The World Bank has suspended African Consulting Surveyors (ACS), a geospatial services firm, and its director-general, Willem Jan Timmerman, for 29 months — with the possibility of conditional lifting — over fraudulent and collusive practices linked to contracts under Mozambique's Land Administration Project, known as Terra Segura.
Also referred to as MozLand, the Terra Segura project was administered by the now-defunct Ministry of Land and Environment and financed by the World Bank. It was established to strengthen land tenure security in selected districts across Mozambique, improve land administration services, and address needs arising from the armed insurgency in the northern region.
According to a World Bank statement, ACS secured two contracts under the project as part of a joint venture. During the procurement process, the company declared that it had not paid, and would not pay, any commissions or fees related to the contracts. The investigation concluded, however, that ACS had paid undisclosed business development consultants.
The company also allegedly obtained, through intermediaries, advance access to confidential information about the procurement processes, including preliminary versions of tender documents. That information is said to have been used to influence the technical specifications of the contracts and gain an undue competitive advantage.
These practices were found to constitute fraud and collusion under the World Bank's sanctions rules. ACS and Timmerman acknowledged their liability as part of an out-of-court settlement.
Suspension May Be Lifted
The sanction renders both the company and its director-general ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by World Bank Group institutions.
The debarment period was reduced in recognition of the cooperation provided during the investigation, the voluntary decision not to participate in World Bank-financed projects during negotiations, and the corrective measures subsequently adopted.
As a condition for the suspension to be lifted, ACS and Timmerman must implement integrity measures, complete business ethics training, and continue to cooperate with the World Bank's Integrity Vice Presidency.
The sanction may also be recognised by other multilateral development banks under the agreement providing for the cross-debarment of prohibition decisions.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/11/economia/desenvolvimento/banco-mundial-suspende-acs-por-29-meses-devido-a-fraude-no-projecto-terra-segura/
