IGAD Seeks High-Performance Servers for Climate Prediction in Nairobi Under World Bank-Backed Resilience Program
Procurement opportunity aims to bolster digital agro-climate services crucial for food security across Eastern and Southern Africa.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has announced a significant procurement opportunity, inviting bids for the supply and installation of two high-performance computing servers at its Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) in Nairobi. This strategic investment is a key component of the World Bank-funded Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa Phase I.
Published on Thursday, August 13, in the Daily Nation, the tender seeks suppliers for an on-premise CPU-based server and a GPU artificial intelligence computing (HPC) server. Both units are designated for delivery, installation, and commissioning at ICPAC's facility located along Ngong Town Kibiko A Road, near KIHBT, Nairobi, within two months of contract signing. This technological upgrade is critical for scaling up Digital Agro-Climate Advisory Services, which utilize climate data and AI tools to strengthen food security across the region.
The broader program, financed by an International Development Association (IDA) grant (TF-D0339), underscores a concerted effort to enhance agricultural resilience across Eastern and Southern Africa. For Kenya and the wider East African community, these servers represent a vital upgrade in regional capacity to forecast climate patterns, analyze environmental data, and provide timely, data-driven advice to farmers, thereby mitigating the impacts of climate change on food production.
Interested parties must follow national competitive bidding procedures, in accordance with the World Bank's Procurement Regulations for IPF borrowers. Prospective bidders can obtain the full set of bidding documents free of charge by submitting a written application via email to Hassan.salah@igad.int, with a copy to Abdullahi.Hussein@igad.int.
All proposals, referenced under contract DJ-IGAD-560737-GO-RFB, must be submitted as sealed bids and delivered to the Procurement Unit at the ICPAC offices in Nairobi. The strict deadline for submission is 12:00 PM East Africa Time on September 24, 2026. Crucially, electronic submissions will not be accepted, and any bids received after the stipulated time will be rejected.
This initiative is part of a broader trend of significant development projects in Kenya backed by international funders. For instance, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) recently sought bids for software licenses for the World Bank-funded Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, a USD 750 million investment aimed at enhancing infrastructure and economic growth in Northern Kenya.
The IGAD server procurement highlights the ongoing commitment to leveraging advanced technology and international partnerships to address critical regional challenges like climate change and food insecurity, directly benefiting millions across Africa. For full details on the tender, refer to the original announcement as reported by TUKO.