WASHINGTON, USA – The Organization of American States (OAS) and Paraguay’s National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP) today signed a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening public sector performance through more strategic, effective, and transparent public procurement management, during a ceremony held at the Organization’s headquarters in Washington, DC.
The signed agreement will advance the Advanced Professionalisation Program in Strategic Public Procurement Management, designed to develop specialised competencies, promote common standards, and consolidate a regional technical community capable of supporting the transformation of public procurement systems. The initiative opens new opportunities for international collaboration and promotes a shared agenda based on innovation, sustainability, the use of technology and data analytics, and institutional integrity.
OAS secretary-general Albert R. Ramdin underscored the importance of this alliance by stating that, today more than ever, strengthening citizens’ trust in public institutions is essential for democracy and requires institutions capable of responding to people’s needs with concrete results. “Public procurement represents a strategic function of the State; it is a key instrument for improving the quality of public services, optimising the use of resources, preventing corruption, promoting innovation, and strengthening sustainable development,” said secretary- general Ramdin.
Juan Agustín Encina Pérez, director of Paraguay’s DNCP and president of the Inter-American Network on Government Procurement (INGP), highlighted:
“We are launching the most significant training initiative ever undertaken in the field of public procurement across the Americas,” which will strengthen institutional capacities and generate direct benefits for citizens through more efficient services, greater trust, and better opportunities for businesses.
Within the framework of this agreement, the OAS School of Government, and the Higher Technical Institute of Public Procurement of the DNCP will work together to strengthen the capacities of professionals from member states, with the goal of establishing a stronger, more specialised, and broader-reaching regional training offering.