World Bank RFP: Strengthening Public Financial Management and Procurement for Climate-Resilient WASH Services in West Africa

The World Bank has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) titled 'Strengthening Public Financial Management and Procurement for Climate-Resilient WASH Services in West Africa.' This is a high-impact opportunity for organizations to drive systemic change in how climate adaptation is financed and procured in one of the world's most vulnerable regions. The RFP is part of the World Bank's broader agenda to integrate climate resilience into public expenditure and procurement systems, recognizing that without robust PFM, investments in climate-resilient infrastructure will not achieve their intended outcomes. The deadline for proposals is September 15, 2026, with a total funding envelope of $50 million. Individual grants will range from $2 million to $10 million. The core problem addressed by this RFP is the disconnection between climate adaptation commitments and actual budget allocations and procurement practices. In West Africa, climate-related disasters have caused over $10 billion in damages in the last decade, disproportionately affecting WASH services. Yet, less than 5% of national budgets are climate-tagged, and procurement processes rarely prioritize climate resilience. This RFP seeks to build institutional capacity within governments and local organizations to: (1) Apply climate budget tagging to ensure funds reach adaptation priorities, (2) Adopt green public procurement criteria that promote low-carbon, durable WASH solutions, (3) Digitize financial management and procurement systems for transparency and efficiency, (4) Strengthen oversight and audit mechanisms to reduce leakage and corruption. The RFP targets both national and subnational levels, and encourages multi-country proposals to foster regional learning. Applicants are expected to propose interventions that are context-specific, gender-responsive, and based on evidence. The World Bank emphasizes the importance of partnerships between international experts and local institutions to ensure sustainability. Successful proposals will demonstrate a deep understanding of the political economy of PFM and procurement in West Afric—including the actors, incentives, and capacity constraints. The RFP also aligns with the World Bank's Gender Strategy, requiring that at least 30% of procurement-related benefits flow to women-owned businesses. Additionally, the World Bank expects proposals to use open data standards for procurement and to engage civil society in monitoring. The overview underscores that this is not a traditional infrastructure project but a governance reform project that will require change management skills, legal expertise, and financial analysis capabilities. GSLI's courses on 'Financial Management for NGOs' and 'Procurement & Supply Chain' are designed to equip teams with precisely these skills, ensuring that bidders can articulate a credible theory of change and implementation plan.

Strategic Overview

The World Bank has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) titled 'Strengthening Public Financial Management and Procurement for Climate-Resilient WASH Services in West Africa.' This is a high-impact opportunity for organizations to drive systemic change in how climate adaptation is financed and procured in one of the world's most vulnerable regions. The RFP is part of the World Bank's broader agenda to integrate climate resilience into public expenditure and procurement systems, recognizing that without robust PFM, investments in climate-resilient infrastructure will not achieve their intended outcomes. The deadline for proposals is September 15, 2026, with a total funding envelope of $50 million. Individual grants will range from $2 million to $10 million. The core problem addressed by this RFP is the disconnection between climate adaptation commitments and actual budget allocations and procurement practices. In West Africa, climate-related disasters have caused over $10 billion in damages in the last decade, disproportionately affecting WASH services. Yet, less than 5% of national budgets are climate-tagged, and procurement processes rarely prioritize climate resilience. This RFP seeks to build institutional capacity within governments and local organizations to: (1) Apply climate budget tagging to ensure funds reach adaptation priorities, (2) Adopt green public procurement criteria that promote low-carbon, durable WASH solutions, (3) Digitize financial management and procurement systems for transparency and efficiency, (4) Strengthen oversight and audit mechanisms to reduce leakage and corruption. The RFP targets both national and subnational levels, and encourages multi-country proposals to foster regional learning. Applicants are expected to propose interventions that are context-specific, gender-responsive, and based on evidence. The World Bank emphasizes the importance of partnerships between international experts and local institutions to ensure sustainability. Successful proposals will demonstrate a deep understanding of the political economy of PFM and procurement in West Afric—including the actors, incentives, and capacity constraints. The RFP also aligns with the World Bank's Gender Strategy, requiring that at least 30% of procurement-related benefits flow to women-owned businesses. Additionally, the World Bank expects proposals to use open data standards for procurement and to engage civil society in monitoring. The overview underscores that this is not a traditional infrastructure project but a governance reform project that will require change management skills, legal expertise, and financial analysis capabilities. GSLI's courses on 'Financial Management for NGOs' and 'Procurement & Supply Chain' are designed to equip teams with precisely these skills, ensuring that bidders can articulate a credible theory of change and implementation plan.

Who is it For?

