TEMPLATE FOR PROJECT CONCEPT NOTE (PCN) - World Bank



Document of

The World Bank

Report No: 66920 v1

Restructuring PAPER

ON A

PROPOSED Project restructuring

of

Science & Technology Higher Education PROJECT

CREDIT

July 10, 2008

TO THE

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

March 29, 2012

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

| | |

|APL |Adaptable Program Loan |

|CAS |Central Admissions System |

|COSTECH |Commission for Science and Technology |

|DHE |Director of Higher Education |

|ESDC |Education Sector Development Committee |

|HESLB |Higher Education Students Loans Board |

|HET-MIS |Higher and Technical Education Management Information System |

|MoEVT |Ministry of Education and Vocational Training |

|MSc |Master of Science |

|MTEF |Medium Term Expenditure Framework |

|MTR |Mid-Term Review |

|NACTE |National Council for Technical Education |

|NM-AIST |Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology |

|PAD |Project Appraisal Document |

|PDO |Project Development Objective |

|PhD |Doctor of Philosophy |

|PPA |Project Preparation Advance |

|S&T |Science and Technology |

|SDR |Special Drawing Rights |

|TCU |Tanzania Commission of Universities |

|TEA |Tanzania Education Authority |

|UDSM |University of Dar es Salaam |

|US$ |United States Dollar |

|Regional Vice President: | |Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili |

|Country Director: | |Philippe Dongier |

|Sector Manager / Director: | |Peter Nicolas Materu/Ritva Reinikka |

|Task Team Leader: | |Arun R. Joshi |

Tanzania

Science & Technology Higher Education Project APL 1

P098496

CONTENTS

A. SUMMARY 1

B. PROJECT STATUS 1

C. PROPOSED CHANGES 4

ANNEX 1:Results Framework and Monitoring 6

ANNEX 2: Reallocation of Proceeds 8

TANZANIA Science & Technology Higher Education PROJECT

RESTRUCTURING PAPER

SUMMARY

1. This Project Paper seeks the approval of the Country Director to introduce the

following changes in the Science & Technology Higher Education Project (Credit No. 44540) and any accompanying amendments to the project’s legal documents. The modifications being proposed are: 1) to reallocate savings across categories to finance ongoing and new agreed activities that are in need of additional resources; and 2) to replace one of the Project Development Objective (PDO) indicators designed to assess ‘education quality’ with three alternative ones[1]. The proposed changes are minor and are being introduced after the agreements reached during the Mid-Term Review (MTR) mission of December, 2011. The proposed changes are consistent with the PDO. The proposed changes will help the project to consolidate and strengthen its various ongoing activities, complete new agreed activities that are consistent with the PDO, and help complete key preparatory activities and attain the triggers necessary for initiating the preparations for the second phase (APL 2) of the program.

PROJECT STATUS

2. Background. The Science & Technology Higher Education Project (the Project,

SDR 60.8 million) was approved by the Board on May 27, 2008, signed on July 10, and was declared effective on October 2, 2008. The Closing Date is June 30, 2013. The Project has complied with Safeguards Instruments, Procurement, Financial Management as well as Anti-Corruption guidelines. The overall project planning is in line with the government’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). The annual work plan and budget are approved by the Steering Committee and the Education Sector Development Committee (ESDC).

3. PDO. The PDO of the Project is ‘to increase the quantity and quality of higher

education graduates, with special emphasis on science, technology, and education, through an improved learning environment.’ There are 3 original outcome indicators and 6 intermediate outcome indicators that monitor progress towards this objective. Overall, the program and project development objectives remain valid/ relevant and the Project is likely to meet its PDO targets prior to the project closing date of June 30, 2013. Progress towards achievement of PDO is rated ‘Satisfactory.’

4. Implementation Progress. About 65% of the project implementation timeline has

elapsed, while about 79% of the US$100 million equivalent credit has been disbursed. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT), SDR 21.9 million (US$36 million equivalent) of the credit has been fully paid and/or committed and another SDR 15.8 million (US$26 million equivalent) is expected to be committed in the next 3 months for extensive civil works contracts and goods procurement. Even though implementation start-up was delayed by over 6 months due to lengthy effectiveness delays, the pace of implementation has improved and progress is evident in all components. Overall, implementation progress (IP) is rated ‘Satisfactory.’

