World Bank Grant: Strengthening Public Financial Management for Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery in the Sahel Region

This World Bank grant represents a landmark opportunity to transform the WASH sector in the Sahel by addressing the root cause of service failure: weak public financial management. The Sahel region is home to over 150 million people, of whom nearly 50 million lack access to safe water and 85 million lack adequate sanitation. Climate change is exacerbating these challenges, with projections indicating a 20% reduction in water availability by 2050. The grant is part of the World Bank's broader Sahel Adaptive Social Protection Program and its commitment to mobilizing $15 billion in climate finance by 2025. The specific focus on PFM is based on evidence that policy and institutional reforms can increase the efficiency of public spending by 10-20%, freeing up resources for climate adaptation. The call for proposals is open to both national and subnational entities, encouraging a multi-level governance approach. Successful proposals will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the political economy of PFM reforms, including incentives for budget actors to adopt climate-responsive practices. The implementation period of 24-48 months provides sufficient time for systemic change, including the adoption of new budgeting tools and capacity building. The total budget of up to $10 million per project allows for substantial investments in training, information systems, and pilot projects. Applicants must submit a detailed budget breakdown, a risk matrix, and a staffing plan. The evaluation criteria include alignment with donor priorities (30%), technical soundness (25%), institutional capacity (20%), cost-effectiveness (15%), and sustainability (10%). Proposals must be submitted via the World Bank's eProcurement system by July 15, 2026. GSLI's expertise in capacity building directly addresses the institutional capacity component of the evaluation criteria. Our courses are designed to upgrade the skills of project staff in financial management, procurement, M&E, and project management. For example, the 'Public Financial Management' course covers budget cycle, internal controls, and audit preparedness, which are essential for complying with World Bank fiduciary standards. The 'Climate Adaptation & Water Security' course provides frameworks for integrating climate projections into sector planning. By using GSLI training as a capacity-building cornerstone, applicants can demonstrate a concrete plan for strengthening local institutions. Moreover, GSLI can provide certificates of completion to include in the proposal, adding credibility. The grant also requires a communication and stakeholder engagement plan, which can be supported by GSLI's 'Leadership and Advocacy' training. Overall, this grant is a golden opportunity for organizations committed to making a lasting difference in the Sahel's WASH landscape. The World Bank has a rigorous due diligence process that includes an assessment of the applicant's financial management capacity, procurement capabilities, and environmental and social safeguards. Therefore, it is crucial for applicants to have a strong internal control environment and a track record of managing donor funds. GSLI's 'Grants Management' course covers compliance with donor requirements, including reporting schedules, audit procedures, and cash management. The grant also emphasizes the use of country systems, meaning that applicants should work through national budgeting and procurement frameworks where possible. This strengthens national ownership but also requires that these systems be robust. GSLI's training can help identify weaknesses and recommend improvements. The application package must include a detailed description of the capacity-building plan, including the number of officials to be trained, the curriculum, and the monitoring of training outcomes. By partnering with GSLI, applicants can present a pre-designed training program that meets these requirements. In summary, the overview highlights the strategic importance of this grant and the critical role of capacity building in achieving its objectives.

