The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has joined an alliance of multilateral organizations promoting the International Public Procurement Professionalization Program, an initiative aimed at raising the technical level of professionals managing public procurement in the region, according to a press release issued in Tegucigalpa on July 20, 2026. The program represents a joint commitment to strengthen public procurement systems across Latin America. It brings together several development banks and regional partners under a unified academic framework. The effort focuses on building specialized capacity within the sector. Its overarching goal is to elevate procurement standards throughout the region.
The initiative is coordinated among the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), CABEI, and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). It has the backing of the Inter-American Network on Government Procurement (RICG) of the Organization of American States (OAS). The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise of Spain also supports the effort. The academic execution of the program is carried out by the Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI) of Spain. Together, these partners provide the institutional and educational foundation of the program.
The proposal has a regional scope and seeks to improve the preparation of sector professionals through a competency-based training model, drawing on internationally recognized standards. This process will help build a solid group of specialists capable of applying good practices to strengthen transparency and efficiency. The program plans to train 240 Latin American professionals. Training will be delivered through four courses organized in calls during 2026 and 2027. This structured approach ensures broad regional participation.
For CABEI, the initiative falls within the Joint Declaration for the Professionalization of the Procurement Function. It is also linked to the Support Program for the Executing Units of Projects financed by the Bank. This alignment reinforces CABEI’s commitment to accompanying member countries in modernizing their public procurement systems. By joining the effort, CABEI reaffirms its commitment to institutional strengthening and the professionalization of technical teams managing projects financed by development banks. This is part of its mission to promote integration and equitable economic and social development in the Central American region.
The details of the call for applications and the courses are available on the EOI website. The program will operate through successive calls during 2026 and 2027, offering structured learning opportunities to procurement professionals. Participants will gain skills aligned with international standards. The initiative marks a coordinated step by multilateral partners to modernize procurement practices in Latin America. It underscores the shared commitment of the participating institutions to advance transparency and efficiency in public procurement.
