How World Bank financing works for suppliers
The borrower buys, not the Bank. When the World Bank lends to a government for an investment project, that government’s agency runs the procurement under the Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. The current text is the 7th edition, September 2025. The Bank reviews the process and, for larger contracts, gives its “no objection” before award. The procurement plan is agreed with the Bank and normally covers the first 18 months of the project.
Results-based programmes are different. Program-for-Results financing uses the country’s own procurement systems, and isn’t covered by these rules.
Where notices appear:
- General Procurement Notice: published by the Bank before any international procurement starts, announcing what the project will buy. Watch these: they’re your early warning.
- Specific Procurement Notices: published by the borrower on its own website, in a national newspaper or in the official gazette. For international procurement, the Bank also publishes them on its procurement notices page.
- Expressions of interest: consulting assignments start with a request for these.
- UNDB Online: a paid UN service that republishes notices. It isn’t a World Bank requirement.
Who can bid
Companies and individuals from all countries are eligible, and there’s no Bank-membership test. A borrower can’t exclude you for reasons unrelated to your capability or a conflict of interest. The only exceptions are:
- The borrower’s own law bans commercial relations with your country.
- A UN Security Council decision requires the borrower to ban imports from, or payments to, your country.
- You are sanctioned by the World Bank Group, or, if the borrower chooses, debarred nationally for fraud or corruption after due process.
- State-owned enterprises of the borrower country must be legally and financially autonomous and operate under commercial law.
Debarment. Check the Bank’s debarment list, which updates every three hours. Debarments are cross-enforced by the World Bank, ADB, AfDB, EBRD and IDB, and AIIB also applies them. A firm that breaches its contractual obligations to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment can also be disqualified for two years.
How contracts are procured
Goods, works and non-consulting services use:
- Request for Bids
- Request for Proposals
- Request for Quotations
- Direct selection
These can be run as open or limited competition, in the international or national market, with options including competitive dialogue, framework agreements and e-reverse auctions. International procurement must use the Bank’s Standard Procurement Documents, in English.
Consulting services use:
- Quality- and cost-based selection (QCBS)
- Quality-based selection
- Fixed-budget selection
- Least-cost selection
- Selection based on consultants’ qualifications
- Direct selection
Shortlists have five to eight firms.
Quality counts. International procurement with the Standard Procurement Documents now must use rated quality criteria, except for pharmaceuticals, vaccines and commodities:
| Procurement risk | Contract value | Weight on quality |
|---|---|---|
| High or substantial | US$10 million or more | 50–80% |
| High or substantial | Lower | 60–100% |
| Moderate or low | US$10 million or more | 10–40% |
| Moderate or low | Lower | 20–30% |
Market engagement. For every international contract estimated at US$10 million or more, the borrower must engage the market before tendering. Take part; it shapes the specification.
Domestic preference and local labour apply in open international procurement only:
- Goods: a 15% margin for domestically manufactured goods, with at least 30% domestic content. It applies whatever the bidder’s nationality.
- Works: a 7.5% margin for domestic contractors, only in lower-income borrower countries and with the Bank’s agreement.
- Plant: no preference.
- Local labour: since 1 September 2025, international works contracts must allocate at least 30% of labour cost to local labour.
What you need to bid
- Bid preparation time: at least 30 business days for open international procurement.
- Bid security: optional, set in the bidding document, and valid about four weeks beyond bid validity. It can come from a bank or financial institution in any eligible country, with a local correspondent if needed. A bid-securing declaration can replace it.
- Performance security: normally at most 10% of the contract price for works and plant, up to 20% for unbalanced or front-loaded bids.
- Currencies: you can price in local currency plus up to three foreign currencies.
- Joint ventures: allowed with domestic or foreign firms, and every partner is jointly and severally liable for the whole contract. Borrowers can’t force you into a joint venture. You may submit only one bid, alone or as a partner, though you can be a subcontractor in several. You generally can’t rely on affiliates’ or subcontractors’ qualifications, except specialised subcontractors where permitted.
- Environment and social: projects follow the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework, and works contracts carry environmental, social, health and safety requirements.
- Beneficial ownership: the winner’s beneficial ownership form is published with the award notice.
- Integrity: the Bank’s anti-corruption guidelines apply, with its right to inspect and audit.
After the award
- Standstill: at least 10 business days after the notification of intention to award. There’s no standstill for single bids, direct selection, framework call-offs or emergencies. You can ask for a debriefing within 3 business days.
- Complaints go to the borrower, which must acknowledge within 3 business days:
| Complaint about | Deadline | Borrower replies within |
|---|---|---|
| The tender documents | At least 10 business days before the bid deadline | 7 business days |
| Your exclusion before award | 10 business days from the notice | 7 business days |
| The intended award | Within the standstill period | 15 business days |
- Award notice: it lists every bidder and price, the reasons for rejections, and the winner. Unsuccessful bidders can then ask to meet the Bank.
- Direct payment: for international contracts of US$10 million or more, the Bank can pay you directly at the borrower’s request.
Who wins World Bank contracts
In fiscal 2026 (July 2025 to June 2026), the Bank’s investment projects recorded $18.7 billion of contract awards, by supplier country of registration:
| Supplier country | FY2024 | FY2025 | FY2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 20.5% | 16.3% | 12.3% |
| Türkiye | 4.6% | 9.8% | 10.2% |
| India | 5.7% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
| Nigeria | 4.5% | 3.5% | |
| France | 2.7% | ||
| Italy | 1.9% | ||
| United States | 0.8% |
Total awards were $20.9 billion in FY2024 and $20.7 billion in FY2025. These figures exclude subcontracts and co-financing.
