World Bank RFP: Strengthening Public Procurement and Supply Chain Management for Climate-Resilient WASH Infrastructure in Fragile States

The World Bank Group's IDA has issued a five-year, $150 million RFP aiming to strengthen public procurement and supply chain management (SCM) for climate-resilient WASH infrastructure in fragile states across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa. The program targets ten countries including Somalia, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and DRC. The RFP seeks qualified organizations to deliver capacity building, systems strengthening, and operational support to national and subnational governments. Key objectives include: enhancing procurement transparency through digital platforms, building resilient last-mile supply chains for WASH materials, integrating climate risk into procurement decisions, and fostering local SME participation. The budget is $150 million over five years, with individual project awards expected in the range of $10–$20 million. The deadline for proposals is July 15, 2026. This RFP is strategically aligned with SDGs 6, 11, and 13 and is part of the Bank's Climate-Resilient WASH Infrastructure Program (CRWIP). Organizations with proven expertise in fragile contexts, public procurement reform, supply chain management, WASH, and local capacity development are strongly encouraged to apply. The World Bank emphasizes a results-based approach with clear KPIs, including a 25% reduction in procurement cycle time, 40% local procurement share, and 95% availability of critical WASH supplies. The RFP also prioritizes gender equality and anti-corruption measures. GSLI courses in Procurement & Supply Chain, WASH, Project Management for Development, M&E, Financial Management for NGOs, and Grants Management provide the specialized skills needed to excel in responding to this opportunity.

Strategic Overview

The World Bank Group's IDA has issued a five-year, $150 million RFP aiming to strengthen public procurement and supply chain management (SCM) for climate-resilient WASH infrastructure in fragile states across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa. The program targets ten countries including Somalia, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and DRC. The RFP seeks qualified organizations to deliver capacity building, systems strengthening, and operational support to national and subnational governments. Key objectives include: enhancing procurement transparency through digital platforms, building resilient last-mile supply chains for WASH materials, integrating climate risk into procurement decisions, and fostering local SME participation. The budget is $150 million over five years, with individual project awards expected in the range of $10–$20 million. The deadline for proposals is July 15, 2026. This RFP is strategically aligned with SDGs 6, 11, and 13 and is part of the Bank's Climate-Resilient WASH Infrastructure Program (CRWIP). Organizations with proven expertise in fragile contexts, public procurement reform, supply chain management, WASH, and local capacity development are strongly encouraged to apply. The World Bank emphasizes a results-based approach with clear KPIs, including a 25% reduction in procurement cycle time, 40% local procurement share, and 95% availability of critical WASH supplies. The RFP also prioritizes gender equality and anti-corruption measures. GSLI courses in Procurement & Supply Chain, WASH, Project Management for Development, M&E, Financial Management for NGOs, and Grants Management provide the specialized skills needed to excel in responding to this opportunity.

Who is it For?

This RFP is designed for international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), consulting firms, academic institutions, and capacity-building organizations that specialize in public procurement reform, supply chain management, WASH infrastructure, and climate resilience. Eligible applicants must have a proven track record of implementing large-scale capacity building programs in fragile and conflict-affected states, with demonstrable experience in at least two of the following regions: sub-Saharan Africa, the Sahel, or the Horn of Africa. Organizations must demonstrate: (a) at least 10 years of experience in public procurement and supply chain strengthening; (b) expertise in WASH service delivery, including water treatment, sanitation, and hygiene promotion; (c) staff with professional certifications in procurement (e.g., CIPS, CSCP) and/or supply chain management; (d) a network of local partners capable of reaching remote and insecure areas; (e) a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with experience in World Bank results-based management; and (f) financial management systems compliant with World Bank fiduciary standards. Women-led organizations, organizations with local/regional registration, and those with prior World Bank project implementation experience will be viewed favorably. Recipients should have an annual operating budget exceeding $5 million and the ability to mobilize teams rapidly. For-profit firms are eligible but must operate on a not-for-profit basis for this technical assistance. This RFP is not open to individuals, government entities (except as sub-recipients), or unregistered entities. All applicants must register in the World Bank Supplier Database before submission.

