WASHINGTON, Wednesday, April 15, 2026-The World Bank Group today announced the 21-month debarment with conditional release of Mr. Roger Bokandenga ("Mr. Bokandenga"), a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo, for corrupt practices in connection with the World Bank-financed Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Development and Growth Project ("PADMPME").
The PADMPME project aimed to support the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises and increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth and women in select areas. Under the facts of the case, Mr. Bokandenga served as a member of the evaluation commission that shortlisted a company for the award of a Bank-funded contract. He later received a portion of the contract value, US$ 6,183, paid to him by the winning company, in exchange for his influence over its award. This was a corrupt practice according to the World Bank's sanctions framework.
The debarment makes Mr. Bokandenga ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the Bank Group. It is part of a settlement agreement under which he acknowledges culpability for the underlying sanctionable practice and agrees to fulfill specified conditions for release from debarment.
The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of debarment in light of Mr. Bokandenga's admission of wrongdoing and expression of remorse during settlement negotiations. As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreement, Mr. Bokandenga commits to undertaking corporate ethics training. In addition, any affiliate that Mr. Bokandenga currently controls or comes to control, directly or indirectly, during the period of the Bank Group sanction will be required to develop and implement integrity compliance measures that reflect the relevant principles set out in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines. Mr. Bokandenga also commits to continue to fully cooperate with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.
The debarment of Mr. Bokandenga qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.
