World Bank RFP: Strengthening Public Financial Management and Procurement for Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery in Fragile States

This World Bank RFP, 'Strengthening Public Financial Management and Procurement for Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery in Fragile States', represents a strategic initiative to address critical gaps in water and sanitation services in some of the world's most vulnerable regions. Fragile, conflict-affected, and violence-prone (FCV) states often suffer from weak institutional capacity, corruption, and inefficient resource allocation, which undermine the delivery of essential WASH services. Climate change exacerbates these challenges by increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, floods, and waterborne diseases. This RFP seeks to fund projects that strengthen PFM and procurement systems to make them more climate-responsive, transparent, and accountable. The ultimate goal is to ensure that climate-resilient WASH infrastructure and services reach communities in need, even in the midst of instability. The World Bank expects proposals to be grounded in a thorough understanding of the local context, including political economy dynamics, stakeholder interests, and existing PFM frameworks. Successful projects will be those that can demonstrate measurable improvements in budget execution, procurement efficiency, and service delivery. The deadline for proposals is August 30, 2026, offering a substantial preparation window. Organizations are encouraged to form consortia that combine technical expertise in PFM, procurement, WASH, and climate adaptation. GSLI's training programs can significantly enhance proposal quality and implementation capacity, making them a valuable partner for bidders. Overall, this RFP is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of millions by building systems that can withstand both conflict and climate change. The context of this RFP is further shaped by the World Bank's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The Bank recognizes that achieving these goals in FCV settings requires a dual focus on immediate service delivery and long-term institutional strengthening. This RFP is part of a broader portfolio of investments in FCV countries, totaling over $20 billion annually. The Bank has established a dedicated FCV group to coordinate these efforts and to develop innovative approaches that work in high-risk environments. Key features of this RFP include a focus on gender equality and social inclusion, demanding that projects address the specific needs of women, children, and marginalized groups. The RFP also emphasizes the use of technology to improve transparency and efficiency, such as digital financial management systems and e-procurement platforms. Donors are particularly interested in projects that can be scaled regionally, creating models that can be replicated across different FCV contexts. The World Bank encourages the use of adaptive management, allowing projects to adjust their strategies based on changing conditions and emerging evidence. This flexible approach is crucial in fragile settings where risks are high and the operating environment can shift rapidly. Proposals should clearly articulate a learning agenda and mechanisms for capturing and responding to lessons learned. Additionally, the RFP requires all projects to adhere to the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), which includes standards for stakeholder engagement, labor conditions, and biodiversity. Compliance with these standards is non-negotiable and will be a key criterion in evaluating proposals. This RFP is a significant opportunity, and organizations that bring a combination of technical expertise, local knowledge, and robust capacity building—such as GSLI's training—will be well-positioned to succeed.

Strategic Overview

This World Bank RFP, 'Strengthening Public Financial Management and Procurement for Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery in Fragile States', represents a strategic initiative to address critical gaps in water and sanitation services in some of the world's most vulnerable regions. Fragile, conflict-affected, and violence-prone (FCV) states often suffer from weak institutional capacity, corruption, and inefficient resource allocation, which undermine the delivery of essential WASH services. Climate change exacerbates these challenges by increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, floods, and waterborne diseases. This RFP seeks to fund projects that strengthen PFM and procurement systems to make them more climate-responsive, transparent, and accountable. The ultimate goal is to ensure that climate-resilient WASH infrastructure and services reach communities in need, even in the midst of instability. The World Bank expects proposals to be grounded in a thorough understanding of the local context, including political economy dynamics, stakeholder interests, and existing PFM frameworks. Successful projects will be those that can demonstrate measurable improvements in budget execution, procurement efficiency, and service delivery. The deadline for proposals is August 30, 2026, offering a substantial preparation window. Organizations are encouraged to form consortia that combine technical expertise in PFM, procurement, WASH, and climate adaptation. GSLI's training programs can significantly enhance proposal quality and implementation capacity, making them a valuable partner for bidders. Overall, this RFP is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of millions by building systems that can withstand both conflict and climate change. The context of this RFP is further shaped by the World Bank's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The Bank recognizes that achieving these goals in FCV settings requires a dual focus on immediate service delivery and long-term institutional strengthening. This RFP is part of a broader portfolio of investments in FCV countries, totaling over $20 billion annually. The Bank has established a dedicated FCV group to coordinate these efforts and to develop innovative approaches that work in high-risk environments. Key features of this RFP include a focus on gender equality and social inclusion, demanding that projects address the specific needs of women, children, and marginalized groups. The RFP also emphasizes the use of technology to improve transparency and efficiency, such as digital financial management systems and e-procurement platforms. Donors are particularly interested in projects that can be scaled regionally, creating models that can be replicated across different FCV contexts. The World Bank encourages the use of adaptive management, allowing projects to adjust their strategies based on changing conditions and emerging evidence. This flexible approach is crucial in fragile settings where risks are high and the operating environment can shift rapidly. Proposals should clearly articulate a learning agenda and mechanisms for capturing and responding to lessons learned. Additionally, the RFP requires all projects to adhere to the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), which includes standards for stakeholder engagement, labor conditions, and biodiversity. Compliance with these standards is non-negotiable and will be a key criterion in evaluating proposals. This RFP is a significant opportunity, and organizations that bring a combination of technical expertise, local knowledge, and robust capacity building—such as GSLI's training—will be well-positioned to succeed.

Who is it For?

