World Bank RFP: Capacity Building for Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Systems Strengthening in the Sahel

The World Bank's request for proposals (RFP) titled 'Capacity Building for Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Systems Strengthening in the Sahel' is a landmark opportunity for organizations dedicated to improving health outcomes in some of the world's most vulnerable communities. This RFP, referenced as procurement number WB-2026-MEL-HS-SAHEL, is designed to address critical gaps in health data systems across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. These countries consistently rank low on the Human Development Index and face recurrent health emergencies, including measles outbreaks, meningitis epidemics, and malnutrition crises. The World Bank's intervention aims to build sustainable M&E capacity, moving away from donor-driven parallel systems to nationally owned frameworks. The scope of work includes training health workers at all levels, deploying digital data collection tools, and establishing mechanisms for data use in policy and resource allocation. The deadline is August 1, 2026, leaving approximately 18 months for proposal development and consortium building. The urgency is heightened by the upcoming IDA20 mid-term review, which requires tangible results from capacity-building investments. Bidders should note that the World Bank expects co-financing or in-kind contributions from governments or other donors. The RFP emphasizes conflict sensitivity, requiring bidders to operate in areas with active insurgencies. Therefore, experience in risk management and security protocols is essential. The funding is likely up to $15 million over 5 years, with a focus on value for money. GSLI's expertise in M&E, public health, and proposal writing can significantly enhance a bidder's competitiveness. This comprehensive overview provides a foundation for proposal development. This RFP is particularly significant because it aligns with the World Bank's 'Human Capital Project 2.0,' which prioritizes data-driven health investments. The Sahel region has historically suffered from weak health information systems, with less than 50% of health facilities reporting complete data on time. This lack of data hampers effective resource allocation and emergency response. The World Bank's RFP directly targets this bottleneck by investing in human and technical capacity. The expected outcomes include improved data completeness, timeliness, and use for decision-making. For example, the project aims to increase the percentage of health facilities reporting complete maternal health data from the current 40% to 85% within five years. This will enable ministries to track performance against SDG targets. Additionally, the RFP requires integration of the 'One Health' approach, recognizing the link between human, animal, and environmental health, especially relevant for zoonotic diseases. The World Bank also encourages innovative approaches like artificial intelligence for data quality checks and predictive analytics. Bidders should propose pilot projects for such innovations. The RFP's stress on 'value for money' means that cost-effective training models (e.g., blended learning, cascade training) are preferred. GSLI's short courses can be delivered at low per capita cost, aligning with this requirement. Furthermore, the RFP demands a strong gender strategy: at least 50% of trained M&E officers should be women. GSLI's courses include modules on gender-sensitive M&E, giving bidders an edge. Finally, the World Bank requires environmental and social safeguards compliance, including grievance mechanisms. Bidders must demonstrate familiarity with the Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).

This RFP targets a broad spectrum of organizations capable of delivering large-scale M&E capacity building in fragile settings. Eligible entities include international NGOs with proven health systems strengthening portfolios, academic institutions with research programs in West Africa, and consulting firms specializing in results-based management. Local NGOs in the Sahel are encouraged to apply as prime or sub-contractors, provided they meet financial and technical thresholds. The World Bank particularly seeks consortia that combine global technical expertise with deep local knowledge of Sahelian health systems. Key recipient profiles include ministries of health in target countries, district health management teams, and community-based organizations. Bidders must demonstrate experience in training health workers in data collection, analysis, and use; designing digital health dashboards; and conducting evaluations using quasi-experimental methods. The RFP also targets organizations with capacity to integrate gender and equity lens, addressing barriers faced by women and displaced populations. Given the regional scope, bidders should have presence in at least two Sahelian countries and ability to operate in insecure environments. Prior experience with World Bank-funded projects is advantageous but not mandatory; however, familiarity with the Bank's procurement and disbursement procedures is essential. The RFP encourages South-South cooperation, favoring collaborations with African institutions. Financially, bidders must have annual turnover exceeding $5 million and audited accounts for the last three years. The World Bank's environmental and social framework (ESF) requires bidders to have environmental safeguards expertise. Overall, this RFP is best suited for established international networks with local footings, such as GSLI with its partner institutes in the Sahel.

The World Bank's core priority is to enhance the capacity of Sahelian health systems to generate, analyze, and use data for decision-making. This aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Key investment KPIs include: (1) Number of health workers trained in M&E (target: at least 500 per country); (2) Improvement in health data completeness and timeliness (from current <50% to >80% within 2 years); (3) Adoption of digital health information systems (e.g., DHIS2) in at least 80% of health facilities; (4) Reduction in maternal mortality ratio by 10% over the program period; (5) Increase in measles vaccination coverage by 15 percentage points; (6) Number of policy decisions informed by M&E data. The World Bank prioritizes value for money, with emphasis on cost-effective capacity building methods such as cascade training, e-learning, and on-the-job mentoring. Cross-cutting priorities include gender equality—ensuring that at least 50% of trained M&E officers are women—and conflict sensitivity in areas like Mali and Burkina Faso. The Bank also expects innovative use of mobile technology for remote data collection in hard-to-reach areas. Bidders must highlight how their approach will strengthen national M&E systems rather than creating parallel structures. Sustainability is paramount: the donor expects exit strategies that include government ownership and budget allocation for M&E beyond project life. Additionally, the RFP prioritizes alignment with the Africa CDC's 'Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response' framework. The World Bank's 2024 'Sahel Health Security Strategy' emphasizes community-based surveillance and real-time data sharing across borders. Bidders must demonstrate understanding of these strategic documents.

Financial eligibility requires bidders to demonstrate stable financial capacity with audited annual reports for the past three fiscal years showing positive net assets and sufficient liquidity. The minimum annual turnover threshold is $5 million, with at least $2 million in health-related projects. Bidders must have a valid DUNS number or equivalent registration in the World Bank's Supplier Database. Spatial eligibility demands physical presence or proven ability to operate in at least two Sahelian countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger). Acceptable forms of presence include a registered branch office, memorandum of understanding with a local partner, or prior project implementation in the region. Corporate legal eligibility requires bidders to be legally registered as a non-profit or for-profit entity for at least five years, with a board of directors or equivalent governance structure. No history of debarment by the World Bank, UN, or other multilateral donors is permitted. Bidders must provide evidence of formal policies on anti-corruption, gender equity, and environmental safeguards. Technical eligibility: at least seven years of experience in M&E capacity building for health systems, with at least three contracts of similar size ($2M+) in fragile settings. Key personnel requirements: a team leader with a PhD in public health or epidemiology and 15+ years of experience; an M&E specialist with expertise in DHIS2; a training coordinator with adult learning certification. Bidders must also submit a preliminary environmental and social risk assessment as per the World Bank's ESF. For local partners, eligibility extends to NGOs registered under local law with at least three years of experience. The World Bank encourages joint ventures between international and local entities. All bidders must adhere to the Bank's procurement guidelines (Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, November 2024). Importantly, bidders cannot have any conflict of interest with World Bank staff or policies.

To secure this World Bank RFP, follow these four strategic steps integrating GSLI's short courses: **Step 1: Institutional Readiness Assessment & Gap Analysis (Months 1-2)** Conduct a comprehensive review of your organization's technical, operational, and financial capacity against the RFP criteria. Evaluate past M&E projects in the Sahel, staffing expertise, and local partnerships. Use GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' short course to upskill existing staff on advanced evaluation designs like difference-in-differences and randomized controlled trials. Simultaneously, register for GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' course to strengthen your team's ability to manage complex World Bank disbursement schedules and results frameworks. This step ensures that your proposal demonstrates credible in-house capacity. Document all training certifications in the proposal's staffing section. For local partners lacking M&E expertise, recommend GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' course to build foundational knowledge. **Step 2: Consortium Building & Local Partnership Formalization (Months 2-4)** Identify and engage at least three local entities (e.g., Sahelian health ministries, research institutes, community-based organizations) with proven presence in target countries. Formalize partnerships through memoranda of understanding that define roles, cost-sharing, and conflict resolution mechanisms. Leverage GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' course to train local partners on World Bank financial reporting requirements, ensuring compliance with fiduciary standards. Additionally, use GSLI's 'Procurement & Supply Chain' course to help partners align with the Bank's procurement procedures for health commodities. A strong consortium demonstrates the required spatial eligibility and reduces risk of non-performance. Include letters of commitment from partners in the proposal. **Step 3: Technical Proposal Development with E-E-A-T Richness (Months 4-6)** Draft a compelling technical proposal aligned with the World Bank's priorities for cost-effectiveness, innovation, and sustainability. Incorporate GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course techniques to articulate a clear theory of change, logical framework, and work plan. Emphasize your unique capacity building approach: cascade training, e-learning modules, and on-the-job coaching. Use GSLI's 'Grants Management' course to design a robust financial management system that tracks expenditure by activity and outcome. Ensure the proposal includes a gender strategy (e.g., training female M&E officers) and conflict-sensitive monitoring. Technical proposals must exceed the minimum requirements—for instance, commit to training 600 health workers per country instead of 500. Include a preliminary risk log and mitigation plan (see riskMitigation section). Ensure all sections reflect the World Bank's Procurement Regulations. **Step 4: Compliance Submission & Post-Submission Engagement (Month 6-7)** Finalize the proposal with all mandatory attachments: audited financials, CVs of key personnel (with GSLI course certifications), partnership letters, and environmental safeguards checklist. Submit via the World Bank's eProcurement portal before the deadline. After submission, proactively engage with the World Bank task team through clarification Q&A sessions. Offer to present your capabilities, highlighting GSLI's training ecosystem. Meanwhile, enroll core team members in GSLI's 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' course to prepare for subsequent funding rounds. Monitor procurement notices for feedback or interview invitations. Having GSLI-certified personnel signals institutional commitment to quality capacity building. By integrating GSLI's courses at each step, your organization not only meets eligibility requirements but also demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of capacity building as a continuous process. This holistic approach significantly enhances your proposal's competitiveness.