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

The World Bank's Request for Proposals (RFP) titled 'Strengthening Public Financial Management for Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery in Fragile States' is a landmark opportunity to address the intersection of fiscal governance, climate adaptation, and basic service delivery. Fragile states, which house nearly half of the world's poor, face a triple crisis: weak institutions, climate vulnerability, and inadequate WASH services. The World Bank recognizes that without robust PFM systems, climate finance and WASH investments are at high risk of mismanagement, corruption, and inefficiency. This RFP therefore seeks to build the capacity of governments to plan, budget, execute, and monitor climate-resilient WASH expenditures in a transparent and accountable manner. The scope of work includes designing PFM tools such as climate budget tagging, strengthening internal controls, training finance and sector officials, and establishing performance monitoring frameworks. The project is expected to span 3-5 years with a budget in the range of $10-50 million, depending on the number of target countries. Bidders must propose a multi-country or single-country approach, with a clear rationale for selection. The RFP emphasizes a 'systems strengthening' approach rather than standalone projects. It also encourages the use of digital technologies for financial management and service delivery. This overview provides the foundation for a strategic response that positions the bidder as a partner in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

This RFP is designed for organizations—including international NGOs, consulting firms, research institutions, and multilateral agencies—that have proven experience in public financial management reforms, climate finance, and WASH service delivery in fragile or conflict-affected settings. Eligible entities must demonstrate a track record of working with national and sub-national governments to strengthen budget planning, execution, auditing, and oversight. Specifically, the World Bank seeks bidders that can provide technical assistance to ministries of finance, sector ministries (e.g., water, health), and local government authorities. The ideal bidder will have staff with expertise in PFM diagnostics, climate budget tagging, gender-responsive budgeting, and fiduciary risk assessment. Additionally, the RFP favors organizations with field presence in fragile states—such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, or South Asia—where WASH infrastructure is vulnerable to climate shocks like droughts, floods, and waterborne diseases. Bidders must also show capacity for adaptive management, given the volatile operating environments. The World Bank strongly encourages consortia that combine global PFM expertise with local knowledge and community engagement capabilities. Small and medium-sized organizations may participate, but they must demonstrate sufficient financial and operational capacity to manage multi-year, multi-million-dollar projects. Ultimately, the audience is any legally registered entity that can deliver results under high-risk settings while adhering to World Bank fiduciary standards.

The World Bank's investment priorities under this RFP are anchored in its commitment to climate-resilient development and the strengthening of institutions in fragile states. Key priorities include: (1) Enhancing the capacity of public financial management systems to integrate climate change considerations into budget planning, execution, and reporting. This involves tracking climate-related expenditures and ensuring that WASH investments are climate-proofed. (2) Improving the efficiency and equity of WASH service delivery by linking financial management reforms to service outcomes. The Bank expects bidders to propose interventions that reduce non-revenue water, improve tariff collection, and ensure that subsidies reach the poorest households. (3) Strengthening transparency and accountability through robust auditing, citizen engagement, and open data initiatives. This aligns with the Bank's Governance and Anticorruption strategy. (4) Building institutional resilience at the local level, where service delivery often fails due to weak financial controls. The Bank prioritizes decentralized PFM reforms that empower local governments to manage WASH budgets effectively. (5) Promoting gender equality and social inclusion through PFM tools such as gender budget analysis and targeted funding for women-led WASH committees. Key performance indicators include: percentage increase in climate budget tagging accuracy, reduction in budget execution delays for WASH, number of local government entities with improved PFM practices, and improved service sustainability rates (e.g., reduced system downtime). The Bank also values South-South learning and the use of digital financial management tools. Proposals must clearly demonstrate how they will achieve these outcomes in fragile contexts with limited data and high risk.

Eligibility for this RFP requires bidders to meet strict financial, spatial, and corporate legal criteria. Financial eligibility: Bidders must have a minimum annual turnover of at least $5 million for the past three fiscal years, audited financial statements, and evidence of adequate liquidity to manage project cash flows. The World Bank will also assess the bidder's financial management systems to ensure they adhere to international standards (e.g., IPSAS or IFRS). Spatial eligibility: The proposed project must target one or more fragile states as defined by the World Bank's Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) list. Bidders must demonstrate prior operational experience in such contexts, including letters of reference from previous clients in similar settings. Corporate legal eligibility: The bidder must be a legally registered entity (non-profit or for-profit) with a valid registration certificate, tax compliance records, and no debarment from World Bank-financed projects. Bidders must also submit a declaration of no conflict of interest. Additionally, the World Bank requires that the bidder or its consortium partners have at least 10 years of cumulative experience in PFM or WASH in developing countries. Key documents required include: proof of registration, audited financial statements for the last 3 years, annual reports, and CVs of key personnel (who must have at least 10 years of relevant experience). The World Bank also mandates a due diligence review of the bidder's anti-corruption and anti-money laundering policies. Failure to meet any of these criteria will result in automatic disqualification. Bidders are encouraged to form consortia to fill gaps in expertise or geographic coverage.

To succeed in this World Bank RFP, organizations must follow a strategic roadmap that integrates GSLI training to address capacity gaps. Step 1: Conduct a thorough assessment of your organization's PFM and WASH expertise against the RFP's requirements. Use GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' course to strengthen your team's understanding of World Bank fiduciary standards and climate budget tagging. Simultaneously, take the 'Procurement & Supply Chain' course to ensure your procurement processes align with the Bank's regulations. Step 2: Form a consortium that brings together complementary skills—e.g., a PFM consulting firm, a WASH-focused NGO, and a local research institute. Leverage GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to craft a compelling narrative that highlights your consortium's combined experience. Develop a detailed work plan that includes baseline assessments, PFM reform design, capacity building, and M&E. Step 3: Engage with the World Bank's country offices and relevant government ministries early. Use GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' and 'WASH' courses to demonstrate your technical understanding of climate-resilient WASH. Present a consortium that includes local partners to enhance credibility and sustainability. Step 4: Develop a robust monitoring and evaluation framework using GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course. Include clear indicators for PFM improvements (e.g., percentage of budgets with climate tags) and WASH outcomes (e.g., number of people with access to climate-resilient sanitation). Emphasize adaptive management to handle fragile state dynamics. Step 5: Submit a compliant proposal that explicitly addresses all technical, financial, and eligibility criteria. Use GSLI's 'Grants Management' course to ensure your budget aligns with World Bank cost categories and that internal controls are robust. Finally, prepare for negotiations by anticipating questions about risk management and sustainability. GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' course will be invaluable for planning and execution. By following these steps and leveraging GSLI's targeted training, your organization can position itself as a credible and competent bidder.