Professionalisation of Public Procurement in Côte d’Ivoire: 88 New PPMS® Experts Certified
On 14 August 2025, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP) organised in Abidjan the official certificate award ceremony for the 2024 cohort of the Manager Specialist in Procurement (PPMS®) programme.
A total of 88 new experts from the public sector, the private sector and civil society received their accreditation, joining the previous cohorts. With more than 400 professionals certified since 2022, Côte d’Ivoire now stands out as a leading country in West Africa in the professionalisation of public procurement actors.
A structuring partnership between ARCOP and SETYM International
This programme is part of the National Capacity-Building Strategy (SNRC) in public procurement, adopted by the Ivorian government in 2021. Since 2022, ARCOP and SETYM International have been working closely together to:
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Train public and private managers in international best practices in procurement and contract implementation;
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Assess and certify participants’ skills through a rigorous accreditation process;
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Strengthen public governance by contributing to greater transparency, rigour and efficiency in public procurement management.
During the ceremony, Mr Larbi BENNOUNA, President and Chief Executive Officer of SETYM International, praised “the excellence of the cooperation between ARCOP and SETYM International, which has enabled Côte d’Ivoire to take the lead in the sub-region in terms of accredited professionals in public procurement.”
A ceremony marked by high-level interventions
Chaired by Mrs Massanfi BAMBA épouse DIOMANDE, Chair of ARCOP’s Regulatory Council, the ceremony was also attended by distinguished personalities and institutional representatives, including:
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Mr Michel LACOURCIÈRE, Senior Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada in Côte d’Ivoire, representing Her Excellency Mrs Sandra CHOUFANI, Ambassador of Canada;
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Mrs Marie-Hélène SULTAN, Head of the Québec Office in Abidjan.
On behalf of the graduates, Mrs AKOUNA épouse ASSOUGBO Dorcas expressed the gratitude of the 2024 cohort, reaffirming their commitment to actively contributing to the improvement of practices within their respective professional environments.
An expanding momentum
With a 32% increase in the number of accredited professionals in 2024 compared to 2023, the momentum initiated by ARCOP and SETYM International highlights the strategic importance of this programme for the Ivorian state.
The mandate will continue in 2025 and will bring the total number of accredited PPMS® experts to nearly 500, thereby consolidating Côte d’Ivoire’s role as a model in the professionalisation of public procurement in Africa.
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