Strategic Overview

This World Bank grant represents a landmark opportunity to transform the WASH sector in the Sahel by addressing the root cause of service failure: weak public financial management. The Sahel region is home to over 150 million people, of whom nearly 50 million lack access to safe water and 85 million lack adequate sanitation. Climate change is exacerbating these challenges, with projections indicating a 20% reduction in water availability by 2050. The grant is part of the World Bank's broader Sahel Adaptive Social Protection Program and its commitment to mobilizing $15 billion in climate finance by 2025. The specific focus on PFM is based on evidence that policy and institutional reforms can increase the efficiency of public spending by 10-20%, freeing up resources for climate adaptation. The call for proposals is open to both national and subnational entities, encouraging a multi-level governance approach. Successful proposals will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the political economy of PFM reforms, including incentives for budget actors to adopt climate-responsive practices. The implementation period of 24-48 months provides sufficient time for systemic change, including the adoption of new budgeting tools and capacity building. The total budget of up to $10 million per project allows for substantial investments in training, information systems, and pilot projects. Applicants must submit a detailed budget breakdown, a risk matrix, and a staffing plan. The evaluation criteria include alignment with donor priorities (30%), technical soundness (25%), institutional capacity (20%), cost-effectiveness (15%), and sustainability (10%). Proposals must be submitted via the World Bank's eProcurement system by July 15, 2026. GSLI's expertise in capacity building directly addresses the institutional capacity component of the evaluation criteria. Our courses are designed to upgrade the skills of project staff in financial management, procurement, M&E, and project management. For example, the 'Public Financial Management' course covers budget cycle, internal controls, and audit preparedness, which are essential for complying with World Bank fiduciary standards. The 'Climate Adaptation & Water Security' course provides frameworks for integrating climate projections into sector planning. By using GSLI training as a capacity-building cornerstone, applicants can demonstrate a concrete plan for strengthening local institutions. Moreover, GSLI can provide certificates of completion to include in the proposal, adding credibility. The grant also requires a communication and stakeholder engagement plan, which can be supported by GSLI's 'Leadership and Advocacy' training. Overall, this grant is a golden opportunity for organizations committed to making a lasting difference in the Sahel's WASH landscape. The World Bank has a rigorous due diligence process that includes an assessment of the applicant's financial management capacity, procurement capabilities, and environmental and social safeguards. Therefore, it is crucial for applicants to have a strong internal control environment and a track record of managing donor funds. GSLI's 'Grants Management' course covers compliance with donor requirements, including reporting schedules, audit procedures, and cash management. The grant also emphasizes the use of country systems, meaning that applicants should work through national budgeting and procurement frameworks where possible. This strengthens national ownership but also requires that these systems be robust. GSLI's training can help identify weaknesses and recommend improvements. The application package must include a detailed description of the capacity-building plan, including the number of officials to be trained, the curriculum, and the monitoring of training outcomes. By partnering with GSLI, applicants can present a pre-designed training program that meets these requirements. In summary, the overview highlights the strategic importance of this grant and the critical role of capacity building in achieving its objectives.

Who is it For?

This grant is designed for a diverse range of stakeholders operating in the Sahel region, including national and local government agencies responsible for WASH and finance, such as ministries of water, finance, and environment. International NGOs with a strong track record in WASH and public financial management are also eligible, particularly those that can demonstrate collaboration with local authorities. Research institutions and consultancy firms specializing in climate adaptation and policy reform may apply as lead or consortium partners. The donor emphasizes the need for entities with robust operational and financial capacity to manage large-scale, multi-year projects in fragile contexts. Specifically, applicants must have at least five years of experience in the Sahel region in PFM or WASH, a minimum annual budget of $2 million for similar projects, and a clear governance structure with anti-corruption measures. The call encourages consortia that bring complementary skills—for example, a WASH-focused NGO partnering with a PFM think tank and a climate science institute. Local organizations are strongly encouraged to participate as sub-grantees to ensure community ownership and sustainability. The World Bank also requires that applicants have a valid registration in the country of operation and comply with its fiduciary standards, including environmental and social safeguards. This grant is not open to individuals or for-profit entities without a clear public service mandate. The target audience therefore includes a mix of public sector, civil society, and academic actors capable of driving systemic change in PFM for climate-resilient WASH.

