Angola approves executive instructions for the OGE 2027 Law Proposal and confirms approval of the 2024 State General Account, reinforcing public finance governance frameworks<\/p>\n
Angola has approved new executive instructions for its 2027 State Budget Law proposal, tightening procurement rules for public contracts funded by international lenders. The measures, published in official documents this month, apply to all digital infrastructure projects backed by the World Bank and require companies bidding for government work to follow stricter transparency and compliance checks. The changes take effect on 30 October 2025<\/strong>, when the first tenders under the new regime open for submission.<\/p>\n The rules cover contracts worth up to $300m (\u00a3236m; \u20ac275m) across three sectors: universal digital access, secure public infrastructure, and economic diversification through technology. Every bid must now include a declaration of beneficial ownership<\/strong>, disclosing who ultimately controls the company selling the goods or services. The delivered cost of compliance falls on the bidder, not the government, and late submissions will be rejected outright1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n It comes after years of criticism over Angola\u2019s public procurement system, which a 2018 audit found was riddled with irregularities. The National Public Procurement Service (SNCP) reported that only three of nine planned audits that year were completed, with the rest suspended or abandoned. The same report identified widespread non-compliance with existing laws, including missing annual procurement plans and unauthorised contract renewals2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The new instructions are tied to Angola\u2019s Digital Acceleration Project (PADA), a five-year initiative launched in 2022 to expand internet access and modernise government services. The project targets four groups: citizens in remote areas, small businesses, public agencies, and students in technology fields. By March 2030, the government aims to have 400 companies using digital tools to deliver services, up from fewer than 50 today1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n All PADA contracts must now follow World Bank procurement rules, which demand competitive bidding and prohibit electronic submissions. The government has also created a dedicated Project Implementation Unit (UIP) within the Institute of Administrative Modernisation (IMA) to oversee compliance. The UIP will hire a procurement specialist<\/strong> by 31 July 2026<\/strong>, with the role lasting at least 12 months and renewable based on performance1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The specialist\u2019s duties include drafting tender documents, evaluating bids, and training government staff in World Bank procedures. Every contract must be published on the public procurement portal, and all bidders must provide proof of past work on similar projects. The rules also require quarterly reports to the World Bank, detailing progress and any objections raised during the bidding process1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The new regime applies to any company selling digital infrastructure, software, or training services to the Angolan government. This includes suppliers of recording equipment, broadband hardware, and cybersecurity tools. A recent tender for video production studios, published by the National Statistics Institute (INE), sets the template: bids must be delivered in person to a Luanda office by 10:00 local time on 30 October 2025, with no electronic submissions allowed3<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The rules also extend to subcontractors. Any company working on a PADA-funded project must disclose its beneficial owners, even if it is not the primary bidder. The World Bank reserves the right to reject a bid if it finds that the winning company is controlled by individuals or entities previously barred from public contracts1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n For importers, the changes add a layer of due diligence. Companies must now verify that their suppliers comply with Angolan procurement laws before shipping goods. The delivered cost of this verification\u2014including legal reviews and background checks\u2014falls on the supplier, not the government. The rules do not specify penalties for non-compliance, but the 2018 audit report noted that irregularities often led to contract cancellations and blacklisting2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The 2018 audit of public contracts uncovered systemic failures in Angola\u2019s procurement system. Of the nine audits planned that year, only three were completed, with the rest suspended due to missing documentation or suspected fraud. The report found that many contracts were renewed without proper authorisation, some exceeding the 48-month legal limit2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\nThe digital acceleration project<\/h2>\n
Firms using digital tools<\/h4>\n
Who the rules bind<\/h2>\n
Who has to act<\/h4>\n
What the 2018 audit found<\/h2>\n
Procurement audits planned for 2018<\/h4>\n