The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) AFRICA | Guinea | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2015 | Seq No: 11 | ARCHIVED on 30-Dec-2019 | ISR39249 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Ministry of Youth and Youth Employment Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 30-Sep-2014 Effectiveness Date: 31-Mar-2015 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 26-Mar-2018 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 03-May-2018 Original Closing Date: 30-Dec-2020 Revised Closing Date: 30-Dec-2021 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The objective of this project is to boost the employability and employment outcomes of Guinean youth in targeted skills programs. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Fund for Skills and Employability:(Cost $10.00 M) Education-to-Employment Program:(Cost $4.50 M) Institutional Support and Regulatory Framework:(Cost $5.50 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Substantial Substantial Implementation Status and Key Decisions Overview. The Stepping Up Skills Project is a six year-project that was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on September 30, 2014. The project was declared effective on March 31, 2015, and was originally scheduled to close on December 30, 2020. The closing date of the project has been extended by 12 months (i.e. December 30, 2021) following the project restructuring that was completed on June 10, 2019. This restructuring also consisted of: (i) revising the scope and some activities of the project to reflect what could realistically be achieved during the remainder of the project, and to focus on activities that will show better results and have a stronger impact on the Project Development Objective (PDO); (ii) revising targets in the Results Framework and adding some proxy indicators to better capture project progress towards the PDO; and (iii) formally revising the disbursement forecast. The overall project objective is to boost the employability and employment outcome of Guinea youth in targeted skills programs. The project has three main components. Results achieved so far, under each component, are summarized below: 12/30/2019 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) Progress by Component: Component 1: Fund for Skills and Employability. A first round of 15 subprojects are currently being financed through the Competitive Fund and will benefit around 10,800 youth (of which, 30% are women). Subprojects finance training programs in the areas of agri-business, public works, environment, health, tourism and catering services, education, telecommunications, mining and energy. To date, 2,431 students (of which, 34% are women) have enrolled in these programs. In addition, the project has strengthened the capacity of 649 institutional staff currently being trained on various subjects matters (project management in Public Private Partnership (PPP), development of new curricula, financial management, procurement, accounting, etc.). Component 2: Education to Employment Program (E2E). Under Track 1 “Business start-up and entrepreneurship”, 100 students received training in entrepreneurship. As a result, 10 projects have been selected to receive mentorship by an incubator for a period of one year. Under Track 2 “Firm-based opportunities (training, internships and jobs)”, 250 graduates (out of the 1,440 planned) received vouchers and the number of graduates achieving a training increased to 155. Moreover, 95 are pursuing an internship in firms (so far, 20 firms have benefited from the program). Under Track 3 "Short-term professional training", 305 graduates have been selected to study in training centers, of which 265 have already completed the short-term training program. Regarding of relevance of training to the labor market, the percentage of "Targeted trained youth employed in an area relevant to training 12 months after completing the training” currently stands at 21% while the rate of “Employers satisfied with trainees and placing them” is currently of 30.32%. Component 3: Institutional Support and Regulatory Framework. Under this component, some significant achievements took place, including: (i) the signing of key legislations and decrees that enabled the establishment and staffing of the Quality Assurance National Agency (ANAQ); and (ii) the validation of a national evaluation framework, and the creation of the National Observatory for Youth (ONJ). The Quality Assurance National Agency (ANAQ) started working on the accreditation of 11 programs, and on May 30-31, 2019 the ANAQ scientific committee granted full accreditation to 5 programs and partial accreditation for 6 others which have been given one year to complete the stipulated requirements in order to be fully accredited. Also, the Government has addressed some capacity issues by recruiting additional staff (two coordinators to manage Components 1 and 2). These additional staff members will ensure that the subprojects under implementation are closely monitored, as well as accelerating pace of firm accreditation in the EtoE program. Finally, several studies were conducted to strengthen the capacity of the ministries of Higher Education, TVET and Youth (under the Ministry of Youth: an organizational audit of three agencies (FONIJ, AGETIP and ANVJ). Regarding the ministries of Higher Education and TVET: an evaluation of the training program unit costs was carried out and a development of a new master plan for the establishment of a new information system is ongoing. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance -- Substantial Substantial Macroeconomic -- Substantial Substantial Sector Strategies and Policies -- Substantial Substantial Technical Design of Project or Program -- Substantial Substantial Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Sustainability -- Substantial Substantial Fiduciary -- Substantial Substantial Environment and Social -- Moderate Moderate Stakeholders -- Substantial Substantial Other -- -- -- Overall -- Substantial Substantial 12/30/2019 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Fund for Skills and Employability IN00765011 ►1. Students completing professional degrees fostering market relevant skills developed through the Competitive Fund (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 The first call for sub-project proposals in 2016 resulted in the Project Secretariat receiving 73 concept notes in 2017: the evaluation of these concept notes resulted in the selection and financing of 15 subprojects. To date, implementation of these 15 subprojects is progressing smoothly. The completion of Comments: the first subprojects is expected early next quarter. To date, 2,431 beneficiaries are enrolled (compared to 1,861 for the first cohort of subprojects). IN00765013 ►2. Programs accredited by the new National Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 5.00 5.00 8.00 Date 05-May-2014 30-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 In May 2019, the scientific committee of ANAQ granted full accreditation to 5 programs and partial accreditation for 6 given one year to complete requirement in order to be fully accredited). Comments: Education to Employment Program IN00765012 ►3. Targeted trained youth employed in an area relevant to training 12 months after completing the training (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 21.00 70.