The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) AFRICA | Mali | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2015 | Seq No: 8 | ARCHIVED on 19-Jun-2019 | ISR37550 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Economy and Finances, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 07-May-2015 Effectiveness Date: 23-Sep-2015 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 30-May-2018 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 09-Apr-2018 Original Closing Date: 31-Dec-2020 Revised Closing Date: 31-Dec-2020 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The development objective of the proposed Mali Higher Education Support Project (HESP) is to improve the relevance of selected higher education programs and the stewardship of the higher education system in Mali. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Component 1: Support to Selected Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs):(Cost $22.00 M) Component 2: Higher Education System Support:(Cost $8.00 M) Component 3: Project Management and Technical Assistance:(Cost $3.00 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Substantial Substantial Implementation Status and Key Decisions Overview. The 5-year Mali Higher Education Support Project was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on May 7, 2015; it was declared effective on September 23, 2015; and it is expected to close on December 31, 2020. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve the relevance of selected higher education programs and the stewardship of the higher education system in Mali. Based on extensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders involved in project implementation, both at the national and higher education institutions (HEIs) levels, and a close monitoring and review of the implementation status of the planned activities, the project continues to make considerable progress in achieving its development objectives. The project’s overall performance remains Satisfactory. Below is a summary of the status of each component: 6/19/2019 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) Component 1. Support to Selected Public HEIs: This component aims to improve the relevance of selected higher education programs, while also contributing to improving stewardship, by supporting governance improvements and quality related interventions in selected existing HEIs with strong commitment to reform and supporting a new institution offering programs in agriculture, livestock, mining and technology. This component is meeting its overall objective as stated below: Sub-Component 1.1 Support to selected existing public HEIs. This sub-component supports four selected existing institutions through annual performance-based contracts between the institutions concerned and the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The four selected HEIs are: (i) Rural Polytechnic Institute of Katibougou (Institut Polytechnique Rural de Katibougou-IPRK) focusing on agriculture, research and outreach; (ii) University of Segou (Université de Ségou-UOS) focusing on livestock and agriculture programs; (iii) University of Science and Technology (Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako-USTTB) providing training in applied sciences to support other sectors; and (iv) National School of Engineering (Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs-ENI) dealing with engineering programs including mining. An independent evaluation of disbursement-linked results (DLRs) with each of the targeted HEIs was conducted in May 2019 as planned. Based on this evaluation, all four targeted HEIs have fully achieved the expected results, making satisfactory progress on institutional and pedagogical governance. While it is premature to measure the overall impact of the new governance model on the relevance and quality of higher education in Mali, the supervision and implementation support mission held from April 8 to April 13, 2019 noted that the new governance practices embedded in the DLRs are visible and gradually taking root in all four targeted HEIs. Ongoing consultations and communications with various actors in these HEIs, in particular teachers and students, progressively enable better involvement of these actors in the life of the HEIs, while facilitating wider ownership of the institutions' strategic objectives. Moreover, an expenditure review undertaken in the targeted HEIs indicates that resources mobilized through the project have been used for relevant investments that improved the quality of education programs offered, and to some extent, an expansion of access. The first cohort of students who benefitted from the reforms implemented completed their Bachelor (License) at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year, and the planned tracer survey is expected to be launched in August 2019. Sub-Component 1.2 Support to the University of Segou’s livestock department. This sub-component supports the development of a new livestock and animal health department at University of Segou (UoS) through the construction and equipping of new teaching facilities on existing land owned by the university. To date, the planned establishment of a new livestock and animal health department at UoS is progressing well. Construction activities were launched in April 2019 for a duration of 15 months. Given the imminence of the rainy season in Mali, the Bank team urged the PIU to closely monitor the construction site and ensure that foundational activities are realized before the start of the rainy season. In addition, the UoS has signed various agreements with leading partners in its fields of training and research and has established development plans to further exploit its agricultural lands with great potential. The project will further support the institution in the preparation of an economic model to optimize the use of land use. Sub-Component 1.3 Support to the development of the new Bamako Africa School of Mines. This sub-component supports the feasibility study, architectural plans, curriculum and program development and equipment specifications for the new proposed school. The feasibility study was validated by the relevant stakeholders in April 2018. The planned process continues to be implemented for the subsequent development of architectural plans, curriculum, program, and equipment specifications. Component 2. Higher Education System Support: This component aims to improve the stewardship of the higher education system in Mali by strengthening the Government’s capacity to: (i) articulate and implement reforms; (ii) play an overall oversight and regulatory role, including for the private sector; and (iii) manage information. Key activities supported include: (i) Support to the Planning and Prospective Unit; (ii) Support to the Quality