The African Development Bank Group and the Government of Mauritania have concluded a three-day technical workshop in Nouakchott organised to strengthen procurement capacity and accelerate implementation of Bank Group-financed projects.
Held from 15 to 17 June 2026, the workshop forms part of the Bank's 2025-2026 Portfolio Performance Improvement Plan for Mauritania. The workshop follows a recommendation of the plan for sustained capacity building to improve quality, shorten processing times, strengthen fiduciary compliance, and accelerate disbursements.
"The objective of this workshop is to improve the efficiency of project and programme implementation, notably through a better understanding of the rules and procedures on both the Bank's side and the country's side," said Clément Ahossi, Division Manager at the African Development Bank.
He added that the training should help reduce procurement processing times, limit complaints from bidders, and strengthen dialogue with national oversight bodies, particularly the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.
"A sound command of procurement procedures is a fundamental lever for accelerating project implementation and improving disbursement rates, thereby ensuring a tangible and rapid impact on people's living conditions," said Mahfoud Ould Ahmedou, Deputy Director General for Financing and Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development, during the opening ceremony.
Ahmedou also noted that the workshop comes at an important stage in Mauritania's partnership with the Bank, following the conclusions of the mid-term review of the 2023-2028 Country Strategy Paper. Over the past three years, the Bank's commitments in Mauritania have risen significantly, from US$147 million to US$659 million, supporting transformative operations in energy, agriculture, water, economic governance, youth entrepreneurship, transport, and private sector development.
During the workshop, participants worked with Bank experts on key operational issues, including procurement strategy and planning, procurement plans, procedures for selecting firms and consultants, complaint management, contract management, application of price adjustment formulas, and practical solutions to challenges arising in ongoing procurement processes.
Through this initiative, the African Development Bank Group reaffirms its commitment to supporting Mauritania in strengthening institutional capacity, improving portfolio performance, and accelerating project implementation in support of sustainable development and better living conditions for its people.
