Important Notice: This RfPQ is issued solely to establish a prequalified roster/pool of Individual Experts and Consulting Firms for future assignments. Prequalification does not guarantee any contract award. Any engagement will be subject to the applicable procurement method, approvals and a separate contract/calloff agreement.
Background and Objectives
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) is a wholesale development finance institution licensed and supervised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with the mandate to address access-to-finance gaps for underserved Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria. With business and governance models anchored in internationally recognized best practices, DBN performs a catalytic role by facilitating financially sustainable and transparent access to finance through eligible Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs). DBN provides medium- and long-term financing in local currency (Naira) and partial credit guarantees (through its wholly owned subsidiary, Impact Credit Guarantee Limited), supported by funding and technical assistance from development partners including the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), German Development Bank (KfW), French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
In response to the increasing need to mobilize climate finance at scale and align Nigeria’s financial sector with national and international climate commitments, DBN has established a dedicated Climate Finance Unit (CFU) to coordinate climate-related strategies, partnerships and investments across the Bank. DBN has been accredited as a Direct Access Entity (DAE) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and is implementing a GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, alongside other climate-related technical assistance initiatives, including support from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).
To fulfil its climate finance mandate and maximize the strategic benefits of DBN’s climate fund engagement, the Bank is strengthening its institutional capacity across governance, policies, systems, staffing and operational procedures in line with GCF requirements and international good practice. This includes enhancing capacities related to environmental and social safeguards (ESS), gender, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), climate risk management, project appraisal, and stakeholder engagement, as well as preparing for potential accreditation and programming support for other climate funds such as the Adaptation Fund (AF).
Beyond institutional strengthening, DBN intends to operationalize its role by developing and implementing a robust, high-quality pipeline of climate investments and technical assistance that meet climate fund standards. In particular, targeted technical support is required to identify, structure and package climate investment concepts aligned with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national development priorities, and to translate those concepts into investment-grade deliverables such as concept notes, feasibility studies, funding proposals, tools, and training materials.
Accordingly, DBN seeks to establish an Expert Engagement Framework to pre-qualify firms and individual consultants with specialized expertise in climate finance, fiduciary standards, environmental and social safeguards, monitoring and evaluation, climate fund programming and sector specific technical areas. The framework will enable DBN to mobilize qualified expertise on a flexible basis to support the implementation of its climate finance mandate and compliance with GCF, AF and Global Environment Facility (GEF) requirements. A core principle of this Expert Engagement Framework is institutional capacity building and knowledge transfer. All assignments undertaken under this framework are expected to contribute to strengthening DBN’s ability to independently manage climate finance programmes. Accordingly, consultants will be required not only to deliver high-quality outputs but also to embed learning through hands-on engagement, training and development of practical tools and guidance for DBN staff.
The objectives of this prequalification are to:
This RfPQ is designed in line with international good practice for consultant rosters used by climate funds.
Scope of Services and Areas of Expertise
Applicants may apply for one or more areas of expertise (Categories). DBN may engage roster members for assignments such as:
DBN anticipates that assignments may be delivered remotely and/or in Nigeria, with durations ranging from a few days to several months. DBN will specify deliverables, timelines, and payment terms in each call-off contract.
Roster categories and grading
DBN may classify prequalified roster members by (i) Category/Area of Expertise and (ii) Level/Grade, to support efficient selection.
Suggested grading (Individuals):
Clarifications
Send questions by email to: climatefinance@devbankng.com. Not later than:19 February 2026
Submission Method
Email submission (PDF) to: audit@devbankng.com
Submission Deadline
12:00PM - WAT, 06 March 2026