5. The Adaptable Program Loan (APL) 1 for the Project was designed to deliver ‘quick

wins’ to address significant deficiencies in staffing, technical assistance, equipment and goods, civil works, and operational budget in key public higher education institutions. The Project is designed to deliver these basic inputs and most implementation and performance targets are on track. In addition, the Project is also providing capacity development inputs to higher education organizations such as the Tanzania Commission of Universities (TCU), National Council for Technical Education (NACTE), Tanzania Education Authority (TEA), Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), and the Higher Education Students Loans Board (HESLB) that ensure the effective functioning of the higher education system. Capacity building activities in these organizations are proceeding well and quick assessments show improved efficiency and performance in these institutions. In addition, some of these institutions are engaged in major policy reforms that are already underway and are expected to improve the overall performance and sustainability of the higher education system.

6. Over the past two and a half years of implementation, extensive discussions have

been held between the World Bank team and the Government on the equity and sustainability aspects of the rapidly expanding higher education student loans scheme. The Government set up a Presidential Commission to analyze the current loan scheme and develop recommendations aimed at improving the scheme. The government has proactively started to implement recommended reforms. During this period, the Government also set up a new online Central Admissions System (CAS), which has helped improve equity and efficiency in the higher education admissions system. Several other reforms in the financing, monitoring, and coordinating of higher education are ongoing and are helping to set the ground for second generation reforms to be supported by the World Bank through the next phase of the Project, APL 2.

7. On the outcome indicators, the MoEVT data shows an increasing number of

students graduating from science and technology programs (reaching 106% of the 2010/2011 target). The number of university graduates with degrees qualified to teach Mathematics, Science and English recruited in secondary schools has also increased substantially (reaching 801% of the 2010/2011 target), helping to encourage a larger stream of students who might pursue science and technology disciplines at the university level. Both of these indicators have exceeded the targets set for 2010/2011 in the Project Appraisal Document (PAD). It is, however, important to note that these positive changes and those listed below cannot be attributed to the Project interventions alone. Instead, it is a reflection of the overall commitment of the Government as well as the serious engagement and efforts in implementing various programs, including those of the Project, by the numerous teaching as well as the non-teaching/ supportive higher education institutions.

8. The outcome indicator related to ‘improvement in scores on standardized

assessments’ has been discussed extensively by the Government on its feasibility and applicability in Tanzania. As agreed during the MTR mission, the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) held discussions with relevant institutions and established that developing a new instrument that assesses learning among undergraduate and graduate students will be difficult and will require the engagement of numerous institutions and approving bodies. Furthermore, a general review also shows that such an instrument is not common in other countries in Africa and elsewhere. Instead, UDSM developed a comprehensive pilot instrument to assess within their own faculties the impact of the learning among ‘teacher-students’ (instructors/ professors) who received scholarships under the Project. The instruments assesses among other variables questions related to publications in peer reviewed journals. These indicators provide not only a broad direction on quality of the staff training program of the participants but, by extension, the quality of the teaching and learning in the faculties they are now teaching in.

9. Government Commitment. The Project team notes the Government’s overall

commitment to the higher education sub-sector. During the past year, the Government prepared and approved the Higher Education Development Program 2011-2015, which lays down the key areas of reform in the fast expanding higher education sector. The Government’s allocation to the sector has remained substantial and continues to grow.

10. Institutional Arrangement. All beneficiary institutions have implementation

structures in place including institutional project coordinators and most activities are ongoing as planned. The overall pace of activities continues to improve. The MoEVT has recruited a qualified Coordinator, who has developed improved communication processes with beneficiary institutions and higher service standards.

11. Safeguards. There are no changes to the environmental and social safeguards aspects

of the project. The proposed restructuring of the Project does not require a revised safeguards management plan, monitoring and reporting requirements.

12. Financial Management. The overall project financial management rating remains

Moderately Satisfactory. The financial management risk rating assigned to the Project remains Moderate.

13. Audit. The audit report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 was submitted within

the time specified by the agreement. The auditors issued a certificate containing an unqualified (clean) opinion on the financial statements.

