What Are Bilateral Frameworks?
Bilateral procurement frameworks are the rules, regulations, and procedures established by individual donor countries' development agencies for managing procurement in projects they fund through bilateral aid agreements.
Unlike multilateral frameworks that are coordinated among multiple member countries, bilateral frameworks reflect the specific laws, policies, and priorities of a single donor country. These frameworks often include tied aid provisions, national preference requirements, and donor-specific reporting standards.
National Regulations
Procurement rules aligned with donor country's domestic legislation and foreign assistance policies
Tied Aid Provisions
Requirements to procure from donor country suppliers or approved source countries
Grant Management
Specific procedures for cooperative agreements, grants, and direct bilateral assistance
Policy Priorities
Donor-specific priorities such as gender equality, environmental standards, and development goals
Supported Bilateral Agencies
Navigate procurement rules for major bilateral development agencies
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
UK Aid procurement requirements, FCDO procurement guidance, and value for money principles
Agence Française de Développement
AFD procurement procedures for French-financed development projects and technical assistance
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
GIZ procurement guidelines for German development cooperation and technical assistance projects
Japan International Cooperation Agency
JICA procurement guidelines for Japanese ODA projects and technical cooperation
Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian development assistance procurement policies and tied aid requirements
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Australian Aid procurement framework and development assistance guidelines
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
Sida procurement procedures for Swedish development cooperation projects
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
Norwegian development assistance procurement requirements and grant management
Key Features of Bilateral Frameworks
Donor-Specific Requirements
Each bilateral agency has unique procurement rules reflecting national policies and priorities
Tied vs Untied Aid
Understanding requirements for source country restrictions and local content preferences
Grant Management
Specific procedures for managing grants, cooperative agreements, and bilateral assistance
Reporting Standards
Donor-specific reporting formats, documentation requirements, and accountability mechanisms
Why Bilateral Frameworks Matter
Critical for successful implementation of donor-funded projects
Master Donor Requirements
Understand the unique procurement rules and preferences of each bilateral aid agency
Ensure Donor Compliance
Stay compliant with donor-specific requirements and avoid funding disruptions
Navigate Tied Aid
Understand source country restrictions and how they impact your procurement strategy
Manage Multiple Donors
Compare requirements across donors when managing projects with multiple funding sources