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 A total of 555 youth are currently benefitting from training either in firms or in training centers. More than 6,730 youth have been screened to join the EtoE programme and are about to be sent to training centers or firms. 420 youth completed their training, out of which 89 are now employed. An independant Comments: evaluation on job insertion and employers' satisfaction is planned to be conducted in early January 2020. IN00765014 ►4. Employers satisfied with trainees and placing them (Percentage, Custom) 12/30/2019 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 30.32 50.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 The satisfaction rate relates to graduates placed in track 2 “training in firms". Comments: IN00765015 ►5. Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 3,029.00 4,019.00 20,800.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 The total of beneficiaries to date is 4,019 and comprises of the following:  At the level of the Competitive Fund (Component 1): Young people enrolled in training programs financed under the Competitive Fund (2,431) ; people benefitting from trainings in project design and project management of co-constructed programs (81) ; people benefitting from technical training on development of co-constructed programs (513); people beneffiting from training on financial management, accounting and procurement procedures (55).  At the level of EtoE (Component 2): Young people benefitting from vouchers for the internship track (250), training track (305) ; young people trained and being mentored in Comments: entrepreneurship (100).  At the level of Component 3: education staff who benefitting from training activities (trainees at MJEJ (40)) ; education staff trined in project design and management at METFP-ET (63) ; staff benefitting from training programs developed by ANAQ on quality assurance, and financed under BoCEJ programmes (181). IN00765016 Female beneficiaries (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 37.00 35.00 30.00 IN00765017 Students enrolled in professional degrees fostering market relevant skills developed through the competitive fund (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 2,431.00 2,431.00 10,800.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 IN00765018 Trainees receiving vouchers (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 498.00 555.00 2,800.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 Intermediate Results Indicators by Components 12/30/2019 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) Fund for Skills and Employability IN00765019 ►1. Governance structure of Competitive Fund established (Board, Technical Secretariat) (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 The governance structure of the Competitive Fund (Board and Technical Secretariat) was established through Decree No.D2015/045/PRG/SGG dated March, 27 2015, and is currently functioning well. Comments: IN00765022 ►2. PPP project proposals endorsed by the Fund (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 All 15 subprojects are being implemented. Comments: IN00765025 ►3. Financing partners contributing to the Competitive Fund (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1.00 1.00 3.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 As of November 2018, IDA is the only financier for the project. The project team is planning to hold a workshop in early 2020 with all stakeholders during which there will be discussions on how to bring more Comments: partners on board. IN00765028 ►4. Students completing a one-year professional degree developed through the Competitive Fund and fostering market relevant skills (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 70.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 Date 08-Apr-2019 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 The first graduates are expected to complete the one-year professional degree by early 2020. Comments: IN00765030 ►5. Students completing a two-year professional degree developed through the Competitive Fund and fostering market relevant skills (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 Date 08-Apr-2019 30-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 IN00765032 ►6. Students completing a three-year professional degree developed through the Competitive Fund and fostering market relevant skills (Percentage, Custom) 12/30/2019 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 Date 08-Apr-2019 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 Education-to-Employment Program IN00765020 ►7. Employer satisfaction survey completed (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 1.00 1.00 1.00 4.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 To date, one survey was completed, which is the reference survey conducted during project preparation. A second survey was expected to be carried out in 2016. However, due to the difficulties encountered by AGUIPE to take this forward, the second employer satisfaction survey was not carried out not before the Comments: end of 2019. A Coordinator has been recruited under AGUIPE in order to accelerate the implementation of component 2. A satisfaction surveny (including a mid-line survey) are expected to be completed by January 15, 2020. IN00765023 ►8. Targeted unemployed youth certified (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 10.25 21.00 80.