14. Procurement. A revised procurement plan based on these proposed changes has

already been submitted by the government and is found to be satisfactory. Overall assessment with regards to the procurement function is considered Moderately Satisfactory.

15. Closing Date. The Project Closing Date remains the same (June 30, 2013).

PROPOSED CHANGES

16. The modifications being proposed are: 1) to reallocate savings across components and categories to finance agreed activities that are in need of additional resources; and 2) to replace one of PDO indicator designed to assess ‘education quality’ with three alternative ones. The proposed changes are minor and are being introduced after the agreements reached during the MTR mission of December 2011. The proposed changes are consistent with the PDO. The proposed changes will help the project to consolidate and strengthen its various ongoing activities, complete new agreed activities that are consistent with the PDO, and help complete key preparatory activities and attain the triggers necessary for initiating the preparations for the second phase (APL 2) of the program.

16. Reallocations (in SDR). As all agreed activities are on track and likely to be

completed prior to the project closing date, no restructuring of the Project components is required. However, as detailed in the MTR Aide Memoire, some reallocation of resources between categories is required.

17. Some savings have occurred because civil works, training and procurement of goods

have been provided at lower prices than originally estimated prices. In addition, some institutions such as the University of Dar Es Salaam carried out technical designs of their proposed buildings ‘in house’ (as opposed to through expensive TA contracts), thereby saving significant resources in the process. Also, the Government spent only about SDR170, 000 (out of SDR400,000 allocated) in the Project Preparation Advance (PPA). The government requests to reallocate these ‘savings’ from categories # 1 and # 5 to categories # 2, and # 3, as noted above, where greater needs have been assessed. These ‘savings’ will be allocated to category # 2 (for various consultancies), which includes technical assistance for already planned as well as new activities in line with the PDO, such as the enhancement of the IT/BPO sectors for skills creation by COSTECH, development of a strategic business plan for the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), and further improvement in loans scheme management by the HESLB. They will also be allocated to category # 3 (for various training, goods etc.), in which need for additional resources have been assessed to fully and rigorously complete ongoing activities. There are no changes in the name of categories. The total ‘savings’ to be reallocated is SDR 2,260,248.84, which is 3.72 percent of the total credit. Requested reallocations of savings are as follows:

Table 1: Reallocations of Savings

|Category of Expenditure |Allocation |% of Financing |

|Current |Revised |Current |Revised |Current |Revise |

|(1) Grants for Subprojects under Parts |(1) Grants for Subprojects under Parts |54,700,000.00 |52,669,741.00 |100.0 |100.0 |

|A.1(a), A.2 and B.1(a) of the Project |A.1(a), A.2 and B.1(a) of the Project | | | | |

|(2) consultants’ services under Part |(2) consultants’ services under Part |600,000.00 |2,495,448.84 |100.0 |100.0 |

|A.1(b), and goods, consultants’ |A.1(b), and goods, consultants’ | | | | |

|services and Training under Part B.1(b)|services and Training under Part B.1(b)| | | | |

|of the Project |of the Project | | | | |

|(3) works, goods, consultants services |(3) works, goods, consultants services |4,200,000.00 |4,564,800.00 |100.0 |100.0 |

|and Training under Part B.2 of the |and Training under Part B.2 of the | | | | |

|Project |Project | | | | |

|(4) Operating Costs |(4) Operating Costs |900,000.00 |900,000.00 |100.0 |100.0 |

|(5) Refund of Project Preparation |(5) Refund of Project Preparation |400,000.00 |170,010.16 |100.0 |100.0 |

|Advance |Advance | | | | |

|Total |Total |60,800,000.00 |60,800,000.00 |100.0 |100.0 |

18. Results/indicators. The PDO indicator related to improvement in scores on

standardized assessments has been discussed extensively by the Government on its feasibility and applicability in Tanzania during the MTR mission. After extensive consultation with stakeholders, the Government and the Bank have agreed on proposed three alternative PDO indicators to measure the improvement of quality. Specifically, they are: “(a) number of PhD and MSc holding lecturers in priority disciples; (b) number of scientific publications by these PhD and MSc holding lecturers in priority disciplines each year; (c) percent of students who are satisfied with quality in science and technology degree programs”. These indicators will replace the original indicator “scores on standardized assessments of learning of S&T students in their final year of first-degree studies”. These new indicators do not directly assess student learning; however, they provide a strong ‘proxy’ for the improved learning environment that the project is helping to build for students in priority disciplines. All other PDO and intermediate indicators remain unchanged.