How the other development banks compare
The biggest difference is who may bid:
| Bank | Who can bid | Domestic preference | Current rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Bank | All countries | Goods 15%; works 7.5% in lower-income countries | Regulations, 7th edition (September 2025) |
| ADB (Asian Development Bank) | Member countries only (Special Funds: contributing members and developing members) | No fixed margin; schemes allowed if ADB agrees. At least half the labour force on international works must be local | Procurement Directive, effective 1 January 2026 |
| AfDB (African Development Bank) | Member countries only for the main window; all countries for African Development Fund projects | Domestic: goods up to 15%, works up to 10%. Regional: goods up to 10%, works up to 7.5% | Operations Procurement Manual, revised May 2026 |
| AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) | All countries, members or not | No fixed margin; may accept members’ schemes in special circumstances | Procurement Policy, June 2024 |
| IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) | 48 member countries only, and goods must originate there | Goods 15% (30% domestic content); none for works | 2019 policies; a review is under consultation to 31 October 2026 |
| EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) | All countries, members or not | None in the rules | Procurement Policies and Rules, effective 1 September 2026 |
| IsDB (Islamic Development Bank) | Priority to member countries; tenders can be limited to them | Goods up to 15%; works up to 10% for local contractors | Guidelines revised February 2023 |
Notes:
- AIIB’s 2025 contracts: about $3 billion across 972 contracts. Firms from China won 24.3% and from India 24.0%.
- EBRD: its 2026 rules add grounds to reject bidders over credible allegations of forced labour, child labour or human-rights violations.
- IsDB: bidders must certify compliance with the boycott regulations of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and the African Union. A member-country firm must be incorporated there, have its principal place of business there, and be more than 50% owned by members.
- Notices: each bank publishes on its own website, and some also on UNDB Online or DgMarket.
In practice: if your country isn’t a member of ADB, AfDB, IDB or IsDB, focus on World Bank, AIIB, EBRD and African Development Fund projects. You can also join a joint venture with eligible firms, where that bank’s rules allow it.
What changed in 2025–2026
- 1 March 2025: the World Bank’s 6th edition took effect, with rated quality criteria, mandatory market engagement at US$10 million or more, and direct payment to suppliers.
- 1 September 2025: the 7th edition’s local-labour rule took effect: 30% of labour cost on international works.
- 1 January 2026: ADB’s new Procurement Directive replaced its 2017 regulations.
- May 2026: AfDB revised its Operations Procurement Manual.
- July 2026: the World Bank issued a new Procurement Procedure.
- 1 September 2026: EBRD’s new Procurement Policies and Rules took effect.
- Coming: IDB is consulting on modernising its procurement framework, to 31 October 2026. Nothing has changed yet.
Questions
Who can bid for World Bank-financed contracts?
Companies and individuals from all countries, whether or not their country is a World Bank member. A borrower can’t exclude a bidder for reasons unrelated to its capability, except where the borrower’s own law bans commercial relations with the bidder’s country, a UN Security Council decision applies, or the firm is sanctioned by the World Bank Group. State-owned enterprises of the borrower country must also be legally and financially autonomous.
Can companies from any country bid on Asian Development Bank or IDB projects?
No. ADB-financed contracts are generally open only to firms from ADB member countries, and IDB-financed contracts only to firms from its 48 member countries, with goods originating there too. AfDB’s main window is limited to member countries, though its African Development Fund window is open to all. AIIB and EBRD are open to firms from any country. IsDB gives priority to firms from its member countries.
Where are World Bank tender notices published?
The Bank publishes General Procurement Notices and international Specific Procurement Notices on its procurement notices page. Borrowers also publish notices on their own websites or in national newspapers. UNDB Online, a paid UN service, republishes notices but isn’t required by the Bank.
Is there a domestic preference in World Bank tenders?
In open international procurement, a borrower may give a 15% margin to domestically manufactured goods (with at least 30% domestic content) and, in lower-income countries with the Bank’s agreement, a 7.5% margin to domestic contractors for works. There’s no preference for plant. Since September 2025, international works contracts must also allocate at least 30% of labour cost to local labour.
How do I complain about a World Bank-financed procurement?
Complaints go to the borrower, which must acknowledge within 3 business days. Complaints about the tender documents must be made at least 10 business days before the bid deadline; complaints about an intended award must be made within the 10-business-day standstill period, and the borrower responds within 15 business days.
Which countries’ companies win the most World Bank contracts?
In fiscal 2026 (July 2025 to June 2026), the Bank’s investment projects recorded $18.7 billion of contract awards. Firms registered in China won 12.3%, Türkiye 10.2% and India 5.2%; China’s share has fallen from 20.5% in fiscal 2024 while Türkiye’s has roughly doubled.
Sources
- World Bank: Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, 7th edition (September 2025)
- World Bank: procurement framework
- World Bank: procurement notices
- World Bank statement: supporting countries to achieve better procurement outcomes (13 February 2025)
- World Bank press release: strengthened procurement requirements for job creation (18 July 2025)
- World Bank: debarred firms and individuals
- World Bank FinancesOne: contract awards by fiscal year and supplier country (DS01529)
- ADB: Procurement Directive for ADB Borrowers (effective 1 January 2026)
- AfDB: Operations Procurement Manual, Part A Volume 1 (May 2026)
- AIIB: Procurement Policy
- IDB: procurement in projects
- EBRD: Procurement Policies and Rules 2026
- IsDB: Guidelines for the procurement of goods, works and related services
This guide explains the rules in plain English; it isn’t legal advice. Procurement rules change, and each tender document sets its own conditions — it always prevails.