Discusses the legal requirements for selling to the host government, including whether the government has agreed to abide by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or is a party to a government procurement chapter in a U.S. FTA. Specifies areas where there are opportunities.
Last Published: 11/15/2018

PROJECT PROCUREMENT
When the AfDB finances a project, the award and administration of contracts rests with the borrower. To participate in these projects, firms must position themselves to sell to borrowing government, not the AfDB. Each country has its own laws governing foreign firms selling to the government, including whether they can sell direct or must operate through a local entity (agent, representative, etc.). Countries signatory to multilateral agreements such as the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), and bilateral Trade Promotion Agreements with the United States, must abide by their commitments under those agreements in conducting procurements for AfDB funded projects.

To learn about specifics regarding selling to the government in countries of interest, see the “Selling to the Government” section of each country’s Country Commercial Guide. In addition, the AfDB’s Country Strategy Paper resource is useful to consult for further information about the overall political, economic, trade, and social context of a particular country as well as the AFDB’s strategic plan and project portfolio for this country.
U.S. firms interested in specific AfDB funded projects should consider contacting the U.S. Department of Commerce’s  Commercial Liaison Office to the AfDB and Advocacy Center early in the process and prior to bidding. Firms that engage early in the process are more successful at winning AfDB contracts.

CORPORATE PROCUREMENT
The AfDB Group is a financial institution, not a government. The AfDB runs competitions for consulting and advisory services, often in relation to other AfDB Group funded projects. These competitions are run through the Vendor Kiosk Portal. All Corporate Procurement opportunities are subject to the Rules for Corporate Procurement Activities and the Code of Conduct for bank, service providers, suppliers and contractors. Unsolicited bids, as well as applications outside the Vendor Kiosk System will not be considered.

PRIVATE SECTOR SOLUTIONS
The Private Sector Department operates like a private sector financial institution. The Private Sector Department is not a separate entity of the AfDB. Private Sector Department funded projects are private sector initiatives/investments and are not subject to the procurement rules and processes that govern public works projects. Selection of partners, and whether to engage a proposal is based on the Private Sector Department’s assessment of the firm according to Its Eligibility Criteria as well as the criteria listed under the Application Procedure Section. Projects geared towards the AfDB’s Strategic Priorities, Areas of Focus, and the AfDB’s High Fives are in high demand.

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE LIAISON OFFICES AT THE MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS
The AfDB often cooperates with other multilateral development banks on projects and investments. The Commercial Service maintains Commercial Liaison Offices in most major Multilateral Development Banks: the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). These institutions provide billions of dollars to support projects aimed at generating sustainable economic growth and social development. The Commercial Liaison Offices help U.S. businesses learn how to get involved in bank-funded projects, and advocate on behalf of U.S. bidders. Learn more by contacting the Commercial Liaison Office to the World Bank (http://export.gov/worldbank), the Inter-American Development Bank (http://export.gov/idb), the African Development Bank (http://www.export.gov/afdb), the Asian Development Bank (http://www.export.gov/adb/), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (http://export.gov/ebrd)
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.