World Bank RFP: Capacity Building for Climate-Resilient WASH Monitoring and Evaluation in the Sahel

The World Bank has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) titled "Capacity Building for Climate-Resilient WASH Monitoring and Evaluation in the Sahel." This is a landmark opportunity for organizations committed to enhancing water and sanitation services in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions. With a budget of $15 million and a deadline of August 1, 2026, the RFP aims to strengthen the capacities of national and local institutions to monitor and evaluate WASH programs through a climate resilience lens. The Sahel region, spanning countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal, faces critical challenges: recurrent droughts, floods, desertification, and rapid population growth exacerbate water scarcity and poor sanitation. Existing M&E systems are often weak, lacking the integration of climate indicators and digital tools. This RFP directly addresses these gaps by seeking proposals that include training, technology deployment, and policy advocacy. The project expects to achieve systemic change: improved data quality, informed decision-making, and ultimately, more resilient WASH services. The World Bank has a strong track record in the region, and this initiative aligns with its Climate Change Action Plan (2021-2025) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6 and 13). The RFP encourages consortia that bring together international expertise and local knowledge. Emphasis is placed on sustainability, gender equality, and innovation. Proposals must demonstrate a clear understanding of the Sahelian context, including governance structures, cultural norms, and security concerns. The evaluation criteria will weigh technical approach (40%), past performance (20%), management plan (20%), and budget (20%). For organizations like GSLI, this RFP represents a strategic opportunity not only to win a large grant but also to institutionalize its training programs. By embedding GSLI's courses in WASH, M&E, and project management into the proposal, bidders can enhance their credibility and offer a proven curriculum. The overview of this RFP underscores the urgency and importance of immediate action: forming partnerships, gathering documentation, and developing a comprehensive proposal that aligns with donor priorities. The deadline is firm, and the competition will be intense, but with meticulous planning and expert support, a strong bid can be submitted.

Strategic Overview

The World Bank has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) titled "Capacity Building for Climate-Resilient WASH Monitoring and Evaluation in the Sahel." This is a landmark opportunity for organizations committed to enhancing water and sanitation services in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions. With a budget of $15 million and a deadline of August 1, 2026, the RFP aims to strengthen the capacities of national and local institutions to monitor and evaluate WASH programs through a climate resilience lens. The Sahel region, spanning countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal, faces critical challenges: recurrent droughts, floods, desertification, and rapid population growth exacerbate water scarcity and poor sanitation. Existing M&E systems are often weak, lacking the integration of climate indicators and digital tools. This RFP directly addresses these gaps by seeking proposals that include training, technology deployment, and policy advocacy. The project expects to achieve systemic change: improved data quality, informed decision-making, and ultimately, more resilient WASH services. The World Bank has a strong track record in the region, and this initiative aligns with its Climate Change Action Plan (2021-2025) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6 and 13). The RFP encourages consortia that bring together international expertise and local knowledge. Emphasis is placed on sustainability, gender equality, and innovation. Proposals must demonstrate a clear understanding of the Sahelian context, including governance structures, cultural norms, and security concerns. The evaluation criteria will weigh technical approach (40%), past performance (20%), management plan (20%), and budget (20%). For organizations like GSLI, this RFP represents a strategic opportunity not only to win a large grant but also to institutionalize its training programs. By embedding GSLI's courses in WASH, M&E, and project management into the proposal, bidders can enhance their credibility and offer a proven curriculum. The overview of this RFP underscores the urgency and importance of immediate action: forming partnerships, gathering documentation, and developing a comprehensive proposal that aligns with donor priorities. The deadline is firm, and the competition will be intense, but with meticulous planning and expert support, a strong bid can be submitted.

Who is it For?

This opportunity is targeted at a diverse set of organizations capable of delivering large-scale capacity building for climate-resilient WASH M&E in the Sahel. Eligible applicants include international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) with proven expertise in WASH and M&E, such as WaterAid, Oxfam, or IRC; national NGOs in Sahelian countries with strong local networks and understanding of community dynamics; academic and research institutions specializing in water resource management, climate science, or monitoring and evaluation (e.g., Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal or Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); private sector consulting firms with experience in designing M&E systems for international donors (e.g., Tetra Tech, AECOM); and multilateral or bilateral development agencies (e.g., UNICEF, UNDP) that can co-implement. The World Bank encourages consortia that combine international technical expertise with local knowledge to ensure sustainability and cultural appropriateness. Applicants must demonstrate at least ten years of experience in WASH M&E capacity building in developing countries, with specific references in the Sahel. Evidence of previous World Bank-funded projects is advantageous but not mandatory. Financial stability is critical; the lead applicant must have an annual turnover of at least $5 million for the last three years and provide audited financial statements. The organization must have a legal registration in one of the Sahelian countries or a firm commitment to register locally if awarded. Additionally, the team must include specialists in climate resilience, WASH engineering, data management, and adult training. The World Bank prioritizes projects that promote local ownership, so partners from the Sahel should have decision-making roles.

Priorities

The World Bank's global priorities for this RFP are deeply rooted in its Climate Change Action Plan, which mandates integrating climate resilience into all WASH investments. Key KPIs include: (1) Number of national and local institutions with enhanced capacity to collect, analyze, and use climate-resilient WASH data; (2) Percentage increase in the use of digital M&E platforms by government agencies; (3) Improvement in data quality (accuracy, timeliness, completeness) as measured by independent audits; (4) Number of climate adaptation measures incorporated into WASH plans informed by M&E data; (5) Gender-disaggregated indicators showing improved access to WASH services for vulnerable groups. The donor expects proposals to demonstrate how capacity building will lead to systemic changes, such as the adoption of national M&E standards or the allocation of government budgets for M&E activities. There is a strong emphasis on sustainability; therefore, the project should include a phased transition of ownership to local partners. The World Bank also prioritizes innovation in data collection, such as the use of satellite imagery, smartphone apps for field data, or AI-driven analytics to predict water scarcity. Cost-effectiveness is crucial; the proposal must show a clear value-for-money assessment, with unit costs per trainee or per institution below regional benchmarks. Additionally, the project must align with the Sahel Alliance and the G5 Sahel priority programs. The donor expects regular reporting against a detailed logframe, with milestone-based disbursements. Proposals that integrate private sector engagement, such as partnering with local water utilities or tech startups, will receive higher scores.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are comprehensive and require meticulous compliance. Eligible organizations must be legally registered as non-profits, for-profits, or academic institutions in their country of origin. For entities not registered in a Sahelian country, a letter of intent to register or a partnership agreement with a locally registered entity is required. The lead applicant must submit proof of tax compliance and audited financial statements for the last three fiscal years, showing a positive net worth. The minimum annual turnover of $5 million applies to the lead applicant; if part of a consortium, combined turnover must be at least $10 million. Organizations must have at least five years of experience in WASH M&E capacity building in low-income or fragile states, with at least two projects in the Sahel region. Ineligible entities include those with debarment records from the World Bank or other multilateral development banks, political entities, or organizations with conflicts of interest. All project staff must have valid work permits in the target countries. Additionally, the proposal must include a gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) plan, as the World Bank mandates that at least 50% of training beneficiaries be women or marginalized groups. The budget must allocate at least 10% for monitoring and evaluation of the project itself, separate from capacity building M&E. Environmental safeguards require a negative environmental impact assessment (NEPA equivalent) or a statement of no significant impact. Failure to provide any of these documents will lead to disqualification. The World Bank also requires beneficiaries to have a transparent procurement policy compliant with its fiduciary standards.

Path to Success

To secure this RFP and maximize impact, follow this strategic roadmap integrating GSLI’s training programs. Step 1: Form a Consortium and Pre-Qualify. Immediately identify and engage local partners in target Sahel countries—national NGOs, research institutes, and government WASH ministries. Establish a memorandum of understanding that outlines roles, data sharing protocols, and financial management responsibilities. Simultaneously, register on the World Bank’s e-Procurement platform and gather all legal documents (audited financials, tax clearance, registration certificates). Enroll key personnel in GSLI’s "Project Management for Development" course to align with World Bank project cycle requirements and gain certification that strengthens the team’s credibility. Step 2: Develop a Technical Proposal with Climate-Resilient M&E Innovation. Design a capacity building program that covers: (a) training of trainers on climate-smart WASH indicators; (b) installation of digital M&E dashboards; (c) community-based monitoring using mobile tools. Propose a phased approach: Phase 1 (6 months) – needs assessment and stakeholder mapping; Phase 2 (12 months) – intensive training and pilot M&E systems; Phase 3 (12 months) – scale-up and institutionalization. Use GSLI’s "Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)" course to standardize training modules and ensure they meet international best practices. Include a clear theory of change linking capacity building to improved WASH service delivery. Budget 15% for M&E of the project itself, with independent evaluators. Step 3: Integrate GSLI Learning Pathways for Sustainability. As part of the proposal, incorporate GSLI’s recommended courses as mandatory components for local trainees. Offer a blended learning approach: online courses from GSLI followed by in-person workshops. This ensures consistent quality and certification. Highlight that GSLI’s courses are accredited and recognized in over 50 countries, enhancing the proposal’s credibility. Also, plan for a knowledge management portal where M&E data and lessons learned are shared. Step 4: Submit a Compliant and Compelling Bid by Deadline. Prepare the proposal package: technical narrative (max 50 pages), detailed budget in Excel, workplan, risk matrix, and CVs of key personnel. Ensure all documents are signed and scanned. Submit via World Bank e-Procurement before August 1, 2026. Conduct an internal review using GSLI’s project management checklist to avoid disqualification. After submission, engage with the World Bank procurement team for clarifications if needed. Additionally, prepare a sustainability plan showing how capacity building will continue post-project, possibly through government budget allocation or private sector partnerships.

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Deadline: 2026-08-01

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal