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

This World Bank RFP is a high-value opportunity for organizations specializing in public financial management, procurement reform, and WASH service delivery in fragile contexts. The program targets four Sahel countries with a total budget of $45 million over five years, focusing on strengthening government systems to ensure transparent, efficient, and climate-resilient WASH investments. Eligible applicants must form consortia with deep local roots and international expertise. The RFP requires a phased implementation approach, beginning with diagnostic work and culminating in institutionalized reforms. GSLI’s training courses in procurement, financial management, and M&E can significantly strengthen a proposal by demonstrating commitment to global standards and local capacity building. The deadline is August 31, 2026, with a mandatory pre-proposal conference on July 15.

This RFP is open to international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), consulting firms, research institutions, and consortia with demonstrated expertise in public financial management, procurement reform, and WASH service delivery. Eligible entities must have at least ten years of proven experience working in fragile and conflict-affected states, particularly in the Sahel region. The World Bank requires that the lead applicant possess a track record of implementing multi-year, multi-million dollar technical assistance programs funded by major donors (e.g., World Bank, EU, USAID, AfDB). Prior experience in designing and delivering training curricula for government officials in PFM and procurement is essential. The ideal applicant will have staff with professional certifications in public procurement (e.g., CIPS, CPP) and financial management (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIMA). Organizations must demonstrate strong in-country presence or partnerships with local entities in at least two of the target countries. The World Bank encourages proposals from consortia that include local universities, civil society organizations, and regional bodies such as the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). Entities that have previously implemented World Bank-funded PFM projects with satisfactory performance ratings will receive favorable consideration. All applicants must comply with the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Guidelines and provide detailed financial audits for the past three fiscal years.

The World Bank’s strategic priorities for this RFP are threefold: (i) strengthening the capacity of national and local governments to plan, budget, and execute WASH investments with transparency and efficiency; (ii) improving procurement systems to ensure value for money, competition, and integrity in the delivery of WASH infrastructure and services; and (iii) enhancing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track financial flows, service delivery outcomes, and climate resilience indicators. Specifically, the donor expects the program to achieve the following key performance indicators (KPIs): a 30% improvement in budget execution rates for WASH capital projects within three years; a 25% reduction in procurement lead times for key WASH supplies; adoption of e-procurement platforms in at least 50% of target municipalities; and a measurable increase in citizen satisfaction with WASH services as measured by annual perception surveys. The program must also integrate gender-responsive budgeting and social inclusion criteria into all PFM and procurement interventions. The World Bank is particularly interested in innovative approaches that leverage digital technologies, such as blockchain for supply chain transparency and mobile platforms for citizen feedback. The program should align with the World Bank’s Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs) for each target nation and contribute to the broader objectives of the Sahel Alliance and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Eligibility requirements are stringent and designed to ensure high-level technical and fiduciary capacity. Lead applicants must be legally registered as a non-profit or for-profit entity for at least ten years, with audited financial statements demonstrating annual revenues exceeding $5 million for the past three years. The organization must have a permanent physical presence or a registered branch in at least one of the target countries. Key personnel requirements include a Project Director with at least 15 years of experience in PFM reform, a Procurement Specialist with CIPS certification and 12 years of experience in public procurement, a WASH Finance Specialist with a master’s degree in public finance or related field, and an M&E Specialist with expertise in results-based management. The consortium must include at least one local partner with strong connections to national training institutions or public administration schools. Applicants must provide evidence of prior work in FCV settings, including references from at least three similar projects. The World Bank will check for any debarment or sanctions from multilateral development banks. All proposals must be submitted in English or French, with a maximum length of 50 pages (excluding annexes). A mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on July 15, 2026, via webinar. The total contract amount is estimated at $8-12 million.

To secure this RFP, applicants must follow a strategic roadmap that integrates technical excellence with local legitimacy. Step one: Assemble a consortium that combines international PFM expertise (e.g., from organizations like Abt Associates, Oxford Policy Management, or similar) with local partners having strong track records in WASH governance in the Sahel. Ensure the consortium includes a recognized training institution such as the École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) in Burkina Faso or the African Institute of Public Finance. Step two: Develop a technical approach that emphasizes a phased capacity-building model, starting with a comprehensive diagnostic of existing PFM and procurement systems, followed by targeted training and mentoring, and culminating in the co-creation of sustainable reform roadmaps. Embed a strong digital component, including the introduction of simplified e-procurement tools and budget tracking dashboards. Step three: Strengthen the proposal by integrating GSLI’s certified training programs. For example, staff responsible for training government officials should complete GSLI’s 'Procurement & Supply Chain' and 'Financial Management for NGOs' courses to ensure globally recognized standards are applied. The M&E framework should leverage skills from GSLI’s 'Monitoring & Evaluation' course to design robust indicator systems. Step four: Emphasize a conflict-sensitive approach, with dedicated risk mitigation plans for operating in FCV contexts. Include a clear plan for knowledge transfer and institutionalization to ensure reforms outlast the project. Finally, submit a well-structured proposal that addresses all evaluation criteria, including past performance, technical approach, management plan, and budget. The World Bank uses a quality- and cost-based selection (QCBS) method, with technical quality weighted at 80% and cost at 20%. Engage GSLI to provide certificates of completion for key personnel as evidence of capacity.