The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Gabon - Skills Development and Employability Project (P146152) Gabon - Skills Development and Employability Project (P146152) AFRICA | Gabon | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2016 | Seq No: 7 | ARCHIVED on 26-Jun-2019 | ISR37444 | Implementing Agencies: Gabon Skills Development Project, Gabon Skills Development Project Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 10-Feb-2016 Effectiveness Date: 13-Dec-2016 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 25-Mar-2019 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 08-Nov-2018 Original Closing Date: 31-Dec-2021 Revised Closing Date: 31-Dec-2021 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The objective of the project is to improve effectiveness of vocational training, short term skills development, and entrepreneurship programs in key growth sectors in the Gabonese Republic. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Component 1. Extension of Training Supply and Quality Improvement in TVET in key growth sectors:(Cost $34.65 M) Component 2. Employability Development, Youth Integration and Entrepreneurship Promotion:(Cost $17.93 M) Component 3. Institutional Capacity Support and Project Implementation:(Cost $7.00 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Unsatisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Unsatisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate Implementation Status and Key Decisions This ISR is based on findings from the implementation support mission carried out in April-May 2019. The team would like to highlight the following issues: Post restructuring of the Project: the Bank and the Government came to an agreement on a deep restructuring of the project. This restructuring led to (i) a significant reduction of the funds allocated to the project from US$100 million to US$60 million in order to ensure a greater coherence and a better targeting of the investment, (ii) a reinforcement of the complementarity of donors’ supports provided to the government in employment 6/26/2019 Page 1 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Gabon - Skills Development and Employability Project (P146152) and skills sectors; and (iii) the implementation of a set of changes in the project's governance for improved effectiveness and efficiency (limited number of workshops and travels etc.). Overall implementation and project management: while the Government was fully in agreement with the restructuring, the reduction of the Project amount and subsequent cancellation or diminution of some activities brought some frustration among stakeholders. However, during the mission, all involved parties showed their willingness for a new start and an increased pace of implementation during the second phase of the Project. Several improvements have been observed, especially since the restructuring period started. However, the project has still not fully caught up with the cumulative delays which have occurred since the beginning of the project. Therefore, continuous accelerated implementation pace and close supervision will be required from the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) and the implementing entities to achieve the expected results by Project’s closing. In January 2019, the contract of the Coordinator was renewed for six months. A result agreement with clear indicators for the continuation of his contract has been established and will be assessed in end June. Ratings: progress towards achievement of the PDO has been upgraded from Moderately Unsatisfactory to Moderately Satisfactory to reflect the better alignment of the Project with regards to its objectives. After the revision of the results framework under the project restructuring, the indicators and the target values have been updated and are well aligned with the restructured activities. As such, the Project is well positioned to achieve the project development objective. The overall implementation progress rating and the Project management rating continue to be Moderately Unsatisfactory as the Project has not yet caught up an accelerated implementation rhythm especially for Component 1. The team is closely monitoring the implementation progress and an upgrade of the rating to Moderately Satisfactory for the three above ratings is envisaged if identified critical actions in the table below are completed by July 2019. A technical mission is planned in July 2019 to monitor the implementation of this action plan. Specifically on Component 1, critical actions to be undertaken by July 2019 are i) signing of the contract between the construction company for the construction of the two training centers and PCU, ii) signing of contract between the training operator and PCU, and iii) signing of contract between the design / architectural firm for the four technical and vocational training institutions and PCU. The Component 2 rating remains Moderately Satisfactory. The apprenticeship and internship programs have exceeded the yearly cumulated targets for 2018 with 1,289 youth in the apprenticeship program and 2,670 youth in the internship program. As of May 15, 2019, there were 1,783 youth in the apprenticeship program and 2,951 youth in the internship program. The Component 3 rating has been upgraded from Moderately Unsatisfactory to Moderately Satisfactory as all institutional strengthening activities are generally on track. Achievement on the indicator for number of youth who have registered in the job seekers database established by ONE is at 13,689. There remains, however, the civil works related to the extension of the ONE (Office National de l’Emploi) which should be accelerated to meet current needs reflected by a high participation rate from this component’s targeted beneficiaries. Disbursement rate: after the restructuring, the disbursement is at 23 percent of project’s funding. When the construction starts, the disbursement is expected to be above 30 percent by December 2019. Environmental and Social Safeguards: the project recently registered incidents that affected some apprentices. A Safeguards Corrective Action Plan was shared with the Client and implementation will be monitored on a regular basis. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Moderate Moderate Moderate 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 High High High Fiduciary High Substantial Substantial Environment and Social Low Moderate Moderate Stakeholders High High High Other -- -- -- Overall Substantial Moderate Moderate 6/26/2019 Page 2 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Gabon - Skills Development and Employability Project (P146152) Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Improve effectiveness of vocational training, short-term skills development, and entrepreneurship IN00711745 ►Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 4,204.00 4,979.00 12,573.