Priorities

The World Bank's global priorities for this grant align with its twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity, while addressing climate change as a cross-cutting issue. Specifically, the grant seeks to strengthen PFM systems to make WASH services climate-resilient, which is critical in the Sahel where climate variability exacerbates water scarcity and sanitation challenges. Key investment KPIs include: improved efficiency of public expenditure for WASH (measured by cost per capita), increased budget allocation for climate adaptation in WASH (target of 20% of total WASH budget), enhanced transparency through public financial reporting (e.g., adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards), and demonstrable capacity building at subnational levels. The donor prioritizes projects that institutionalize climate risk assessments in national planning cycles, such as integrating climate projections into medium-term expenditure frameworks. Another priority is the adoption of performance-based budgeting linked to WASH service delivery outcomes, such as reduced waterborne disease incidence or improved service continuity during droughts. The World Bank also requires gender-responsive budgeting to ensure that climate-resilient WASH interventions benefit women and girls disproportionately affected by water collection and sanitation responsibilities. Furthermore, the grant emphasizes innovation in PFM tools, such as using digital platforms for budget tracking and real-time monitoring of climate-related expenditures. The donor expects projects to generate evidence that can inform policy dialogue and replication across the Sahel region, thereby contributing to regional resilience and sustainable development. These priorities are deeply interconnected with SDGs 1, 5, 6, 13, and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal advances these KPIs through a robust logical framework and measurable indicators.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are multi-layered, requiring a comprehensive audit of an applicant's financial, spatial, and legal standing. Financially, organizations must demonstrate audited accounts for the past three years, showing a minimum annual revenue of $500,000 for NGOs or $5 million for government entities, with a clean audit opinion. They must have a proven ability to manage donor funds, including World Bank funds, via a functioning internal control system and a dedicated finance team. Spatially, applicants must operate in at least one of the targeted Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal) and have a physical presence or partnership with a local entity to ensure context-specific implementation. Legally, organizations must be registered as a legal entity in their country of registration, with a clear mandate aligned with public service or development. They must not be listed on the World Bank's debarment list and must adhere to its anti-corruption policies. Consortium applications are permitted, with a lead entity meeting the financial criteria and partners bringing complementary expertise. Additionally, the donor requires a due diligence checklist covering governance structures (board oversight, conflict of interest policy), safeguard compliance (environmental and social management framework), and gender equality policy. Projects should have a minimum duration of 24 months and a maximum of 48 months, with a total budget not exceeding $10 million. Co-financing of at least 10% of the total budget is preferred, demonstrating buy-in from the applicant or other donors. The donor also requires a risk assessment showing how the applicant will mitigate fiduciary, operational, and climatic risks. These stringent criteria ensure that only the most capable and credible organizations are entrusted with implementing this critical initiative in the fragile Sahelian context.

Path to Success

To achieve success in securing this World Bank grant, organizations must follow a strategic roadmap that integrates GSLI's capacity-building offerings. The first step is to conduct a thorough gap analysis of their existing public financial management (PFM) and WASH capabilities against the donor's requirements. GSLI's course on 'Financial Management for NGOs' can help strengthen accounting and budgeting systems to meet World Bank fiduciary standards, while 'Procurement & Supply Chain' training ensures compliance with donor procurement rules. The second step involves building a strong consortium with complementary partners. GSLI recommends enrolling key personnel in 'Project Management for Development' to enhance coordination and results-based management across partners. Additionally, 'Writing Winning Proposals' is essential to craft a compelling narrative that aligns with the donor's priorities on climate resilience and PFM reform. The third step is to integrate a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework using GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course, which provides tools to design indicator frameworks that track both financial performance and climate adaptation outcomes. This ensures that the project can demonstrate impact and value for money. The fourth step is to engage in continuous learning and adaptation. GSLI's 'WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)' and 'Public Health & Epidemiology' courses equip teams with technical knowledge to design climate-resilient WASH interventions, while 'Grants Management' training ensures effective post-award administration. Throughout the proposal development, GSLI advisors can provide one-on-one mentorship to refine the project logic model, risk matrix, and capacity-building plan. By investing in these training courses early, organizations not only improve their eligibility but also demonstrate to the World Bank their commitment to professional development and institutional strengthening. This proactive approach increases the likelihood of a successful bid and positions the organization as a reliable partner in the Sahel region.

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Deadline: 2026-07-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal