Post Review

Post Review is the lighter-touch procurement oversight mechanism used by Multilateral Development Banks for lower-value or lower-risk contracts, in which the bank audits a sample of completed procurement processes after contracts are signed rather than approving each step before award.

What is Post Review?

When an implementing-agency runs procurement under an MDB-financed project, contracts above a defined threshold undergo prior-review, meaning the bank must approve each step before the process advances. Contracts below that threshold are subject to post review: the implementing agency proceeds through the full procurement cycle on its own authority, and the MDB later audits a selected sample to verify that procedures were followed correctly. The MDB may review solicitation documents, bid evaluation reports, and signed contracts, and may raise findings if it identifies deviations. If the bank finds that funds were used for ineligible expenditure or that procurement rules were violated, it can declare misprocurement and require the borrower to repay those funds.

Post review thresholds are set in each project's financing agreement and vary by implementing agency's assessed procurement capacity. A high-capacity agency with a strong track record may have most of its contracts handled by post review; a weaker agency may have a lower threshold, meaning more contracts fall under prior review.

Why Post Review matters for bidders

Suppliers often assume that contracts below the prior-review threshold are unmonitored. Post review means the opposite: the MDB can audit any contract in the post-review category, and findings of non-compliance can lead to contract cancellation or financial recovery. For bidders, this means procurement procedures on all MDB-financed contracts must be followed correctly regardless of value. If an implementing agency cuts procedural corners on a smaller contract, suppliers risk having contracts cancelled or payments disputed if a post-review audit surfaces the irregularity.

FAQ

How does the MDB select which contracts to post-review?

Each MDB uses a sampling approach, typically reviewing a minimum percentage of post-review contracts each year. The selection may be random or risk-based, with contracts showing irregular patterns more likely to be selected.

Can post review findings affect a supplier?

Yes. If a post-review audit finds that a contract was awarded improperly, the MDB can declare misprocurement, require the borrower to refund the expenditure, and in cases of fraud or collusion may refer the matter for integrity investigation that could lead to supplier debarment.

What is a typical post-review threshold?

Thresholds vary widely by MDB, country, and project. A common World Bank threshold for goods might be $100,000-$500,000, with contracts above that value going to prior review, but each financing agreement states the applicable figures explicitly.