This RFP is open to a diverse set of organizations capable of delivering systems-level reform. Eligible applicants include: (1) National and sub-national government ministries responsible for finance, planning, water resources, and public procurement. (2) Regional intergovernmental bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). (3) International and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a proven track record in PFM reform, procurement strengthening, and WASH service delivery. (4) Private sector firms specializing in financial management advisory, procurement technology, and climate risk analytics. (5) Academic and research institutions that can conduct applied research and training. (6) Multi-stakeholder consortia that combine technical expertise, local knowledge, and financial management capacity. Applicants must be legally registered in a World Bank member country and have at least five years of experience in similar projects. They must demonstrate prior engagement with climate adaptation or WASH governance, and show the ability to mobilize teams with expertise in public finance, procurement law, climate science, and M&E. The World Bank particularly encourages partnerships that include local organizations to ensure sustainability and ownership. Entities that have been sanctioned by the World Bank are ineligible. Joint ventures and consortia must designate a lead partner with fiduciary responsibility.

Priorities

The World Bank’s strategic priorities for this RFP are multi-dimensional. First, climate resilience must be mainstreamed into PFM and procurement systems. This means that budget classifications, expenditure tracking, and procurement criteria should explicitly incorporate climate risk and adaptation metrics. Second, the RFP emphasizes transparency and anti-corruption: all funded activities must strengthen open contracting, e-procurement platforms, and independent audit mechanisms. Third, the donor prioritizes value for money—proposals should demonstrate cost-effectiveness and measurable return on investment in terms of reduced service disruption and enhanced fiscal stability. Fourth, gender and social inclusion are cross-cutting: WASH services must reach vulnerable populations, and procurement policies should support women-owned businesses and marginalized groups. Fifth, the World Bank seeks proposals that foster regional learning and peer-to-peer exchange, creating communities of practice across West African countries. Sixth, digital transformation of PFM and procurement systems is a key performance indicator, with expectations for adopting open-source, interoperable technologies. Seventh, sustainability is paramount: interventions should lead to behavioral and institutional changes that persist beyond the project period. These priorities are derived from the World Bank’s Country Partnership Frameworks for West African nations and its global PFM reform agenda. Proposals will be scored on how deeply they integrate these priorities into their theory of change.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements are rigorous to ensure only capable entities are funded. Financial eligibility requires applicants to have audited financial statements for the past three years and a minimum annual turnover of at least $1 million. They must demonstrate adequate liquidity and a debt-to-equity ratio below 2:1. Spatial eligibility: operations must be headquartered or have a substantive presence in a World Bank member country, with preference for West African-based entities. Projects must be implemented in one or more West African countries listed as eligible for International Development Association (IDA) support. Corporate legal eligibility: the lead applicant must be a legally registered entity (non-profit, for-profit, or government agency) with a clear organizational mandate. Key personnel must have professional certifications in public financial management (e.g., CIPFA, ACCA), procurement (e.g., CIPS), or engineering (e.g., PE). At least three staff must have experience managing World Bank-funded projects. The applicant must have a documented code of conduct, anti-corruption policy, and gender policy. Additionally, the proposed project must target at least one of the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, or Togo. Joint ventures must submit a memorandum of understanding specifying roles and financial liability. All applicants must register on the World Bank’s eProcurement portal and submit proposals in English or French. Ineligible entities include those on the World Bank’s debarment list, public enterprises that are not autonomous, and organizations with conflicts of interest.

Path to Success

Step 1: Deepen Technical Capacity through GSLI Training – Before engaging in proposal development, assemble a core team and enroll them in GSLI’s 'Procurement & Supply Chain' and 'Financial Management for NGOs' short courses. These courses provide crucial knowledge on World Bank procurement rules, financial due diligence, and audit readiness. Completion certificates will strengthen your proposal’s credibility and indicate institutional readiness. Step 2: Conduct a Rapid PFM Climate Risk Assessment – Use GSLI’s 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to design a baseline framework. Assess the current PFM and procurement system of your target country/community. Identify gaps in climate-sensitive budget tagging, green procurement criteria, and e-procurement maturity. This data will inform your proposal’s problem statement and intervention logic. Step 3: Form a Strategic Consortium – Based on the assessment, recruit partners that complement your strengths. For instance, pair with a climate analytics firm and a local WASH NGO. Use GSLI’s 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to structure a compelling narrative that ties each partner’s expertise to donor priorities. Ensure the consortium legally structures its partnership as required by the World Bank. Step 4: Develop a Results Framework and Budget – Using GSLI’s 'Project Management for Development' course, design an implementation plan with clear milestones, timelines, and risk mitigation measures. Develop a detailed budget that aligns with the World Bank’s cost categories. Include a comprehensive M&E plan, leveraging GSLI’s M&E course to incorporate climate-specific indicators. Finally, submit a polished proposal before the September 2026 deadline. GSLI’s 'Grants Management' course can also help you plan for post-award financial compliance. Following these steps not only increases your chances of winning the bid but also ensures you have the institutional capacity to deliver impact.

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Deadline: 2026-09-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal