Public entities with proven procurement capacity will be allowed to award higher-value tenders without seeking approval from the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN), following amendments to the Public Procurement Regulations aimed at accelerating project implementation and improving service delivery.
The Ministry of Finance said the amendments introduce a new High-Value Public Entity category, allowing qualifying institutions to manage larger procurement processes independently while reducing reliance on the CPBN.
The reforms are expected to shorten procurement timelines, improve operational efficiency and accelerate the implementation of government projects by reducing administrative bottlenecks.
“Another notable feature of the amendments is the establishment of a new category for High-Value Public Entities. This category has been created to enable public entities with demonstrated procurement capacity and experience to manage higher-value procurement activities independently, thereby allowing quicker responses to operational requirements and changing market conditions. Under the revised framework, only exceptionally high-value procurement transactions will be referred to the CPBN,” the ministry said.
Under the revised regulations, the CPBN will focus on exceptionally high-value and strategically significant procurement transactions requiring greater oversight, while qualifying public entities will gain greater autonomy over higher-value procurement within their approved thresholds.
The ministry said the amendments also introduce stronger oversight mechanisms for entities granted expanded procurement powers to ensure accountability and compliance with procurement legislation.
In addition, newly established public entities and subsidiaries of public enterprises have been formally incorporated into Namibia’s procurement framework following amendments to the Public Procurement Act.
The ministry said procurement threshold values have also been revised to reflect inflation and currency depreciation, enabling public institutions to independently manage a wider range of procurement activities within updated financial limits.
“The threshold values applicable to public entities and procurement methods have been adjusted to account for prevailing economic conditions, including inflation and currency depreciation. This reform is intended to improve operational efficiency by enabling public entities to independently manage a broader range of procurement activities within their approved limits. This will contribute to expedited procurement processes, improved service delivery, and more effective implementation of projects and programmes,” the ministry said.
The amendments also reclassify all Regional Councils from Category 2 to Category 1, recognising their expanded procurement responsibilities following the decentralisation of several government functions.
According to the ministry, decentralisation has significantly increased both the value and volume of procurement undertaken by regional authorities, necessitating higher procurement thresholds.
A total of 68 newly categorised public entities have been incorporated into the revised procurement framework, including the Bank of Namibia, Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), Namibia Post Limited, the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority, the National Arts Council, and several subsidiaries of public enterprises.
The ministry said the amendments form part of broader efforts to modernise Namibia’s public procurement system while maintaining transparency, accountability, competitiveness and value for money.
“The amendments are aimed at strengthening the effectiveness, responsiveness and efficiency of the public procurement system while ensuring continued transparency, accountability and value for money in the use of public resources,” the ministry said.
The amendments to the Public Procurement Regulations, 2017, made under the Public Procurement Act, 2015, came into effect on 4 August 2026 following their publication in Government Notice No. 259 of 2026.
