While there are many countries supported by World Bank to implement digital procurement systems, only Ethiopian e-GP System has been successfully implement it.

(March 24/2026), Federal Government Procurement and Property Authority held a discussion with the World Bank Procurement Manager Eastern and Southern Africa Region, Mrs. Elmas Arisory, and their partners on a ways to increase the effectiveness of the electronic government procurement system.

The Director General of the Authority, H.E. Mrs. Meseret Meskele, who presented the opening speech for the discussion, explained that the Authority has carried out extensive transformational work in the past three years and is achieving the desired results in the transformational work.

In her statement, the H.E. Mrs. Meserete indicated that the authority has made significant changes in recent years, starting from amending the Procurement and property Proclamation. And also plays crucial role in the implementation of procurement directive, property directive and other operational systems, in order to modernize procurement and property system and become the first institution in Africa. She explained that the authority is also fully implementing its service delivery, especially e-learning, Letter management, compliant handling system, case management system, corruption report, free call service, reporting system for misconduct and similar services are fully digitalize.

Despite this, she explained that there were problems in maintaining the electronic government procurement system and that the authority was competent to do so. In particular, capacity limitations, supplier readiness, lack of bench marking, lack of infrastructure were the main issues that hindered the system. In her presentation, H.E. Mrs. Meseret indicated the prior areas of the Authority in the coming years; including increasing institutional capacity, continuing the transformation work effectively, insuring sustainable public procurement, Improving Service and data quality, Professionalization training and implementing digital 2030.

On the other hand, the World Bank Procurement Manager Eastern and Southern Africa Region, Mrs. Elmas Arisory, said that although the Bank has been assisting many countries to implement digital procurement systems, only the Ethiopian electronic government procurement is continuing effectively. Mrs. Elmas Arisory expressed her happiness that the project has continued successfully and assured that they will continue to provide financial and technical support to ensure the effectiveness of project.

She added that Out of more than 200 countries in the world that implement electronic procurement, Ethiopia is the only one that has met the World Bank’s requirements for implementing, and gave green light for all Bank Procurements should be implemented through e- GP system.

Mrs. Elmas Arisory concluded that the project must continue effectively and the Bank is ready to provide the expected supports. What is expected from the authority should be provided with the necessary support and the time required from the bank.