Amoumoun emphasized the Bank's commitment to supporting Madagascar's socio-economic development, noting that the proposed assessment will establish a "more modern, efficient, simpler, sustainable and inclusive" public procurement system.

The assessment, expected to span several months, will employ a universal protocol involving various stakeholders, including national authorities, the private sector, civil society, and technical and financial partners. It follows Madagascar's request for support, building on progress made since 2003 in aligning the country's procurement practices with international standards.