Priorities

The World Bank's strategic priorities for this RFP revolve around three interconnected pillars: (1) Climate-Adaptive Procurement: Embedding climate risk screening and adaptation criteria into all public procurement decisions for WASH infrastructure, ensuring that investments are resilient to droughts, floods, and extreme weather events. The donor expects bidders to propose innovative mechanisms such as climate-responsive procurement scoring, green public procurement guidelines, and life-cycle cost analysis for sustainable materials. (2) Supply Chain Resilience for WASH: Strengthening last-mile delivery systems for essential WASH commodities in fragile contexts, with a specific focus on reducing lead times, diversifying suppliers, and building warehousing capacity. The World Bank emphasizes the use of digital supply chain management tools, real-time data dashboards, and predictive analytics to mitigate disruptions caused by conflict, natural disasters, or epidemics. (3) Local Capacity Development: Empowering local SMEs and community-based suppliers to participate in WASH supply chains, thereby fostering economic resilience and reducing dependence on external aid. This includes training on procurement regulations, bidding processes, contract management, and quality assurance. Key performance indicators (KPIs) include: reduction in procurement cycle time by 25%, increase in local supplier contracts by 40%, and 95% availability of critical WASH materials in target facilities. Additionally, the World Bank prioritizes gender equality in procurement, requiring awardees to report on procurement spend with women-owned businesses and to implement supplier diversity programs. The RFP also emphasizes transparency and anti-corruption measures; proposals must include a Procurement Integrity Plan and mechanisms for whistleblower protection.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations must meet the following criteria: (a) Legal status: Must be a legally registered entity (non-profit, for-profit, or academic) authorized to operate in the target countries. Registration in the World Bank's e-Procurement system (STEP) is mandatory. (b) Financial capacity: Applicants must demonstrate sound financial health, with audited financial statements for the past three fiscal years showing an annual revenue of at least $5 million. Liquidity ratios and debt-to-equity ratios must meet World Bank thresholds (current ratio > 1.5, debt-to-equity < 0.5). (c) Technical experience: At least three completed projects of similar nature in fragile states within the last five years, each with a budget exceeding $2 million. (d) Staff qualifications: The proposal must include a team of experts with advanced degrees in relevant fields (e.g., supply chain management, procurement, civil engineering, WASH, development studies) and certifications (e.g., CIPS, PMP, CSCP). (e) Compliance: Applicants must have no record of fraud, corruption, or misconduct; must have a safeguarding policy; and must comply with World Bank's Anti-Corruption Guidelines. (f) Sub-contracting: Up to 30% of the project value may be sub-contracted to local organizations. Joint ventures are allowed but must designate a lead partner. Ineligible applicants include those on the World Bank's debarred list, entities in sanctioned countries, and organizations with unresolved fiduciary issues.

Path to Success

To maximize success with this RFP, organizations should follow a systematic strategy integrated with GSLI capacity building. Step 1: Undertake a Pre-Bid Scoping Mission – Assemble a team of experts trained in GSLI's Procurement & Supply Chain and WASH courses to conduct a rapid assessment of target countries' procurement and supply chain gaps. This mission should produce a country-level risk matrix and stakeholder map, which will directly inform the technical proposal narrative. GSLI modules on 'Public Procurement in Fragile States' and 'Climate-Resilient WASH Systems' are critical for developing baseline understanding. Step 2: Design a Results Framework with Embedded M&E – Using GSLI's Monitoring & Evaluation course methodologies, construct a robust logical framework with clear indicators linked to World Bank KPIs (e.g., 'Number of procurement staff trained', 'Percentage reduction in supply stock-outs', 'Percentage of local SME suppliers engaged'). Incorporate baseline data and annual targets. The M&E system should include digital dashboards for real-time tracking, as required by the RFP. Step 3: Build a Consortium with Local and International Partners – Leverage GSLI's Project Management for Development course to coordinate a consortium that includes a local NGO with WASH field presence, an international procurement consultancy, and a university specializing in supply chain analytics. The consortium must have a clear division of roles and responsibilities. Use GSLI's Financial Management for NGOs course to ensure the consortium's financial reporting systems align with World Bank standards. Step 4: Prepare a Comprehensive Risk Mitigation Plan – Using GSLI's Grants Management and Writing Winning Proposals courses, develop a risk register covering operational (e.g., insecurity, supply route blockages), fiduciary (e.g., currency fluctuations, fraud), and technical risks (e.g., climate variability). Include contingency plans for each risk, such as pre-positioning supplies in safe zones or purchasing hedging instruments. Ensure the proposal explicitly addresses the World Bank's zero-tolerance for fraud and outlines third-party audit protocols.

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Deadline: 2026-07-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal