ICRR 11570 Report Number : ICRR11570 ICR Review Operations Evaluation Department 1. Project Data: Date Posted : 09/08/2003 PROJ ID : P001186 Appraisal Actual Project Name : Labor Force Training Project Costs 19.5 16.62 US$M ) (US$M) Country : Cote d'Ivoire Loan/ US$M ) 17.0 Loan /Credit (US$M) 15.08 Sector (s): Board: SP - Vocational Cofinancing training (87%), Central US$M ) (US$M) government administration (13%) L/C Number : C2637 Board Approval 94 FY) (FY) Partners involved : Closing Date 06/28/1999 06/30/2002 Prepared by : Reviewed by : Group Manager : Group : David Berk Fernando Manibog Alain A. Barbu OEDST 2. Project Objectives and Components a. Objectives Contribute to: (i) greater labor force productivity and mobility through technical and basic skills training, with special emphasis on the needs of small informal sector and women's enterprises; and (ii) the Government's capacity to monitor and analyze labor market conditions . b. Components 1. Training, Retraining and Apprenticeship Program ($15.4 million): Financing via existing Vocational Training Development Fund (FDFP) of e.g. (i)small firm and micro-enterprise training support, (ii) displaced workers training support, (iii) women entrepreneurs training support, (iv) training and apprenticeship in support of first job insertion . 2. Training Outreach ($1.1million) by FDFP. 3. Labor Market Monitoring and Analysis ($3.0 million): development of an Observatory (OEMF). c. Comments on Project Cost, Financing and Dates Component 2 was overspent (good). Component 3 was underspent (bad). Government had a counterpart funding problem because of macroeconomic difficulties . Board approval was premature, and it took one year to effectiveness. Country conditions caused an 18 month suspension of disbursements during implementation . Closing was delayed three years. 3. Achievement of Relevant Objectives: 1. First objective was achieved : training with emphasis on target groups was carried out, productivity probably increased, though there is no direct information regarding improved mobility . 2. Second objective was not reached : capacity creation was limited. Project outcome was achieved (with delays) despite major macroeconomic and conflict problems during implementation period. 4. Significant Outcomes/Impacts: 1. Almost 100,000 persons were trained, of which three -quarters or more were in target groups and more than half were women (vs. 30% expected in each case); many increased their incomes subsequent to training, so presumably their productivity increased; trainees were equipped for mobility although there is no direct evidence on mobility achieved. Most trainees were pleased with the quality of training . 2. Institutional strengthening of FDFP : HQ were reorganized to serve clients better, regional offices were opened, 75% of training was procured via bidding, and an outreach function was created and succeeded in stimulating demand for training and drove training quality improvement . 3. There was a shift to demand-driven training: beneficiaries submitted training proposals to FDFP for financing . 4. The project introduced public funding of informal sector training . 5. Development of private sector training occurred : certified providers increased from 164 to 498 in 5 years, private providers won 75% of contracts, and competition among providers improved quality . 5. Significant Shortcomings (including non-compliance with safeguard policies): 1. Observatory capacity remains limited : its products were welcomed but only 16 of 36 studies were completed. The new institution and its infrastructure are in place, but retaining enough good staff is difficult because compensation remains inadequate. There are poor linkages with other institutions including the private sector . 6. Ratings : ICR OED Review Reason for Disagreement /Comments Outcome : Satisfactory Satisfactory Institutional Dev .: Substantial Substantial Sustainability : Likely Likely Bank Performance : Satisfactory Satisfactory Borrower Perf .: Satisfactory Satisfactory Quality of ICR : Satisfactory NOTE ICR rating values flagged with ' * ' don't comply with OP/BP 13.55, but are listed for completeness. NOTE: 7. Lessons of Broad Applicability: 1. The Bank should ensure Development Objectives are the same in all documents (here ICR correctly follows SAR, but the President's Memorandum is different ). 2. The vocational education and training reform package for in -service and informal sector training being applied in Francophone Africa is sound and can succeed, especially in bringing about a demand -driven approach to training, combined with the financing of training institutions via payroll taxes . 8. Assessment Recommended? Yes No 9. Comments on Quality of ICR: The ICR has well-focused analysis and use of the available evidence in terms of project development objectives . Its judgments are fair.