Haiti: CREAT Trains Over a Hundred Young People in Public Procurement

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— In a national context marked by the quest for transparency and good governance, the Center for Research, Study, and Technical Support (CREAT) positions itself as a key player in civic education in Haiti. This Friday, the institution organized a training session on public procurement in Pétion-Ville, bringing together over a hundred young professionals, students, and actors from the public and private sectors. This initiative is part of a vast program to strengthen institutional capacities and promote transparency in public affairs management, an essential pillar of democratic governance. A Pretext for Learning and Reflection on Public Transparency The training brought together a diverse audience: entrepreneurs, marketing managers, researchers, students, NGO members, and public decision-makers, all sharing the same objective: to understand the mechanisms of public procurement and their implications for national development. The speakers offered both a theoretical and practical approach, focusing on the issues of transparency, integrity, and accountability in the management of public funds. First Module: Legal and Institutional Framework for Public Procurement Presented by Me Theralus Carlens Steeff, this first module addressed the legal foundations and institutional framework of public procurement in Haiti. The jurist emphasized the need for total transparency in the publication of calls for tenders and in the management of public information, highlighting the strategic role of several institutions such as the Cour Supérieure des Comptes et du Contentieux Administratif (CSCCA), the Centre National de la Fonction Publique Territoriale (CNFPT), and the Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances (MEF). Second Module: Administrative Procedures and Realities The second module, led by Mr. Garnel Dutrevil, delved into the public procurement procedures as stipulated by Haitian legislation. The trainer presented the four types of contracts recognized in Haiti, while detailing the exceptional tender procedures provided for in Article 34.1 of the public procurement law. His intervention highlighted the administrative challenges and areas of institutional fragility that often hinder the effective implementation of these procedures. Third Module: Preparation and Submission of Bids In the final module, Mr. Whistler Gaspard guided participants through the key steps of preparing and submitting a bid. The objective: to provide future professionals with the necessary tools to draft competitive bids, compliant with the technical and administrative requirements of the Haitian legal framework. CREAT, a Model of Civic Engagement and Good Governance At the close of the day, CREAT's Director General, Mr. Robenson Sanon, praised the success of the training and the active participation of the young people. He announced the upcoming implementation of professional internships for the most promising participants, to consolidate their skills in the field. «CREAT intends to continue its mission of civic education and support for the modernization of the Haitian public administration,» Sanon declared, emphasizing the importance of a lasting commitment for a more transparent, competent, and responsible Haiti. This initiative demonstrates the willingness of civil society to concretely contribute to building a new generation of executives and citizens trained in the values of ethics, rigor, and public responsibility. In a country seeking institutional stability, this type of program represents an essential lever for strengthening trust between the State and civil society.