The Senegalese government is taking steps to implement a national strategy for sustainable public procurement. Moustapha Djitté, Director General of the Autorité de régulation de la commande publique (ARCOP), announced plans to establish a steering committee to develop this strategy. The committee will be representative of various sectors, including the private sector, and will work to create a comprehensive plan for sustainable public purchases.
The strategy aims to promote environmentally friendly public procurement practices while ensuring the optimal use of public resources. Djitté emphasized the importance of aligning the public and private sectors on environmental preservation goals. He noted that public procurement represents a significant lever for influencing consumption and production patterns, with approximately 3,000 billion francs CFA allocated annually for public markets.
The steering committee will be responsible for developing a national strategy for sustainable public purchases, which will be broken down into specific action plans. This will enable a coordinated and controlled implementation of the strategy. The committee's work will be supported by international partners, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and the One Planet initiative.
The ARCOP has already initiated a process to revise standard tender documents for public markets to adapt them to new environmental and social requirements. This revision aims to introduce specific clauses that promote the acquisition of environmentally friendly goods and services. Djitté highlighted the significance of this revision in ensuring that public procurement practices align with environmental preservation goals.
The international workshop, which opened on Tuesday, brings together various stakeholders to discuss green public procurement. The event is being held with the support of several partners, including the UNEP and the International Institute for Sustainable Development. The workshop provides a platform for experts to share knowledge and best practices in sustainable public procurement.
Djitté stressed that the success of the national strategy for sustainable public procurement depends on the alignment of the public and private sectors on environmental preservation goals. He emphasized that if these sectors are not aligned, the objective will never be achieved. The ARCOP's efforts to engage the private sector in the development of the strategy are seen as crucial to its success.
The implementation of a national strategy for sustainable public procurement is expected to have a positive impact on Senegal's environment and economy. The strategy will help promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, reduce the environmental impact of public procurement, and support the country's economic development. The ARCOP's initiative is seen as a significant step towards achieving these goals.
Key points
- Senegal's Autorité de régulation de la commande publique (ARCOP) to establish a national strategy for sustainable public purchases.
- The strategy aims to promote environmentally friendly public procurement practices while ensuring the optimal use of public resources.
- The implementation of the strategy is expected to have a positive impact on Senegal's environment and economy.
