The World Bank Moldova Skills Data Capacity Building (P154573) REPORT NO.: RES36046 RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF MOLDOVA SKILLS DATA CAPACITY BUILDING APPROVED ON JUNE 23, 2016 TO MINISTRY OF FINANCE SOCIAL PROTECTION & LABOR EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA Regional Vice President: Cyril E Muller Country Director: Satu Kristiina J. Kahkonen Senior Global Practice Director: Michal J. Rutkowski Practice Manager/Manager: Cem Mete Task Team Leader: Yuliya Smolyar, Victoria Levin The World Bank Moldova Skills Data Capacity Building (P154573) ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS LMFS Labor Market Forecast Survey MHLSP Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection NEA National Employment Agency STEP Skills and Training Enhancement Project The World Bank Moldova Skills Data Capacity Building (P154573) BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument P154573 Investment Project Financing Original EA Category Current EA Category Not Required (C) Not Required (C) Approval Date Current Closing Date 23-Jun-2016 28-Feb-2019 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency Ministry of Finance Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family Financing (in USD Million) FIN_SUMM_PUB_TBL SUMMARY Total Project Cost 0.30 Total Financing 0.00 Financing Gap 0.00 DETAILS -NewFin3 Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO To strengthen the Government of Moldova s capacity for evidence-based policymaking in the area of skills and employment through supporting enhanced collection and analysis of data on workforce skills and labor market needs OPS_TABLE_PDO_CURRENTPDO The World Bank Moldova Skills Data Capacity Building (P154573) Summary Status of Financing Net TF Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed TF-A2984 23-Jun-2016 22-Sep-2016 27-Oct-2016 28-Feb-2019 .30 .21 .09 Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No The World Bank Moldova Skills Data Capacity Building (P154573) I. PROJECT STATUS AND RATIONALE FOR RESTRUCTURING A. Overall Status of the Grant 1. Overall Project Progress: The project is on track to achieving its objective of strengthening the Government of Moldova’s capacity for evidence-based policymaking on skills and employment through supporting enhanced collection and analysis of data on workforce skills and labor market needs. Many project activities have been accomplished. However, one of the project`s core outputs i.e. a survey of working-age population on barriers to employment (aka STEP-lite survey) has experienced continuous delays. Subsequent analytical and policy development work cannot be accomplished within the current closing date. 2. Project Progress by Components: (a) Under Component 1, the Grant has produced recommendations for the National Employment Agency (NEA) to improve the Labor Market Forecast Survey (LMFS), including a sampling strategy, instrument design, data collection and entry, analysis and reporting, and dissemination. The Grant has also helped adjust LMFS software in line with the above recommendations. (b) Component 2 finances the national STEP-lite survey of working-age population implemented by a local firm. Because of research complexity including extensive questionnaire and multifaceted sample covering rural areas, the filed work has been progressing slowly with the response rate below 30 percent. The Bank team has closely monitored the process and provided extensive technical assistance to the implementing agency and the survey firm. The Bank and implementing agency have agreed with the survey firm on an extended sample to collect the missing responses. However, longer time is needed for data collection. (c) Under Component 3, the Grant has commissioned STATA training for the staff of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MHLSP) and NEA to strengthen their data analysis capacity. Furthermore, the Grant has engaged an international consultant to analyze the results of the LMFS and STEP-lite surveys mentioned above to help MHLSP and NEA to access skills mismatch, develop a strategy and identify the resources required to address the mismatch. Delays in implementation of the STEP-lite survey postpone the Grant`s analytical and policy development work beyond the current closing date. 3. Rationale for Restructuring: This restructuring is to request an extension of the closing date till June 30, 2019. The requested extension will allow to complete collection of the remaining survey data per the revised methodology agreed with the survey firm as well as subsequent analysis and policy development work. This will result in achievement of two Development Objectives indicators such as development of the roadmap for improved collection, analysis, and dissemination of labor demand and supply data and the action plan for addressing skills mismatch. MHLSP has agreed with the Bank team the revised project implementation schedule that includes delivery of STEP-lite survey data by April and completion of the roadmap and the action plan by mid-June 2019. With the approval of this extension, the team expects the project to fully achieve its objectives and disburse all proceeds of the Grant. The grant does not have any overdue audits and complies with financial management requirements. The World Bank Moldova Skills Data Capacity Building (P154573) II. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED CHANGES B. Proposed Changes to the Grant The proposed extension does not imply changes to the Grant’s activities, components and outcomes. The extension till June 30, 2019 is required to complete the remaining Grant activities and attain its Development Objectives. III. SUMMARY OF CHANGES Changed Not Changed Loan Closing Date(s) ✔ Implementation Schedule ✔ Implementing Agency ✔ Project's Development Objectives ✔ Results Framework ✔ Components and Cost ✔ Cancellations Proposed ✔ Additional Financing Proposed ✔ Reallocation between Disbursement Categories ✔ Disbursements Arrangements ✔ Disbursement Estimates ✔ Change in Overall Risk Rating ✔ Safeguard Policies Triggered ✔ EA category ✔ Legal Covenants ✔ Institutional Arrangements ✔ Financial Management ✔ Procurement ✔ Other Change(s) ✔ The World Bank Moldova Skills Data Capacity Building (P154573) IV. DETAILED CHANGE(S) OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_LOANCLOSING_TABLE LOAN CLOSING DATE(S) Original Revised Proposed Proposed Deadline TF Status Closing Closing(s) Closing for Withdrawal Applications TF-A2984 Effective 22-Sep-2018 28-Feb-2019 30-Jun-2019 30-Oct-2019 Note to Task Teams: End of system generated content, document is editable from here.