Worlddidac President Emeritus Dr. Nader Imani recently participated in a World Bank Procurement Roundtable in Tübingen, Germany. The event brought together World Bank specialists and private-sector representatives to exchange views on procurement practices, project implementation, supplier engagement, and future investment priorities.
The roundtable focused on the healthcare sector and included examples from health-related projects financed by the World Bank around the world. Topics ranged from project preparation and procurement approaches to supplier engagement and investment pipelines. While the examples were drawn from healthcare, many of the principles discussed are equally relevant for organisations active in education, skills development, TVET, digital learning, and workforce development.
For Worlddidac, the event offered an opportunity to better understand current developments within the World Bank ecosystem and to continue representing the perspective of the education sector in discussions with international development stakeholders.
Looking Beyond the Tender Stage
When a tender is published, much of the groundwork has already been completed. Priorities have been defined, financing has been approved, and implementation frameworks are often already in place.
For organisations working internationally, there can therefore be considerable value in understanding projects at an earlier stage. Information on project preparation, investment priorities, and upcoming programmes can help organisations identify relevant markets, potential partners, and future opportunities.
Particular attention was given to Early Market Engagement (EME). These are consultations organised by project owners before tender documents are finalised, allowing stakeholders to better understand project requirements, implementation challenges, and value-for-money considerations. For organisations interested in development-financed projects, this stage can provide valuable insight into upcoming opportunities before formal procurement processes begin.
This applies equally to companies and institutions working in educational technology, STEM education, teacher training, vocational education, school infrastructure, and lifelong learning.
Quality, Delivery Capability, and Long-Term Value
The discussions also reflected a broader trend visible across many internationally financed projects: increasing attention is being given not only to cost, but also to implementation capability, quality, sustainability, risk management, and long-term project outcomes.
For educational solution providers, this is a familiar discussion. The success of an educational investment rarely depends on equipment alone. Training, implementation support, maintenance, usability, and educational effectiveness all play an important role in determining whether investments achieve their intended results.
As funding institutions and governments continue to focus on impact and value for money, these considerations are becoming more prominent in procurement discussions.
Quality and Outcomes: A Discussion Relevant to Education
As procurement approaches increasingly seek to consider broader value and long-term outcomes, the question naturally arises as to how quality can be assessed in a transparent, objective, and meaningful way.
This is not a new discussion for the education sector. For many years, educational solution providers have emphasised that factors such as pedagogical value, learning effectiveness, usability, sustainability, teacher support, and long-term impact should form part of the evaluation of educational investments.
Through initiatives such as the Worlddidac Quality Charter (WQC), Worlddidac has already explored approaches for assessing educational solutions against defined quality criteria and measurable indicators. While developed specifically for education, the WQC reflects many of the same principles currently being discussed more broadly in international procurement and development circles.
The discussions held during the roundtable therefore served as a timely reminder that quality, effectiveness, and long-term value remain important considerations when evaluating investments — not only in healthcare, but also in education and skills development.
Perhaps this is also an opportunity to revisit the conversation around how educational quality can be demonstrated, measured, and communicated more effectively in an increasingly outcome-oriented environment.
➡️ Learn more about the Worlddidac Quality Charter
Understanding the World Bank Ecosystem
In addition to the policy discussion, the World Bank shared practical guidance on how organisations can access information on ongoing projects, project pipelines, country programmes, and supplier resources.
To support our members, we are making available the presentation shared during the roundtable together with two short video tutorials demonstrating how to navigate World Bank project information and supplier-related resources.
For organisations interested in international development projects, these materials provide a useful introduction to how projects move from concept and financing through to implementation.
Why This Matters for the Education Sector
The World Bank remains one of the most influential development institutions globally, supporting investments across education, skills development, digital transformation, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development.
Although this particular roundtable focused on healthcare, many of the approaches discussed are applied across sectors. Understanding how projects are prepared, financed, and implemented can therefore be valuable for organisations seeking to engage with development-financed initiatives in education and training.
Worlddidac welcomes opportunities to contribute the perspective of educational solution providers to discussions with international organisations and development partners. Dr. Nader Imani’s participation in this roundtable forms part of an ongoing dialogue aimed at ensuring that the experience and expertise of our community are reflected in broader conversations around quality, implementation, and sustainable development outcomes.
This engagement is one example of how Worlddidac connects its members with international stakeholders, policy discussions, and emerging opportunities relevant to education and skills development worldwide.
Whether through dialogue with international organisations, participation in high-level events, trade delegations, industry exchanges, or collaborative initiatives, Worlddidac seeks to ensure that the voice of the education sector is represented where important decisions and developments are being discussed.
