The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) SOUTH ASIA | Sri Lanka | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2015 | Seq No: 9 | ARCHIVED on 06-Oct-2019 | ISR38484 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Dry Zone Development, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 24-Jun-2015 Effectiveness Date: 04-Dec-2015 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 17-Apr-2018 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 17-Apr-2018 Original Closing Date: 30-Jun-2021 Revised Closing Date: 30-Jun-2021 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The project development objective is to enhance equitable access to and improve the quality of ECD services. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Expanding and strengthening the delivery of ECD services:(Cost $45.00 M) Project management, and monitoring and evaluation (M &E):(Cost $5.00 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO ►Moderately Satisfactory ►Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) ►Moderately Unsatisfactory ►Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Risk Rating ►Substantial ►Substantial Implementation Status and Key Decisions The project was approved by the World Bank Board on June 24, 2015 and became effective on December 4, 2015. This Implementation Status and Results (ISR) serves to report on the findings from the missions conducted between December 2018 and the desk review in May 2019. Project Status. 10/6/2019 Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) The project is making Moderately Satisfactory progress towards achieving the Project Development Outcome (PDO). There has been progress towards achieving the Project Development Objective (PDO). One of the three PDO indicators (centers meeting national quality standards) has exceeded the annual project target specified for Y4 of the project (2019). The achievement for the indicator on children enrolled in ECD centers currently stands at 91.5% of the 2019 target (based on the 2016 ECD census data). The updated data will be available following the mini-census survey planned to be conducted in late 2019/early 2020. The progress on the other two indicators have been (i) 117% for the ECD centers meeting national quality standards (exceeded the 2019 target) and (iii) 64% for the ECD centers conducting annual child development assessments (underachieved the 2019 target). The performance on the overall implementation progress is Moderately Unsatisfactory. While implementation has picked up pace, there is a backlog of some activities that had a delayed start and are still behind track. This is accompanied with a low disbursement rate (32%). Of the 14 intermediate results indicators in the Results Framework (RF) of the Project Appraisal Document (8 of these are captured in the Implementation Supervision Report RF), four indicators have exceeded the 2019 targets and these are mostly related to the long and short term training of ECD teachers, including diploma training in the plantation areas. Since June 2019, there has been an increased momentum for the indicators on (i) facility development grants ( of the total number of 2775 centers that have received the grants, 451 centers received the grants in the last three months, with a projected cumulative achievement of 5000 by mid-2020), (ii) distribution of teaching learning materials ( a total of 2709 distributed and 400 in progress with projected cumulative achievement of 3000 by Oct 2019 and 5000 by mid-2020) and (iii) provision of tuition fee waivers to children in EC centers (9926 children have so far received the fee support, another 15,000 applications reviewed in the last three months and ready for distribution by end of Sep.2019). Activities have picked up pace for (i) establishment of a common registration system across provinces (review of existing registration systems will be completed by Sep 2019 and a potential collaboration with UNICEF is being explored), (ii) construction of new ECD centers in unserved and underserved areas (37 have been completed, 52 contracts will be awarded by Sep 2019 and 14 bids are being evaluated) and (iii) community centers conducting social audits (planned to be conducted in 5 provinces by mid-2020). The PHDT has made good progress on the diploma training of the child development officers and parental awareness programs and have exceeded their targets for 2019. The construction of new centers and renovation of existing centers has picked up implementation in the last 3 months, with 89% of 2019 target achieved. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance ►Moderate ►Substantial ►Substantial Macroeconomic ►Moderate ►Moderate ►Moderate Sector Strategies and Policies ►Substantial ►Substantial ►Substantial Technical Design of Project or Program ►Substantial ►Substantial ►Substantial Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Sustainability ►Substantial ►Substantial ►Substantial Fiduciary ►High ►High ►High Environment and Social ►Moderate ►Low ►Low Stakeholders ►Moderate ►Moderate ►Moderate Other -- -- ►Moderate Overall ►Substantial ►Substantial ►Substantial Results 10/6/2019 Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Enhancing equitable access to ECD services IN00741882 ►Children enrolled in ECD centers (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 512,620.00 578,601.00 578,160.00 661,150.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 The current enrolment number from the ECD census survey of 2016 is 578,160. There was a typographic error in the May Comments: 2019 entry. The enrolment numbers will be updated after the mini census survey is conducted in 2019/early 2020. IN00741885 ►Girls (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 253,900.00 289,080.00 289,080.00 327,400.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 Improving the quality of ECD services IN00741883 ►ECD centers meeting national quality standards (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 1,000.00 2,585.00 2,923.00 3,500.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 On review by the PMU, the number of centers that meet the national quality standards (at least 7 out of 10), are 2923, including 539 centers in the plantation sector. In cases where water and sanitation facilities do not meet the national quality Comments: standards, they have been excluded from the total number. IN00741884 ►ECD centers conducting annual child development assessments (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 2,077.00 2,097.00 5,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 The child development assessment activity had a delayed start due to the time taken to develop the assessment tool kit and Comments: manuals followed by approval from the Ministry. The activity started in late 2018 and is now picking up pace. Overall Comments PDO 10/6/2019 Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) The project has made notable progress over the last three months. Although some activities had a delayed start due to bureaucratic delays and have started in 2018 and 2019, they are picking up momentum after the administrative issues have been resolved. Some of the delay also occurred due to the political instability in the country late 2018. The project is showing an improvement on almost all indicators and most of the 2019 targets are expected to be met by mid 2020. Two of the PDO indicators (children's enrolment and centers meeting national quality standards) have either met or are very close to meeting their targets for 2019. The third PDO indicator on conducting children's assessments is picking up progress (currently achieved 64% of the annual target) and is expected to meet the 2019 target by mid 2020. In the intermediate results indicators, the two activities on the facility improvement grants and tuition waiver support to distinct children have picked up pace of implementation the 2019 targets are expected to be met by mid 2020. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Expanding and strengthening the delivery of ECD services IN00741886 ►Number of project beneficiaries (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 520,000.00 830,793.00 918,702.00 1,700,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 The number of project beneficiaries includes children, ECD teachers, parents, members of the community (who were provided ECD awareness and orientation programs), ECD officers, officials of the Divisional Secretariat, Ministry and Comments: PMU staff. IN00741889 ►Number of Female Project beneficiaries (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 260,000.00 361,000.00 499,685.00 850,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 IN00741890 ►ECD centers receiving facility improvement grants (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1,567.00 2,775.00 6,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 The total number of ECD centers receiving Facility Improvement Grants (FIGs) is 2755. Of these, the civil works for 1755 centers have been completed and the balance are work in progress (with 50-80% of the grant amount for each enter having Comments: being disbursed). IN00741891 10/6/2019 Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) ►ECD teachers and teacher assistants completing standardized short-term training (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 5,706.00 9,124.00 6,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 Due to the increasing demand for short service teacher training, the project has expanded the provision to include teachers from ECD centers outside the project coverage to provide equitable services for the ECD sector. Hence, the achievement Comments: has exceeded the end target. IN00741892 ►Children receiving tuition fee support through the project (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 9,804.00 9,926.00 25,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 The component on tuition waiver support for distinct children has picked up momentum after the identification process has been completed. The process for disbursement of the fee support for an additional 15,000 children is underway and the Comments: target for 2019 will be met by December 2019. IN00741893 ►Awareness programs conducted by MCA, PCs and ECD centers (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 700.00 1,885.00 1,200.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 The PMU has made efforts to reach out to more parents and members of the community and so conducted more number of Comments: programs on ECD awareness and orientation. Hence the results achieved have exceeded the end target. IN00741894 ►ECD centers established in unserved/ underserved areas (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 37.00 185.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 The construction of 37 new ECD centers has been completed and these centers are operational. The bids for an additional 14 centers are being evaluated and 7 contracts are ready to be awarded in September, 2019. 45 contracts for new CDCs Comments: have been awarded in the plantations. It is expected that a total of 82 centers will be completed by December 2019 against the year's target of 140. Project management, and monitoring and evaluation (M &E) IN00741887 ►Establishment and utilization of M & E system (Text, Custom) 10/6/2019 Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target M&E system has been M&E system has been M & E system functional functional. Monitoring data functional. Monitoring Value No M&E system exists from 80% of ECD centers is data from 80% of ECD Monitoring data from 80% in MIS. centers is in MIS. of ECD centers in MIS Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 100% of baseline data are in the MIS and accessible. Partial indicator data has been updated for 55% of the project funded ECD centers. The updating of backlog in monitoring centers on MIS is underway. These indicators correspond to Facility Improvement Grants, Student Fee Waiver and Teacher Certificate Programs. However, other indicators such as Awareness Comments: Programs, ECD centers developed are not in the MIS. ( the actual value shown in the results section is not correct and is uneditable) IN00741888 ►Community monitoring, evaluation and oversight in Provinces through social audits (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Conducted in Northern, Conducted in Northern, Central and Western Central and Western Provinces. Provinces. Plantation: Stakeholder Plantation: Stakeholder Conducted in all nine Value None consultation is undertaken consultation is undertaken in provinces in the plantation areas in the plantation areas in all all regions. Community regions. Community score score card has been card has been introduced. introduced. Date 01-Jan-2015 15-May-2019 09-Sep-2019 30-Jun-2021 Social audits have been conducted in some of the plantation Child Development Centers(CDCs). For the non - plantation areas proposals are under evaluation for the social audits to be conducted. Comments: (the actual value is incorrect and is uneditable) Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P151916 IDA-56780 Effective USD 50.00 50.00 0.00 15.80 33.31 32% Key Dates (by loan) 10/6/2019 Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P151916 IDA-56780 Effective 24-Jun-2015 23-Oct-2015 04-Dec-2015 30-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2021 Cumulative Disbursements Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 10/6/2019 Page 7 of 7