The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CONGO - Rep. Skills Development for Employability Project (P128628) CONGO - Rep. Skills Development for Employability Project (P128628) AFRICA | Congo, Republic of | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2014 | Seq No: 10 | ARCHIVED on 08-Jan-2019 | ISR33296 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Technical and Professional Education, Government of Republic of Congo Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 17-Sep-2013 Effectiveness Date: 30-Oct-2014 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 01-Feb-2017 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 21-Feb-2017 Original Closing Date: 30-Sep-2018 Revised Closing Date: 30-Jun-2020 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The objective of the Project is to improve job and entrepreneurship skills for vulnerable urban youth in order to improve their labor market insertion and earnings. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Component 1: Skills training, job insertion and entrepreneurship support for vulnerable youth and micro- entrepreneurs:(Cost $11.80 M) Component 2: Strengthen the technical, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation capacity of METPFQE:(Cost $3.20 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Unsatisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Unsatisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Risk Rating High High Implementation Status and Key Decisions Overview. The Skills Development for Employability Project (SDEP) aims at improving job and entrepreneurship skills for vulnerable urban youth in order to improve their labor market insertion and earnings. The project, which is jointly financed through the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) credit and the Government of the Republic of Congo's counterpart funding, was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on September 17, 2013, signed on October 11, 2013 and became effective on October 31, 2014 with a closing date of September 30, 2018. Project implementation has stalled starting mid-2016 due to the Government's inability to provide the counterpart funding (CF) which accounted for about 69 percent of the total project cost. However, by a letter dated May 30, 2018, the Government requested, and the World Bank agreed to restructure the project. The Project was restructured to remove the CF and scale the Project's targets down to reflect the new size of the 1/8/2019 Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CONGO - Rep. Skills Development for Employability Project (P128628) Project (US$15 million instead of US$32 million). The restructuring was successfully done and the closing date extended to June 30, 2020 to enable the Project's activities to be fully implemented. The project has two components, and progress by components and subcomponents is described below. Progress by Components and Subcomponents: Component 1: This component has three subcomponents: (i) Skills training, job insertion and entrepreneurship support for 2,800 vulnerable youth; (ii) Skills training for 1,000 micro-entrepreneurs in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire; and (iii) Apprenticeship and functional literacy training for 2,700 out-of-of-school adolescent youth. Subcomponent 1.1: Skills Training, job insertion and entrepreneurship support for 2,800 vulnerable youth. To-date, a first cohort of only 328 youth - 46 percent of them female - have completed the qualifying training program and related internship. This is 11.7 percent of the target. For the second cohort, 18 training providers (10 public and 8 private) have been hired compared to only 4 private training providers for the first cohort. A technical assessment of all training providers was conducted prior to their recruitment. New trades were added such as braiding, agriculture, food processing, breeding, plumbing, masonry, cooling and air-conditioning, crane operators, piping, and topography. In the group of roughly 15,000 youth that applied, 1,979 final beneficiaries have been randomly selected by the Project and the names of the "winners" have been publicly posted in December 2018 to start training in January 2019. The technical and administrative staff of the training centers are currently undergoing training on Competence based approach (CBA) and life skills, monitoring and evaluation, contracts management, reporting, social and environmental safeguards, and grievance redress mechanism. Subcomponent 1.2: Skills training for 1,000 micro-entrepreneurs. This subcomponent observed some reasonable progress. About 470 youth or one-half the target have completed the training for micro-entrepreneurs. The training was delivered by six private training providers selected on a competitive basis. Roughly, 39 percent of the beneficiaries are women (against an objective of 50 percent).This sub-component was not impacted by the project restructuring and will resume its activities in early January 2019. Subcomponent 1.3: Apprenticeship and functional literacy training for 2,700 out-of-school adolescent youth. Out of the first phase 692 youth (25.6 percent of the new target) completed the apprenticeship program. Exactly 429 or 62 percent of the beneficiaries were women, thereby exceeding the 50 percent gender target. The main constraint during the first phase was the intermediary agencies' weak capacity to place the trainees with the master craftsmen, manage contracts and monitor the relationships between the trainees and the trainers (master craftsmen). Most of these issues have been remedied during the preparation of the second phase. For the second cohort, a total of 2,300 youth will be retained for the second cohort (about 45 percent of the expressed eligible demand). The list of selected beneficiaries was publicly posted in October 2018. On the supply side, based on the lessons learned during the first phase, several changes have been introduced to ensure better implementation this time around: (i) a total of 8 new intermediary agencies have been recruited (3 in Brazzaville and 5 in Pointe noire). The terms of reference of these agencies have been updated. They will be in charge of the identification and the administrative monitoring of the master craftsmen; (ii) 46 technical experts or PSTP (20 in Brazzaville and 26 in Pointe noire) have been recruited to conduct the pedagogical monitoring of the apprenticeship and provide trainees with the life skills training; (iii) the team of the functional literacy trainers has been trained and ready to operate. The training of the technical experts and the trainers of the functional literacy programs is ongoing, and the topics covered include CBA, life skills, functional literacy, monitoring and evaluation, contract management, financial and administrative reporting, GRM, social and environmental safeguards. A total of 810 craftsmen have been identified by the intermediary agencies and the assessment of their technical is ongoing in the two cities and is expected to end by late December 2018. The launch of the training is expected to happen by late January 2019 at the latest. Component 2. Strengthen