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 25-Dec-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 1,783 youth in apprenticeship + 2,951 youth in internship + 245 youth trained in entrepreneurship Comments: IN00711766 Female beneficiaries (Percentage) (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 50.00 51.00 30.00 IN00711767 ►Youth who have completed apprenticeship program (percentage) (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 70.00 Date 01-Jan-2016 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 Youth are still on training under the apprenticeship programs, a first cohort is expected to complete few Comments: months. IN00711768 Percentage Female (Percentage, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 01-Nov-2018 01-Nov-2018 31-Dec-2021 IN00711769 ►Youth who completed internship program (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 42.00 90.00 Date 01-Jan-2016 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 1,241 over 2,951 youth have completed their internship programs, among which 656 are woman. Comments: IN00711770 Percent Female (Percentage, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 6/26/2019 Page 3 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Gabon - Skills Development and Employability Project (P146152) Value 0.00 0.00 52.00 30.00 Date 01-Jan-2016 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 IN00711771 ►TVET institutions with functionning board of Directors (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 28-Feb-2019 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 Reform not implemented yet; pending approval of the regulatory texts on the governance of TVET Comments: institutions IN00711772 ►Number of public-private joint management agreements signed. (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 Reform not implemented yet; pending approval of the regulatory texts on the governance of TVET Comments: institutions. IN00711773 ►Share of youth having completed a training (apprenticeship or internship) supported by the project employed or self employed one year after the end of the program (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 7.00 50.00 Date 28-Dec-2018 28-Feb-2019 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 1241 youth have completed their internship program. Ninety youth, among which 52 women are currently Comments: employed. IN00711774 Percentage Female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 58.00 30.00 IN00711775 ►Number of Youth having started the implementation of income generation projects (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 300.00 Date 28-Dec-2018 28-Dec-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 The NGO which will support this activity is under recruitment. The activity is expected to start in end July Comments: for the first cohort. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components 6/26/2019 Page 4 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Gabon - Skills Development and Employability Project (P146152) Component 1. Extension of Training Supply and Quality Improvement in TVET in key growth sectors IN00711776 ►Adoption by Government of a regulatory Framework on the Management of TVET institutions (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 28-Dec-2018 25-Mar-2019 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 Regulatory framework currently under consultation and validation. Comments: IN00711779 ►Youth enrolled in the TVET institutions supported by the project in the two priority sectors (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,200.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 The new sectoral centers are expected to open in September 2020. Comments: IN00711786 Percentage Female (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 IN00711787 ►Number of youth enrolled in restructured vocational institutions (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,800.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 Reforms in existing centers have not started yet. The recruitment of the firm which will do the design and Comments: architectural study is ongoing. IN00711789 Percentage Female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.00 IN00711790 ►Number of programs which have revised and implemented curricula (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 25.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 Activities on the new curriculum are ongoing. Comments: 6/26/2019 Page 5 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Gabon - Skills Development and Employability Project (P146152) Component 2. Employability Development, Youth Integration and Entrepreneurship Promotion IN00711777 ►Number of youth enrolled in dual apprenticeship program in urban area (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1,289.00 1,783.00 2,400.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 25-Dec-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 1783 youth have benefited from the apprenticeship program. Comments: IN00711781 Percentage Female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 34.00 39.00 35.00 IN00711782 ►Number of youth enrolled in internship program (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 2,670.00 2,951.00 4,300.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 25-Dec-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 2951 youth have benefited from internship program. Comments: IN00711784 Percentage Female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 58.00 60.00 55.00 IN00711785 ►Number of youth trained in entrepreneurship program having elaborated an income generating project (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 123.00 123.00 873.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 25-Dec-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 245 youth have been trained on entrepreneuship among which 123 have developed an income Comments: generating project (business plan) IN00711788 Percentage Female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 33.00 23.00 35.00 Component 3. Institutional Capacity Support and Project Implementation IN00711778 ►Number of youth who have registered in the job seekers database established by ONE (Number, Custom) 6/26/2019 Page 6 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Gabon - Skills Development and Employability Project (P146152) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 13,689.00 13,689.00 20,000.00 Date 19-Jan-2015 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 13,689 job seekers were registered in ONE's data base in May 2019. Comments: IN00711780 ►Availability of a survey on youth who have completed internship (Tracer study) (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 19-Jan-2015 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 The recruitment of a firm is ongoing. Comments: IN00711783 ►Availability of an evaluation of the dual apprenticeship program (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 19-Jan-2015 01-Nov-2018 15-May-2019 31-Dec-2021 The recruitment of a firm is ongoing. Comments: Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P146152 IBRD-85820 Effective USD 100.00 63.12 36.88 14.46 49.63 23% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P146152 IBRD-85820 Effective 10-Feb-2016 13-Apr-2016 13-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2021 31-Dec-2021 Cumulative Disbursements 6/26/2019 Page 7 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Gabon - Skills Development and Employability Project (P146152) Restructuring History Level 2 Approved on 19-Apr-2019 Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 6/26/2019 Page 8 of 8