The verdict in three sentences
For an engineering consultancy targeting projects funded by the World Bank, the AFD or the African Development Bank, and teaming up with London consultancies to bid, the website has become part of the prequalification file, checked by evaluators before the bids are even opened. A realistic 2026 budget is 1,800,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA excl. VAT (about 2,750 to 5,340 EUR) for 12 bilingual pages with structured project reference sheets (contract value, client, funder, deliverables). The payoff shows up as higher scores on the "similar experience" criterion and more joint-venture invitations from international firms.
What development bank evaluators actually check
An evaluation committee receiving 15 to 30 expressions of interest spends only a few minutes per firm before drawing up the shortlist. It cross-checks declared references, the stability of key staff and the ability to work in English. A site listing vague projects ("many sites across Cameroon") weakens the file instead of strengthening it.
| Item checked | What the site must show | Scoring impact |
|---|---|---|
| Similar experience | One sheet per project: title, value, funder, period | Weighted 20 to 40% of the technical score |
| Client | Name of the ministry, municipality or state company | Enables cross-checking |
| Deliverables | Preliminary design, detailed design, tender documents, works supervision | Proves full-cycle capability |
| Key staff | Engineer profiles, degrees, years of experience | Weighted 30 to 50% |
| English version | Every sheet translated, not just the homepage | Essential for English-speaking joint ventures |
| Approvals | Ministry approvals, certifications, insurance | Eligibility filter |
| PDF brochure | Downloadable, up to date, under 5 MB | Reused in bid files |
The decisive element is the standardised reference sheet. Every project follows the same template, filterable by sector (roads, sanitation, public buildings, energy) and by funder. An AFD evaluator or a London partner searching "urban sanitation + AFD" should find your three relevant projects in two clicks.
2026 prices for an engineering firm website
Price gaps come mainly from the number of references to enter, the quality of the translation and whether a partner upload area is included.
| Package | Scope | Price excl. VAT 2026 | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 8 pages FR, 10 references, PDF brochure | 1,200,000 to 1,800,000 FCFA (1,830 to 2,750 EUR) | 4 to 5 weeks |
| Standard (recommended) | 12 pages FR/EN, 25 filterable reference sheets, key staff | 1,800,000 to 2,600,000 FCFA (2,750 to 3,960 EUR) | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Advanced | Standard + interactive project map, protected partner area | 2,600,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (3,960 to 5,340 EUR) | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Technical EN translation | Per batch of 10 reference sheets | 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA (230 to 380 EUR) | 1 week |
| Maintenance | Hosting, security, 2 new references per month | 50,000 to 90,000 FCFA/month (76 to 137 EUR) | Ongoing |
| Site photography | 1 day in Douala, 40 edited photos | 250,000 to 400,000 FCFA (380 to 610 EUR) | 2 weeks |
These figures are 2026 estimates observed in the Cameroonian and West African market. Technical translation deserves its own budget line: a generalist translator often confuses "works supervision" and "construction control", which undermines the file in front of an English-speaking evaluator.
Costly mistakes
Three flaws recur on engineering firm websites: site photos that are not yours, missing contract values, and a site that is slow on mobile (over 6 seconds to load on a 3G connection). Evaluators in the field often browse from a phone, and a site that does not load will not be revisited.
Mini case study
Eng. Ngono runs a 14-person engineering consultancy in Douala, specialising in roads and sanitation. In 2025 he submitted 9 expressions of interest for World Bank and AFD-funded projects and was shortlisted once. He invests 2,400,000 FCFA excl. VAT in a Standard site with 28 bilingual reference sheets, plus 70,000 FCFA per month for maintenance, a first-year total of 3,240,000 FCFA (about 4,940 EUR).
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Over the next 8 expressions of interest, the firm is shortlisted 3 times and wins a 95,000,000 FCFA works supervision contract in a joint venture with a European firm, with a 40% share, or 38,000,000 FCFA in fees. Even if only 10% of that success is credited to the website, the investment is paid back more than once.
FAQ
How many references should we publish at minimum?
Aim for at least 15 detailed sheets covering the last 5 years, since terms of reference often ask for 3 to 5 similar projects over that period. Below 10, an evaluator may doubt the firm's capacity.
Can we publish contract values?
Yes for public contracts, whose values are generally published by the procurement regulator or the funder. For private clients, show a range (for example 50 to 100 million FCFA) after written approval.
Is the English version really essential?
For World Bank and African Development Bank projects, English is very often the language of joint ventures and evaluators. Budget 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA per batch of 10 sheets for a reliable technical translation.
How long does it take to go live?
Allow 6 to 8 weeks for a Standard package, 2 of which go into collecting reference data. The timeline depends mostly on how fast your engineers provide the project sheets.
What does monthly maintenance cover?
At 50,000 to 90,000 FCFA per month, it covers hosting, backups, security updates and 2 new references per month. That keeps the site aligned with your live bids.
Let's scope your project. Send us your reference list and target funders: we price a 12-page bilingual site at 1,800,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA excl. VAT, delivered in 6 to 10 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