the technical, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation capacity of Ministere de l'Enseignement Technique et Professionnel, de la Formation Qualifiante et de l'Emploi (METPFQE). Some progress has been achieved under this Component: (i) the Life Skills and Functional programs are completed and will be delivered to trainees of the next cohort as soon as the training starts, (ii) the report on the Global Value Chain Study on Forestry and Agro-business was completed and disseminated October 12, 2018 in Brazzaville; (iii) the Labor Market Study was completed and disseminated October 12, 2018. For the impact evaluation of the sub component 1.1, endline data collection for the first cohort was completed in July 2018 whereas baseline data collection for the second cohort was completed in December 2018. The contract for the Independent Verification Agency was rescinded as it was not only too expensive but also largely unnecessary. The work of the Verification Agency will be handed over to the 46 PSTP who will visit weekly every master craftsman and collect data using tablets, in addition independent professionals will be also hired to assess the skill acquisition of the trainees at mid-term of their training period as well as at the end of their training, finally the monitoring and evaluation tools have been reinforced. All these actions will costs only a fraction of the initial contract of the Verification Agency, a much higher value-for-money is expected. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance -- High High Macroeconomic -- High High Sector Strategies and Policies -- Substantial Substantial 1/8/2019 Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CONGO - Rep. Skills Development for Employability Project (P128628) Technical Design of Project or Program -- Substantial Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Sustainability -- High High Fiduciary -- High Moderate Environment and Social -- Low Low Stakeholders -- Low Low Other -- -- -- Overall -- High High Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Improve job and entrepreneurship skills for vulnerable urban youth IN00622223 ►Youth who complete the training supported by the project (%) (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 93.00 93.00 70.00 Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 30-Jun-2020 IN00622331 Percentage female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 30.00 30.00 50.00 IN00622225 ►Training providers reaching performance benchmarks (%) (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 69.00 69.00 60.00 Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 30-Jun-2020 Improve urban youth labor market insertion and earnings IN00622321 ►Increase in trained youth who are employed or self-employed one year after completing training (%) (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.50 Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 30-Jun-2020 IN00622322 ►Increase in average earnings of youth after completing training (%) (Percentage, Custom) 1/8/2019 Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CONGO - Rep. Skills Development for Employability Project (P128628) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 30-Jun-2020 Overall Comments PDO After the restructuring of the project, it is expected that the new targets will be quickly reached. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Component 1: Skills training, job insertion and entrepreneurship support for vulnerable youth and micro-entrepreneurs IN00622222 ►Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1,499.00 1,499.00 6,500.00 Date 17-Sep-2013 05-Jun-2018 14-Dec-2018 30-Jun-2020 IN00622330 Female beneficiaries (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 46.00 46.00 50.00 IN00622224 ►Youth enrolled in school-based skills training supported by the project (Phase 1) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 328.00 328.00 2,800.00 Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 30-Jun-2020 IN00622332 Percentage female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 14.00 14.00 50.00 IN00622323 ►Youth enrolled in entrepreneurship/job insertion support (Phase 2&3, out of the 2,800 in sub-component 1.1) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 328.00 328.00 1,800.00 Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 30-Jun-2020 1/8/2019 Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CONGO - Rep. Skills Development for Employability Project (P128628) These are the same youth in sub-components 1.1 and 1.2 who should be inserted in the labor market Comments: wither by finding gainful employment, or creating their own job/firm, or being in extending internship. IN00622333 Percentage female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 15.00 15.00 50.00 IN00622324 ►Micro-entrepreneurs enrolled in pilot skills training program (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 479.00 479.00 1,000.00 Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 30-Jun-2020 IN00622334 Percentage female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 37.00 37.00 50.00 IN00622325 ►Adolescent youth enrolled in apprenticeships (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 692.00 692.00 2,700.00 Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 30-Jun-2020 IN00622335 Percentage female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 59.00 59.00 50.00 Component 2: Strengthen the technical, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation capacity of METPFQE IN00622326 ►Beneficiary surveys of impact evaluation completed (baseline, mid-line, end-line) (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 28-Jun-2019 IN00622327 ►Data base of TVET provision established (baseline) (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 21-Dec-2018 As the census of all training providers in Congo has been finalized the full database is expected to be Comments: available before March 2019 including a total geo-mapping of the providers 1/8/2019 Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CONGO - Rep. Skills Development for Employability Project (P128628) IN00622328 ►Global Value Chain Study completed (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 21-Dec-2018 IN00622329 ►Skills development strategy document prepared (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 17-Sep-2013 22-Nov-2017 14-Dec-2018 27-Sep-2019 The Skills development strategy will be prepared as the revised education sector strategy is being prepared. With the availability of new data, it is expected that the skills development strategy will be Comments: available around April/May 2019. Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P128628 IDA-53020 Effective USD 10.00 10.00 0.00 3.37 5.98 36% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P128628 IDA-53020 Effective 17-Sep-2013 11-Oct-2013 30-Oct-2014 30-Sep-2018 30-Jun-2020 Cumulative Disbursements 1/8/2019 Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CONGO - Rep. Skills Development for Employability Project (P128628) Restructuring History Level 2 Approved on 28-Jun-2018 Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 1/8/2019 Page 7 of 7