WASHINGTON, March 6, 2024 - The World Bank Group today announced the 15-month sanctions of Africa Enablers GmbH, a Switzerland-based boutique advisory, project development, and investment firm ("Africa Enablers"), and two of its Principals, Dr. Philipp Schuller and Mr. Stephan Willms (the "Principals"), in connection with misconduct in bidding for the Somali Core Economic Institutions and Opportunities Program (the "SCORE Project") in Somalia.
The sanctions are the result of a settlement agreement, under which Africa Enablers and the Principals do not contest their responsibility for the underlying sanctionable practice and agree to meet specified integrity compliance conditions for release from debarment.
The sanctions consist of an initial ten-month debarment, during which Africa Enablers and the Principals will be ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the World Bank Group. Following this period, the sanctions will convert to conditional non-debarment for the remaining five months. During this time, the company and the Principals will be eligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the World Bank Group as long as they comply with their obligations under the settlement agreement. Otherwise, the conditional non-debarment will revert to a sanction of debarment with conditional release, and Africa Enablers and the Principals will again become ineligible until the conditions for release set out in the settlement agreement are met.
The SCORE Project was designed to improve the enabling environment for private and financial sector development, and to catalyze private investment and job creation. According to the facts of the case, in its submitted documentation during the selection process for a planning contract under the SCORE Project, Africa Enablers and the Principals misrepresented the company's past experience in bidding for the contract. These misrepresentations by Africa Enablers and the Principals were reckless and constitute a fraudulent practice under the World Bank's Consultant Guidelines.
The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of sanction in light of the Principals' and Africa Enablers' voluntary remedial actions, including revision of Africa Enablers' previous experience description on its website, cooperation, and voluntary restraint from bidding for World Bank Group-financed contracts during the settlement agreement negotiations.
As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreement, Africa Enablers and the Principals commit to developing and implementing a Code of Conduct that reflects the relevant principles set out in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines, as well as a corporate ethics training program, and the Principals additionally commit to undertaking corporate ethics training that demonstrates a commitment to personal integrity and business ethics. Africa Enablers and the Principals also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.
