The World Bank is conducting the first comprehensive review of its policy and procedures for procurement in World Bank Investment Project Finance. The review is being undertaken in a two phase approach.  

In the past, revisions of the Bank’s procurement policies have addressed issues as they emerged, incrementally and sequentially. While these changes constitute significant evolution and serve the clients well, the provisions added over time have made the Bank’s policy and practices time-consuming and complex, according to many clients and Bank staff. 

The procurement policy review responds to increasing demands from a changing global context, the diverse and evolving needs of clients, and the varying business and instruments that the Bank today offers, in its pursuit of eliminating extreme poverty and greater shared prosperity.

As part of this policy review, the World Bank is consulting with shareholders and stakeholders to seek their input and feedback regarding the future direction of World Bank procurement, and the key recommendations and principles that will guide the policy and their application, as well as the specific changes to the policy for consideration by the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors.

Consulted stakeholders include shareholders, policy makers, borrower governments, national procurement bodies, procurement practitioners, bilateral and multilateral development partners, industry leaders, private sector representatives and business associations, civil society representatives, experts, scholars, and other interested development groups and practitioners. 

The envisaged outcomes of the consultation include: a revised draft policy based on stakeholder input as appropriate; a consultation report including a summary of all stakeholder feedback; and a response from the Bank on how stakeholder feedback informed the final draft procurement policy and framework.

The first phase of the review, including consultations with stakeholders in Indonesia, was completed in October 2013 and closed with a Proposed New Framework on Procurement in World Bank Investment Project Finance, outlining the principles of the new policy.   

The second phase of the review is currently ongoing and expected to be completed on November 30, 2014.  Focused on fleshing out the details of the new proposed policy, directives, and procedures, this second stage will culminate in the drafting of the statement of operational policy and accompanying directives. 

The final policy document is expected to be presented to the Bank’s Board of Directors in Fiscal Year 2015.

The consultations in Indonesia for the second phase of the procurement policy review are scheduled to be held on October 23 and 24, 2014, at the World Bank’s Jakarta Office. 

The consultation website can be accessed at https://consultations.worldbank.org/consultation/procurement-policy-review-consultations.  

To share views and recommendations, go to the “Your Feedback” functionality on the website.  Feedback and questions about the consultant process can also be submitted by email to the Procurement review team at procconsult@worldbank.org.