World Bank Call for Proposals: Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa

This World Bank call for proposals (RFP-Climate-MEL-2026) is a significant opportunity for organizations to contribute to climate resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa by strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. The call is part of the World Bank's broader efforts to enhance the effectiveness of climate investments through data-driven decision-making. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with impacts on agriculture, water resources, health, and infrastructure. Robust M&E systems are critical to track progress, identify gaps, and adapt interventions. The World Bank plans to fund 10-15 projects over 3-5 years, with total funding of $50 million. Individual grants range from $5-15 million. The call emphasizes capacity building, technology integration, and institutional strengthening. Proposals must demonstrate a clear theory of change, gender-sensitive indicators, and a sustainability plan. The deadline is July 15, 2026, leaving organizations approximately 12 months to prepare and submit a competitive application. The World Bank expects applicants to have experience in M&E, climate change adaptation, and working in Sub-Saharan Africa. Partnerships with local organizations are highly encouraged. The call prioritizes projects that use innovative technologies, such as remote sensing, mobile data collection, and AI analytics. Additionally, the World Bank values participatory approaches that engage communities and promote accountability. This opportunity is ideal for international NGOs, research institutions, and consulting firms with a strong track record in the region. GSLI's training courses can significantly enhance an organization's ability to meet the call's requirements. For example, the 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course provides essential skills in indicator development, data collection, and analysis. The 'Writing Winning Proposals' course teaches how to structure a technical proposal and budget according to World Bank guidelines. Organizations should start preparing immediately by assessing their technical capacity and forming consortia. The call requires detailed financial and technical documentation, including a results framework with baseline and target values. A key challenge is demonstrating sustainability – how M&E systems will be maintained after project end. Proposals must include a clear plan for training and handover to local institutions. The World Bank also requires compliance with environmental and social safeguards. GSLI's 'Grants Management' course covers these compliance aspects. Overall, this is a high-urgency call that demands strategic preparation. Early engagement with partners and training investments will be critical to success.

Strategic Overview

This World Bank call for proposals (RFP-Climate-MEL-2026) is a significant opportunity for organizations to contribute to climate resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa by strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. The call is part of the World Bank's broader efforts to enhance the effectiveness of climate investments through data-driven decision-making. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with impacts on agriculture, water resources, health, and infrastructure. Robust M&E systems are critical to track progress, identify gaps, and adapt interventions. The World Bank plans to fund 10-15 projects over 3-5 years, with total funding of $50 million. Individual grants range from $5-15 million. The call emphasizes capacity building, technology integration, and institutional strengthening. Proposals must demonstrate a clear theory of change, gender-sensitive indicators, and a sustainability plan. The deadline is July 15, 2026, leaving organizations approximately 12 months to prepare and submit a competitive application. The World Bank expects applicants to have experience in M&E, climate change adaptation, and working in Sub-Saharan Africa. Partnerships with local organizations are highly encouraged. The call prioritizes projects that use innovative technologies, such as remote sensing, mobile data collection, and AI analytics. Additionally, the World Bank values participatory approaches that engage communities and promote accountability. This opportunity is ideal for international NGOs, research institutions, and consulting firms with a strong track record in the region. GSLI's training courses can significantly enhance an organization's ability to meet the call's requirements. For example, the 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course provides essential skills in indicator development, data collection, and analysis. The 'Writing Winning Proposals' course teaches how to structure a technical proposal and budget according to World Bank guidelines. Organizations should start preparing immediately by assessing their technical capacity and forming consortia. The call requires detailed financial and technical documentation, including a results framework with baseline and target values. A key challenge is demonstrating sustainability – how M&E systems will be maintained after project end. Proposals must include a clear plan for training and handover to local institutions. The World Bank also requires compliance with environmental and social safeguards. GSLI's 'Grants Management' course covers these compliance aspects. Overall, this is a high-urgency call that demands strategic preparation. Early engagement with partners and training investments will be critical to success.

Who is it For?

This opportunity is designed for a wide range of organizations, including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local civil society organizations (CSOs), research and academic institutions, private sector consulting firms, and multilateral agencies. Applicants must have a minimum of five years of experience in monitoring and evaluation, climate change adaptation, or related fields. Preference will be given to organizations with a physical presence or operational footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in countries most vulnerable to climate impacts such as the Sahel region, East Africa, and Southern Africa. Consortia are encouraged, and lead applicants must be legally registered in eligible countries. The World Bank requires that at least 30% of project funds be sub-granted to local partners to strengthen local capacities. Organizations must demonstrate robust financial management systems, as evidenced by audited financial statements for the past three years. Additionally, applicants should have clear policies on gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental safeguards. The call is open to for-profit and not-for-profit entities, but all must adhere to the World Bank's Anti-Corruption Guidelines and Procurement Regulations.

Priorities

The World Bank's global priorities for this call center on strengthening climate resilience through robust M&E systems. Key investment KPIs include: (1) achieving a 20% improvement in data quality and timeliness for climate indicators within target countries; (2) training at least 500 government officials and local stakeholders in M&E best practices; (3) establishing functional M&E dashboards in at least 10 national agencies; (4) ensuring 70% of project interventions are informed by real-time data; and (5) incorporating gender-disaggregated data in all reporting. The donor emphasizes results-based management, adaptive learning, and sustainability. Proposals should demonstrate how M&E systems will be institutionalized beyond the project lifespan. The World Bank also prioritizes cross-sectoral integration, linking climate data with health, agriculture, and water resources. Another priority is the use of innovative technologies, such as mobile data collection, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence for predictive analytics. Furthermore, the World Bank encourages South-South knowledge exchange and peer learning. The call supports the Paris Agreement commitments and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of African countries. Funds must be used primarily for capacity building, technology acquisition, and technical assistance. Co-financing from other donors is welcome but not required.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are comprehensive and include financial, spatial, and corporate legal requirements. Financially, organizations must demonstrate stable funding sources, with annual budgets exceeding $2 million for the past two years. Audited financial statements and a positive audit opinion are mandatory. Spatially, projects must target at least two Sub-Saharan African countries, with a focus on least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS). Organizations must have a legal registration in an eligible World Bank member country. Due diligence includes background checks for fraud, corruption, and sanctions. Applicants must sign the World Bank's Anti-Corruption Declaration and agree to periodic audits. For consortia, a lead partner must be identified, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) or partnership agreement is required. All partners must meet individual eligibility criteria. The World Bank encourages innovative partnerships with universities and local governments. Intellectual property rights must be clearly addressed in the proposal. Additionally, organizations with past performance in World Bank-funded projects are viewed favorably. The call also welcomes proposals from organizations that have not previously worked with the World Bank, provided they meet all criteria. Environmental and social safeguards must be integrated into the project design.

Path to Success

To secure funding from this World Bank call, organizations should follow a strategic roadmap that integrates GSLI training for competitive advantage. Step 1: Conduct a thorough self-assessment of organizational capacity against the call's eligibility criteria. Identify gaps in M&E expertise, financial management, and proposal writing. Enroll key staff in GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to strengthen technical skills and 'Writing Winning Proposals' to master World Bank formats. Step 2: Build strong partnerships with local organizations in target Sub-Saharan African countries. Form a consortium that includes at least one national government agency and a local CSO. Use GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' training to align partner roles and responsibilities. Step 3: Develop a compelling Theory of Change (ToC) that connects M&E strengthening to climate resilience outcomes. Incorporate gender-transformative approaches and innovative technologies. Leverage GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' and 'WASH' courses to address cross-sectoral linkages. Step 4: Prepare a meticulous budget that demonstrates value for money, with at least 30% allocated to local sub-grantees. Ensure compliance with World Bank procurement rules via GSLI's 'Procurement & Supply Chain' training. Step 5: Write the proposal with clear, measurable indicators and a sustainability plan. Include a risk matrix and mitigation strategies. Utilize GSLI's 'Grants Management' course for post-award compliance. Finally, submit before the deadline and prepare for technical and financial negotiations. GSLI alumni have a 40% higher success rate in World Bank bids due to targeted training.

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Deadline: 2026-07-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal