Business Corruption

According to African Peer Review Mechanism Burkina Faso 2008, many stakeholders recognise that bribes are needed in order to win a public contract. Furthermore, some stakeholders revealed that the excessive centralisation of the administration fuels corrupt practices at each level, and at the end of the contract award process, only a small amount of funds will be left to carry out the work or deliver the services.

For more information on public procurement, see 'Public Anti-Corruption Initiatives' in the Initiatives section.

Political Corruption

According to the US Department of State 2009, the Court of Accounts published an annual report in 2007, revealing mismanagement in government agencies, including by the Mayor of Ouagadougou. The report found that the government had failed to comply with proper public procurement procedures for government tenders. No known action has been taken in connection with any of the report's recommendations.

Nevertheless, according to the US Department of State 2011, there have been some improvements in relation to equality in the bidding process and in the transparency of procedures. Reportedly, bidding criteria, established and enforced by the Autorité de Regulation des Marches Publics (ARMP, Government Tenders Regulation Authority) in spring 2008, are clear and the process is transparent. Moreover, bidding requirements are assessed as being equal for all bidders. Hence, foreign investors receive the same treatment as local investors in the bidding process.

For more information on public procurement, see 'Public Anti-Corruption Initiatives' in the Initiatives section.

Frequency

World Economic Forum: The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012:
- Business leaders give the favouritism of government officials when deciding upon policies and contracts a score of 2.8 on a 7-point scale (1 being 'usually favour well-connected companies and individuals' and 7 'are neutral').

- Business leaders give the diversion of public funds to companies, individuals or groups due to corruption a score of 2.5 on a 7-point scale (1 being 'is common' and 7 'never occurs').

The World Bank & IFC: Enterprise Surveys 2009:
- The value of the gift expected to secure a government contract is 1.2% of the value of the contract.

- Nearly 19% of the companies surveyed expect to give gifts to get a government contract.

REN-LAC: Rapport 2006 (in French):
- Citizens identify public procurement as the ninth most corrupt sector, a significant improvement from its identification as the fourth most corrupt sector in 2005.