Our summary
The World Bank Procurement Framework sets the rules for buying goods, works, non-consulting services and consulting services in projects the Bank funds through Investment Project Financing (IPF). It has four mandatory parts: a Bank Policy (July 2016), a Directive (April 2024), a Procedure (July 2026) and the Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. The current Regulations are the 7th edition, dated September 2025. The legal agreement for each project says which edition applies. The framework is built on core principles such as value for money, economy, efficiency, integrity, fit for purpose, transparency and fairness. Standard procurement documents, guidance notes and templates support it.
The Regulations are written for borrowers, which means the government agencies and project units that run the buying. They explain how to prepare a Project Procurement Strategy for Development and a procurement plan, which the Bank must approve. They describe the selection methods for goods, works and consultants, and the Bank’s risk-based oversight through prior review and post review. They also cover how to handle complaints from bidders, who is eligible to bid, and how to avoid conflicts of interest. Projects must follow the Bank’s Anti-Corruption Guidelines, which give the Bank the right to inspect and audit records and to sanction firms and people involved in fraud or corruption.
How auditors use it: Auditors of World Bank-funded projects, and internal auditors in ministries or agencies that run them, use the Regulations as the standard for testing procurement files. They can check that each contract followed the approved procurement plan and the right selection method, that evaluations were fair and documented, that conflicts of interest were declared, and that complaints were handled properly. Fraud examiners can use the conflict of interest rules and the anti-corruption requirements to spot red flags such as split contracts, unjustified direct selection or bidders linked to staff.