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 The certification process is a long-drawn and arduous one although partnership agreements between the training institutions and the firms for internships have been developed. The number of targeted unemployed youth graduates benefiting from vouchers is lower than expected (only 420 instead of 2,000 scheduled for 2019). The indicator is calculated considering cumulative number of trainees who are certified in year n + 1 divided by the cumulative number of targeted "trainees receiving a voucher" in year Comments: n as stated in the PAD (PDO indicator) multiplied by 100. For 2018: cumulative number of trainees who are certified in the year 2018 / cumulative number of targeted "trainees receiving a voucher" in the year 2017 * 100 the calculation gives 58/1200 * 100 = 4.8%. For 2019, the calculation would be: 420/2000 * 100= 21% IN00765026 ►9. Impact Evaluation completed (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 To assess the impact of the E2E program on beneficiaries, a continuous and rigorous evaluation is scheduled to take place over the course of the project. The evaluation design and tools are now available. As a result baseline survey was conducted in December 2017. It was expected to have quickly at least Comments: 300 graduates in each track. The mid-term evaluation was initially supposed to take place in February 2019 but delays in processing the selection of young graduates receiving vouchers and firms made it impossible for the recruited expert to conduct this evaluation and to meet the expected deadline. As the enrollment of graduates has increased and is expected to continue growing, the mid-term evaluation will 12/30/2019 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) be undertaken, in the coming months. As the project has been restructured and its closing date extended, the impact evaluation is now expected to be completed in 2021. Institutional Support and Regulatory Framework IN00765021 ►10. Training institutions in compliance with the legal acts (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 Despite the efforts made in this area, there have been further delays in the revision of the regulations of the decrees to conform to the legal texts. The terms of reference for the Interministerial Commission has been revised. A consultant has been recommended to support the efforts of the Interministerial Commission in preparing the manuals of administrative procedures and financial management. All TVET Comments: institutions have already established a board (school committee while in higher education, only 3 institutions (Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry (UGANC), Institut Supérieur des Mines de Guinée (ISMG), and Centre de Recherche et de Valorisation des Plantes Médicinales (CRVPM) which is under UGANC) have established a Board. IN00765024 ►11. Completion of activities listed in interministerial commission's TORs (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 30.00 30.00 90.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 The activities pertain to promoting the autonomy of higher education institutions. The associated coefficients (in percentage) of completion depend on the importance of the activities. To date, two out of the eight activities (25%) have been completed, representing about 30% of the tasks. Work on the Comments: remaining activities is being pursued by the Interministerial Committee’s appointed thematic groups. IN00765027 ►12. National quality assurance and accreditation agency in place (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 ANAQ is in place as well as: the Executive Secretary, Scientific Council Board of Directors, Staff, designated premises to serve as a headquarters. The objective of accreditation of at least five training programs (starting with the FCCE) is set for 2019. In 2018 ANAQ started working on the accreditation of eleven programs. As a result, in May 30-31, 2019 the scientific committee of ANAQ granted full Comments: accreditation to 5 programs and partial accreditation to 6 others which have been given one year to complete requirements in order to be fully accredited. IN00765029 ►13. Youth Observatory in place and functional (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 12/30/2019 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 The legal documents establishing the mandate of the Observatory, the decree for its creation, and the legal text for its functioning and its organization were finalized and validated on March 15, 2017. The decree providing the legal status for the document has been signed on October 18, 2018 which is a very Comments: important step forward. Further, a new decree appointed the head of ONJ, his deputy and the staff. The governement also provided location for ONJ. IN00765031 ►14. Training Institutions conducting tracer studies of their graduates (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 05-Nov-2019 30-Dec-2021 Due to delays in project implementation, the institutions are currently busy with enrolling graduates for Comments: additional skills development. IN00765033 ►15. Training institutions with an Information System adhering to the new master plan (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.00 Date 05-May-2014 31-May-2019 31-May-2019 30-Dec-2021 The master plan for an information system was to be delivered by the end of June 2018. Initially, it was envisaged that in 2017, about 10% of targeted education institutions would be aligning their institutional information system to the new master plan. To date, the focal points/task force from the related ministries have agreed on the terms of reference for recruiting a consultant to assist with the development of the master plan, and to support the informatics team in the Ministry of Technical, Comments: Vocational Education and Training. The terms of reference has been approved by the Bank. The consultant in charge of developping the master plan has been recruited and have carried out diagnostic report in April 2019. By end of 2020, it is expected that 50% of training institutions will have an information system coherent with the master plan. Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P146474 IDA-H9850 Effective USD 20.00 20.00 0.00 10.55 7.61 58% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date 12/30/2019 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report GUINEA - Stepping Up Skills Project (P146474) P146474 IDA-H9850 Effective 30-Sep-2014 06-Oct-2014 31-Mar-2015 30-Dec-2020 30-Dec-2021 Cumulative Disbursements Restructuring History Level 2 Approved on 10-Jun-2019 Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 12/30/2019 Page 9 of 9