This RFP is primarily targeted at international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local civil society organizations (CSOs), research institutions, consulting firms, and public sector agencies with demonstrated experience in public financial management, procurement reform, and climate-resilient WASH service delivery in fragile and conflict-affected states. Eligible entities must have a proven track record of working in FCV settings, preferably with prior World Bank or multi-donor trust fund engagement. The World Bank encourages proposals from consortia that combine expertise in PFM, procurement, WASH engineering, climate adaptation, and community engagement. Local organizations from target countries are strongly encouraged to apply as lead or co-implementers to ensure contextual relevance and sustainability. Donors prioritize applicants that can demonstrate institutional capacity for financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and fiduciary compliance. Specifically, organizations must have audited financial statements for the past three years, established procurement policies, and a robust anti-corruption framework. Additionally, applicants should have experience in gender-sensitive and human rights-based approaches, as well as familiarity with the World Bank's environmental and social safeguards. The RFP is open to entities registered in World Bank member countries, with special consideration for organizations headquartered in IDA-eligible or FCV-affected nations. Partnerships with local governments, utilities, and community-based organizations are highly recommended to ensure alignment with national WASH strategies and to foster local ownership.

Priorities

The World Bank's global priorities for this RFP center on enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency of public financial management and procurement systems to deliver climate-resilient WASH services in fragile states. Key investment KPIs include: (1) Improved PFM frameworks: strengthen budget formulation, execution, and oversight processes to integrate climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction; (2) Green procurement: adopt sustainable procurement standards that prioritize low-carbon, climate-resilient WASH technologies and services; (3) Capacity building: train government officials and local stakeholders in PFM, procurement, and climate-responsive budgeting; (4) Institutional strengthening: support the establishment or reform of PFM and procurement institutions to reduce leakage, corruption, and inefficiency; (5) Climate resilience: ensure that WASH infrastructure and services are designed to withstand extreme weather events, droughts, and floods; (6) Gender and social inclusion: integrate gender-responsive budgeting and procurement practices to address the disproportionate impact of water scarcity on women and girls; (7) Monitoring & evaluation: develop robust M&E systems to track PFM and procurement improvements and their impact on WASH service delivery. The World Bank also emphasizes coherence with national development plans and alignment with the SDGs. Proposals should demonstrate clear theories of change, with outcome indicators such as percentage increase in budget execution rates for WASH, reduction in procurement cycle times, and number of climate-resilient WASH facilities constructed or rehabilitated. Donors expect grantees to incorporate lessons learned from past interventions and to use adaptive management approaches to respond to evolving FCV dynamics.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this RFP is comprehensive and requires a rigorous financial, spatial, and corporate legal audit. Financially, applicants must submit audited financial statements for the last three fiscal years, demonstrating sound financial management and capacity to handle large grants (typically up to $5 million). The organization's annual budget should be at least $1 million, with a proven track record of managing donor funds, particularly from the World Bank or other international financial institutions. Spatially, applicants must have operational presence or partnerships in one or more FCV-affected countries, with demonstrated ability to navigate complex security and logistical environments. Legal eligibility requires registration as a non-profit, for-profit, or academic entity in a World Bank member country, with explicit authorization to operate in the target regions. The organization must have clear procurement policies, anti-fraud and anti-corruption measures, and a code of conduct. Additionally, applicants must comply with the World Bank's Anticorruption Guidelines and Sanctions Framework. Previous direct experience in PFM and/or procurement reform is mandatory, with at least two similar projects completed in the last five years. For consortia, each member must individually meet eligibility criteria, and the lead applicant must have a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. The World Bank also requires that applicants have no record of unethical practices, debarment, or sanctions. Organizations must provide letters of support or commitment from local government partners in the proposed project locations. Furthermore, all applicants must demonstrate alignment with the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), including stakeholder engagement plans and grievance mechanisms. Failure to meet any of these requirements may result in disqualification.

Path to Success

A strategic roadmap to success for this RFP involves four clear steps, integrating GSLI training at each stage to maximize competitiveness. Step 1: Comprehensive Needs Assessment and Stakeholder Mapping (Months 1-2). Begin by conducting a thorough analysis of PFM and procurement gaps in the target FCV country, focusing on climate-resilient WASH. Use GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to design a rapid assessment framework that collects baseline data on budget execution, procurement efficiency, and WASH service reliability. Identify key government counterparts (e.g., Ministries of Finance, Water, and Local Government) and WASH service providers. Step 2: Proposal Design and Capacity Building (Months 3-4). Develop a theory of change that links PFM and procurement reforms to climate-resilient WASH outcomes. To strengthen your proposal, enroll key personnel in GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' and 'Procurement & Supply Chain' courses. These courses will equip your team with skills in budget formulation, internal controls, green procurement standards, and fiduciary risk management. Use these skills to build a robust MEL framework and a detailed implementation plan. Step 3: Partnership Development and Compliance (Months 5-6). Form a consortium that includes local CSOs, research institutions, and government agencies. Ensure all partners meet World Bank eligibility requirements and sign MOUs. Attend GSLI's 'Grants Management' course to understand compliance, reporting, and audit readiness. Prepare all necessary annexes, including audited financial statements, procurement policies, and environmental and social safeguards. Step 4: Submission and Post-Award Planning (Months 7-8). Submit the proposal by the August 30, 2026 deadline. Meanwhile, use GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to refine your narrative and ensure alignment with donor priorities. After submission, engage in post-award readiness by training staff in GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' course to ensure smooth implementation. This roadmap not only increases the likelihood of success but also builds institutional capacity for future funding opportunities. GSLI's comprehensive training modules provide the technical edge needed to stand out in a competitive landscape.

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Deadline: 2026-08-30

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal