The World Bank has barred Mauritius-based PricewaterhouseCoopers Associates Africa Ltd in Kenya and Rwanda.
This is in connection with collusive and fraudulent practices as part of the Eastern Electricity Highway Project under the First Phase of the Eastern Africa Power Integration Program in Ethiopia.
The project was designed to increase the volume and reduce the cost of electricity supply in Kenya; and to provide revenues to Ethiopia through the export of electricity from Ethiopia to Kenya.
According to the facts of the case, PwC Associates, PwC Kenya, and PwC Rwanda obtained confidential procurement information from project officials to improperly influence the award of a consultancy services contract in 2019 for the implementation of International Financial Report Standards for Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation.
Based on the case record, they also sought to influence the award of a contract for Fixed Asset Inventory and Revaluation for the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU FAIR Contract) to PwC Associates. Additionally, during the selection and execution of the EEU FAIR Contract, PwC Associates misrepresented the availability, qualifications, and employment status of key experts, and failed to fully disclose all subconsultants. This conduct constitutes collusive and fraudulent practices under the Bank Group Consultant Guidelines.
The debarment makes PwC Associates, PwC Kenya, PwC Rwanda, and any affiliates they control ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed projects and operations. It is part of a settlement agreement under which the three companies admit culpability for sanctionable practices.
The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of debarment in light of the companies’ admission of misconduct, cooperation, strengthening of aspects of their existing integrity compliance program, and voluntary remedial actions—including an internal investigation, internal action against responsible parties, ceasing business with all involved subconsultants, staff training, and voluntary restraint from bidding for Bank Group-financed contracts during the settlement agreement negotiations.
As a condition for release from debarment, PwC Associates, PwC Kenya, and PwC Rwanda commit to developing, or further developing, and implementing an integrity compliance program that reflects the principles set out in the Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines. The entity that provides coordination and oversight to PwC network firms in Africa, PricewaterhouseCoopers Africa Limited, signed the agreement as a non-sanctioned party, because it has oversight for the compliance of its members, including PwC Associates, PwC Kenya, and PwC Rwanda. The companies also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.
The debarment of PwC Associates, PwC Kenya, and PwC Rwanda qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.