Assurance Unit; (iii) Management and Information System (MIS); (iv) Virtual Libraries; and (v) Technical Assistance. The supervision and implementation support mission conducted from April 8 to April 13, 2019 noted significant progress in all planned activities. The Malian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (AMAQ-SUP) was legally established by the Government on November 1, 2017. Although its full operationalization requires decisive actions to be taken, significant progress has been made. AMAQ’s approach to quality has been integrated into the strategic plans of the Ministry and the HEIs. In addition, several actions are undertaken to optimize the operationalization of the quality assurance system, including: (i) the development of a quality assurance framework by the Direction Générale de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (DGESRS) and (ii) the organization of several workshops to support the operationalization of internal quality assurance units of both public and private HEIs. The UoS was selected to undertake the planned self-assessment process in 2019 with the support of the French High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education, as a starting point to strengthen quality assurance. A call for applications is planned to be launched, before end of June 2019, to recruit the executive director of the Malian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (AMAQ-SUP). The planned construction of the DGESRS and AMAQ-SUP were launched in March 2019 and expected to be completed within 6 months. Moreover, the Education Management Information System (EMIS) is well established and fully functional. Beyond the regular availability of reliable and accurate statistical information on higher education, additional modules have been developed to cover other institutional aspects including human resources management. Furthermore, access to virtual library resources was given to all students and teachers of HEIs registered in the EMIS. 6/19/2019 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) The project further supported the Malian Research and Education Network (MaliRen) to facilitate the provision of connectivity and stable broadband access at lower cost to the entire higher education system. The goal of improving this connectivity is to facilitate the networking of all HEIs at the national, regional and international levels, which will allow the access to large resources available at the international level. The rehabilitation work of the network operation center as well as the acquisition of the equipment (including a central server) are expected to complete by the end of June 2019. Lastly, as part of the technical assistance planned, the project has supported 58 beneficiaries through scholarships including 16 Post-Doctorates, 30 PhDs, and 12 Masters from select HEIs. Component 3. Project Management and Technical Assistance: This component established the project implementation unit (PIU), adequately staff with experts to ensure smooth implementation of the project. The PIU team continues to be highly engaged and proactive, and satisfactorily manage the project, including through holding regular meetings to closely monitor the implementation of planned project activities. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Substantial Substantial Substantial Macroeconomic Moderate Moderate Moderate Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate Moderate Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate Moderate Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Sustainability Substantial Substantial Substantial Fiduciary Substantial Substantial Substantial Environment and Social Substantial Moderate Moderate Stakeholders Substantial Substantial Substantial Other -- -- -- Overall Substantial Substantial Substantial Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Improve the relevance of selected higher education programs IN00714474 ►Increase in Employer satisfaction as measured by employer satisfaction survey of priority sector of participating HEIs (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 18.00 18.00 40.00 Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 6/19/2019 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) The planned employer satisfaction study which has been postponed to the 2018-2019 academic year (2018-2019) is expected to be launched in August 2019. The survey was postponed because the first cohort of beneficiary students was only expected to complete their Bachelors (License) at the end of the Comments: 2017-2018 academic year and it was not deemed appropriate to measure student performance at that stage of project implementation. IN00714481 ►Number of programs in participating HEIs that are proposed and developed with the private sector participation (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 45.00 121.00 165.00 135.00 Date 30-Mar-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 30-Mar-2020 165 higher education programs in targeted HEIs have been developed with the participation of the private sector, exceeding the end of project target of 135. The team continues to monitor the effective private Comments: sector engagement in the project for continued relevance of higher education programs. IN00714483 ►Tracer Study (for gaduates from the selected HEIs conducted) (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No Yes Yes Date 31-Mar-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 28-Aug-2020 The tracer survey which has been postponed to the 2018-2019 academic year has been launched on May 15, 2019. The survey will target the first cohort of beneficiary students who completed their Bachelors Comments: (License) at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year. Improve the stewardship of the higher education system IN00714475 ►Number of institutional development plans approved at public HEIs (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Target achieved. Institutional development plans have been approved in all public HEIs targeted. The Comments: team will continue to follow up on the effective implementation of the approved plans. IN00714482 ►Number of Public HEIs with a functional CA (Board of Trustees) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Target achieved. All public HEIs targeted have a function Board of Trustees. Comments: IN00714484 ►Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Custom) 6/19/2019 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 30,657.00 36,968.00 35,000.00 Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 This core PDO indicator has exceeded the expected end target. The project has so far reached 36,968 Comments: students against the end-of-project target of 35,000 direct beneficiaries. IN00714485 Female beneficiaries (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 31.00 36.00 35.00 Overall Comments PDO All PDO-level indicators are on track to be fully achieved or exceeded by the end of the project. All the targeted public HEIs have a functional Board of Trustees and their institutional development plans have been approved, which is highly commendable. For the indicators on employer satisfaction and tracer survey, some timing adjustments had been made to allow an opportune time to undertake the studies: the planned tracer survey has been launched in May 2019 and the employer satisfaction study is expected to be launched in August 2019. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Component 1: Support to Selected Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) IN00714486 ►Number of national students enrolled in licensed programs at participating HEIs (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 10,000.00 29,675.00 35,666.00 18,900.00 Date 30-Mar-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Target exceeded. 35,666 students have enrolled in licensed programs in participating HEIs, exceeding the Comments: end of project target of 18,900. IN00714490 Number of female national students enrolled in licensed programs at participating HEIs (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 2,500.00 9,503.00 12,804.00 5,000.00 Date 30-Mar-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 IN00714491 ►Number of teachers trained in the licensed programs at participating HEIs (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 6/19/2019 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) Value 120.00 982.00 1,302.00 780.00 Date 30-Mar-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Target exceeded. 1302 teachers are trained in the licensed programs against the end of project target of Comments: 780. IN00714493 ►Share of budget in participating HEIs allocated to pedagogical inputs (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 10.00 19.67 15.70 30.00 Date 30-Mar-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Partially achieved. Only 15.70 percent of the budget in participating HEIs is allocated to pedagogical Comments: inputs. IN00714495 ►Increase in Amount of cash generated internally at participating HEIs (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 100.00 350.00 236.72 160.00 Date 30-Mar-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Targeted exceeded against the expected Year 4 annual target of 155.5 percent. Comments: IN00714496 ►Annual Report on DLIs produced on time (Before end of March) (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes No Yes Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 The annual report on DLIs was produced but not before end of March 2019 as expected. Comments: Component 2: Higher Education System Support IN00714487 ►Number of public HEIs with a management information system with operational resource management (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Fully achieved. All public HEIs targeted have a management information system with operational resource Comments: management. IN00714489 ►Quality-Assurance unit established and operational, with semi-autonomous status (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 6/19/2019 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Fully achieved. The Malian Quality Assurance unit is well established with a semi autonomous status. Comments: IN00714492 ►Number of users accessing Digital library system (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 72,600.00 10,000.00 Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Target exceeded. The virtual library is fully established and access was given to all students and teachers Comments: of HEIs registered in the EMIS. IN00714494 ►MIS statistical report published annually with relevant data from # HEIs (Public and Private) (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes No Yes Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 The MIS statistical report has not yet been published due to lack of data from private HEIs in the system. Comments: Actions are undertaken to ensure the online registration of students of private institutions. Component 3: Project Management and Technical Assistance IN00714488 ►Number of public HEIs with proposal(s) for acquiring support from Africa Centers of Excellence in West and Central Africa (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 4.00 4.00 6.00 Date 31-May-2015 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Dec-2020 Partially achieved. At the request of HEIs, the project will provide technical assistance (TA) for the development of collaborative projects with the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) in West and Central Africa supported by the World Bank. It is expected that this TA will ensure that the end target is fully Comments: reached before project close. As of May 31, 2019, 4 HEIs have developed a proposal for acquiring support from ACE in West and Central Africa. Overall Comments IR The intermediate indicators are mostly output indicators linked to the completion of specific activities as well as the result of higher education reforms being implemented. At this stage of implementation, most key intermediate indicators have already exceeded their expected end targets (such as the number of national students enrolled in licensed programs at participating HEIs, including female national students, as well as the increase in amount of cash generated internally at participating HEIs) or fully achieved the expected results. The team continues to work closely with the Client to accelerate the achievement of the intermediate indicators including: (i) the full operationalization of the Malian Quality Assurance Agency whose role is 6/19/2019 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) critical to ensure the sustainability of the quality management activities implemented by the targeted HEIs; (ii) the publication of the MIS statistical report annually with relevant data from both public and private HEIs and (iii) the development and implementation of collaborative projects with the Africa Centers of Excellence in West and Central Africa supported by the World Bank. Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P151318 IDA-56060 Effective USD 14.00 14.00 0.00 7.81 6.09 56% P151318 IDA-D0430 Effective USD 19.00 19.00 0.00 15.59 3.22 83% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P151318 IDA-56060 Effective 07-May-2015 30-May-2015 23-Sep-2015 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 P151318 IDA-D0430 Effective 07-May-2015 30-May-2015 23-Sep-2015 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 Cumulative Disbursements 6/19/2019 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report MALI - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 6/19/2019 Page 9 of 9