ANNEX 1:Results Framework and Monitoring

Tanzania: Science & Technology Higher Education

|Project Development Objective (PDO): The Project Development Objective is to increase the quantity and quality of higher education graduates, with special emphasis on science, technology, and education, through an improved |

|learning environment. |

|PDO Level Results Indicators |

|Intermediate Result: |

|Intermediate Result Indicator One: Number of students enrolled in programs | |C |

|supported by Component 1A. | | |

|Current |Revised |Current |Revised |Current |Revise |

|(1) Grants for Subprojects under Parts |(1) Grants for Subprojects under Parts |54,700,000.00 |52,669,741.00 |100.0 |100.0 |

|A.1(a), A.2 and B.1(a) of the Project |A.1(a), A.2 and B.1(a) of the Project | | | | |

|(2) consultants’ services under Part |(2) consultants’ services under Part |600,000.00 |2,495,448.84 |100.0 |100.0 |

|A.1(b), and goods, consultants’ |A.1(b), and goods, consultants’ | | | | |

|services and Training under Part B.1(b)|services and Training under Part B.1(b)| | | | |

|of the Project |of the Project | | | | |

|(3) works, goods, consultants services |(3) works, goods, consultants services |4,200,000.00 |4,564,800.00 |100.0 |100.0 |

|and Training under Part B.2 of the |and Training under Part B.2 of the | | | | |

|Project |Project | | | | |

|(4) Operating Costs |(4) Operating Costs |900,000.00 |900,000.00 |100.0 |100.0 |

|(5) Refund of Project Preparation |(5) Refund of Project Preparation |400,000.00 |170,010.16 |100.0 |100.0 |

|Advance |Advance | | | | |

|Total |Total |60,800,000.00 |60,800,000.00 |100.0 |100.0 |

2. Background. The Science & Technology Higher Education Project (the Project;

SDR 60.8 million) was approved by the Board on May 27, 2008, signed on July 10, and was declared effective on October 2, 2008. The Closing Date is June 30, 2013. The Project has complied with Safeguards Instruments, Procurement, Financial Management as well as Anti-Corruption guidelines. The overall project planning is in line with the government’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). The annual work plan and budget are approved by the Steering Committee and the Education Sector Development Committee (ESDC).

3. PDO. The PDO of the Project is ‘to increase the quantity and quality of higher

education graduates, with special emphasis on science, technology, and education, through an improved learning environment.’ There are 3 outcome indicators and 6 intermediate outcome indicators that monitor progress towards this objective. Overall, the program and project development objectives remain valid/ relevant and the Project is likely to meet its PDO targets prior to the project closing date of June 30, 2013. Progress towards achievement of PDO is rated ‘Satisfactory’.

4. Implementation Progress. About 65% of the project implementation timeline has

elapsed, while about 79% of the US$100 million equivalent credit has been disbursed. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT), SDR 21.9 million (US$36 million equivalent) of the credit has been fully paid and/or committed and another SDR 15.8 million (US$26 million equivalent) is expected to be committed in the next 3 months for extensive civil works contracts and goods procurement. Even though implementation start-up was delayed by over 6 months due to lengthy effectiveness delays, the pace of implementation has improved and progress is evident in all components. Overall, implementation progress (IP) is rated ‘Satisfactory’.

5. Reallocations (in SDR). As all agreed activities are on track and likely to be

completed prior to the project closing date, no restructuring of the Project components is required. However, as detailed in the MTR Aide Memoire, some reallocation of resources between categories is required. This is because there have been some savings in two categories (Subprojects #1, and PPA #5) on the one hand (due to lower costs of goods and services as well as some activities being carried out 'in-house'), and request for additional resources in others (Consultancies #2, and Training #3) (for ongoing activities that require some additional resources as well as for new agreed activities). The total percentage savings to be reallocated is 3.72% of the credit.

-----------------------

[1] Two alternative indicators to assess quality were suggested by the Government in their letter to the World Bank. The World Bank team and the Government discussed further and agreed on a third quality indicator, reflected in this document.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download