World Bank Technical Assistance: Strengthening Public Financial Management for Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery

This World Bank technical assistance program is designed to bolster the capacity of government entities and service providers in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCV) to manage public financial resources effectively for climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) service delivery. The initiative, launched in Q2 2026, targets countries in the Sahel region, the Horn of Africa, and parts of South Asia where climate change exacerbates water scarcity and sanitation challenges. The program prioritizes strengthening budgeting, accounting, procurement, and audit processes tailored to the WASH sector, integrating climate adaptation metrics into financial planning. With a total envelope of $150 million, the program expects to fund up to 20 multi-year technical assistance projects. Donors emphasize the need for local partners that can demonstrate expertise in public financial management (PFM) reform, climate finance, and community-level WASH interventions. The program aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 13 (Climate Action), and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Successful applicants will propose innovative mechanisms to enhance transparency, reduce leakage, and ensure value for money in WASH investments, particularly in areas affected by fragility. The World Bank's historical precedent includes over 200 PFM projects globally, with a 12% average improvement in budget execution rates. This call specifically requires proven experience in managing multi-stakeholder environments and delivering training to local government officials. The program also emphasizes gender-responsive budgeting and inclusion of vulnerable populations in decision-making processes. A key differentiator is the integration of digital financial management tools and real-time monitoring dashboards to improve accountability.

Strategic Overview

Who is it For?

This opportunity is intended for a diverse range of organizations, including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local civil society organizations (CSOs), public sector agencies, academic institutions, and private sector consulting firms with proven expertise in public financial management (PFM) reform, climate adaptation, and WASH service delivery. Specifically, the World Bank encourages applications from consortia that include at least one locally registered entity from the target country to ensure contextual relevance and sustainability. Eligible organizations must have a minimum of 10 years of experience in PFM capacity building, with at least five projects of similar scale and complexity completed in the last decade. Experience in fragile and conflict-affected states is mandatory, and applicants should provide evidence of successful implementation in environments with high operational risks. The lead organization must have an annual turnover of at least $5 million and a demonstrated ability to manage multi-million dollar grants. Additionally, the donor expects that the consortium includes specialists in climate finance, gender mainstreaming, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Organizations with a track record of using participatory approaches and building local ownership will be prioritized. The World Bank also emphasizes the importance of prior experience in training government officials on budget formulation, treasury management, and procurement reforms. Applicants must be able to deploy teams within 30 days of contract signature and have a presence in the target region.

Priorities

The donor's primary priorities for this technical assistance program include: 1) Strengthening the capacity of local governments and WASH service providers to integrate climate resilience into budgeting and financial planning processes. This involves developing climate-responsive budgeting frameworks that allocate resources to adaptation measures, such as rainwater harvesting systems, flood-resistant sanitation infrastructure, and drought-tolerant water supply schemes. 2) Enhancing transparency and accountability in WASH investments through the adoption of digital financial management systems, such as integrated financial management information systems (IFMIS), and real-time expenditure tracking dashboards. The World Bank expects a 20% reduction in unallocated expenditures and a 15% improvement in audit compliance rates over the project period. 3) Improving procurement and supply chain management for WASH projects, including the development of standard bidding documents, e-procurement platforms, and contractor performance evaluation systems. A key performance indicator is a 10% reduction in procurement cycle times. 4) Promoting gender-responsive budgeting by training finance officials to analyze the differential impacts of WASH expenditures on men, women, and vulnerable groups, and to allocate resources accordingly. At least 30% of training participants should be women. 5) Strengthening oversight mechanisms, including community-based monitoring and social audits, to ensure that WASH services reach the most marginalized populations. The program targets a 25% increase in citizen satisfaction with WASH services in pilot areas. 6) Building institutional capacity for climate risk assessment and integration into public investment management systems. Applicants should propose specific metrics for measuring climate resilience, such as the number of water points with climate-resilient designs or the percentage of sanitation facilities designed to withstand extreme weather events. The World Bank also prioritizes South-South knowledge exchange and the use of innovative financing mechanisms, such as performance-based grants or blended finance.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are stringent and designed to ensure that only highly capable organizations apply. Lead applicants must be legally registered entities in their country of operation, with at least ten years of operational history. They must provide audited financial statements for the past three fiscal years, demonstrating a current ratio (current assets/current liabilities) of at least 1.5 and positive net assets. Organizations with annual expenditures exceeding $10 million are preferred, though smaller entities may apply as part of a consortium. The consortium must include at least one organization registered in the target country, and that entity must have a minimum of five years of experience in the WASH sector. All partners must sign a memorandum of understanding outlining roles and responsibilities. The World Bank prohibits organizations that have been sanctioned for fraud, corruption, or unethical practices from applying. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate a clean record of compliance with the World Bank's environmental and social safeguards, including the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). The proposal must include a detailed risk management plan addressing security, political, and fiduciary risks. Financial eligibility requires that the proposed project budget does not exceed $15 million, with a maximum indirect cost rate of 10%. Applicants must also confirm that they have no conflict of interest with the World Bank or its partners. Finally, organizations must be registered on the World Bank's e-procurement system and have a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) or similar code.

Path to Success

To secure funding, organizations should follow this strategic roadmap: Step 1) Build a Consortium with Complementary Expertise: Assemble a team that includes an INGO with PFM reform experience, a local NGO with WASH field presence, a university with climate research capacity, and a private firm specializing in digital financial systems. Ensure that each partner has a clear role and a track record of collaboration. Step 2) Conduct a Rapid Needs Assessment in the Target Country: Engage with local government officials, WASH service providers, and communities to identify specific PFM bottlenecks and climate adaptation gaps. Use this assessment to tailor the proposal to the country's context. GSLI's short course in Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) can help design a robust baseline study and participatory assessment methodology. Step 3) Develop a Results Framework with SMART Indicators: Align your indicators with the World Bank's expectations: include outcome indicators like 'percentage of local government units with climate-responsive budgets' and output indicators like 'number of finance officers trained on climate budgeting'. Use the Project Management for Development course to structure activities and milestones. Step 4) Strengthen Institutional Capacity Through GSLI Training: Enroll key staff in GSLI's Financial Management for NGOs and Procurement & Supply Chain courses to ensure robust financial controls and procurement compliance. This demonstrates institutional readiness to the donor. Also, equip the training team with the Writing Winning Proposals course to refine the proposal. Step 5) Submit a Concept Note by June 15, 2026, highlighting your consortium's unique value proposition, experience in FCV settings, and innovative approach to integrating climate resilience into PFM. Follow up with a comprehensive full proposal by August 30, 2026. Throughout, maintain regular communication with the World Bank task team leader.

Recommended GSLI Courses

Financial Management for NGOs
Procurement & Supply Chain Management
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)
Project Management for Development
Writing Winning Proposals

Deadline: 2026-06-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal