The World Bank Report No: ISR9592 Implementation Status & Results Tunisia Higher Education Reform Support II (P075809) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: Higher Education Reform Support II (P075809) Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 13 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 17-May-2013 Country: Tunisia Approval FY: 2006 Product Line: IBRD/IDA Region: MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Key Dates Board Approval Date 15-Jun-2006 Original Closing Date 30-Nov-2011 Planned Mid Term Review Date 21-May-2012 Last Archived ISR Date 23-Dec-2012 Effectiveness Date 17-Nov-2006 Revised Closing Date 30-Nov-2013 Actual Mid Term Review Date 22-May-2009 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The long-term objective of the Government's higher education program is: to improve the knowledge, competency, and skills of graduates so that they can contribute to a more knowledge based and diversified economy. The proposed project would support parts of the first five-year phase (2006-2011) of this program. The development objective of the proposed project is to support the implementation of the Government's PDESAQ program to develop the higher education system by increasing the capacity and efficiency in expanding access and improving the quality of education and institutional performance. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Expand Access to the Public Higher Education System 62.00 Modernize the Higher Education System by Strengthening Quality Assurance Mechanisms, 4.40 Public Disclosure Copy Institutional Autonomy and Financial Sustainabi lity Grant Program to Improve Academic Quality and Institutional Performance (Quality Promotion Fund 14.30 (PAQ)) Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Page 1 of 5 The World Bank Report No: ISR9592 Implementation Status Overview The project was restructured in December 2011 and the closing date extended to November 30, 2013. However, the disbursement of the loan continues to be slow. The disbursement rate as of January 2013 was 36.8% and the commitment rate only 48.5%. Public Disclosure Copy In order to accelerate and maximize the utilization of the loan and the implementation of activities planned under the project by the closing date of November 30, 2013, the team agreed with the Government that it is imperative that a close monitoring of the activities be carried out so that the rates of commitments and payments can reach 85% and 70%, respectively, by November 30, 2013. In January 2013, the Bank recruited two consultants to work closely with the Ministry of Higher Education and a short visit by the TTL took place in March 2013. During this visit, it was agreed that in order to reach a substantive level of project activities completed by the closing date, the project should achieve by May 2013 a commitment rate of 71% and payment rate of 52%. The Bank team has scheduled a full supervision mission in May 2013 and agreed on specific actions with the Ministry, highlighted in the attached aide-memoire, to improve disbursements. Locations Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Tunisia Not Entered Zaghouan Tunisia Not Entered Tataouine Tunisia Not Entered Sousse Tunisia Not Entered Sfax Tunisia Not Entered Gabes Tunisia Not Entered Mutuelleville Tunisia Not Entered Manouba Tunisia Not Entered Kasserine Results Public Disclosure Copy Project Development Objective Indicators Page 2 of 5 The World Bank Report No: ISR9592 Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Improve Access to Higher Education by Text Value Institutions and student 13000 new places, 4 creating 13000 new student places, services do not exist institutions and 2 student Public Disclosure Copy construction of about 8 institutions and 2 services buildings student services Date 01-Sep-2006 08-Mar-2013 30-Nov-2013 Comments There are still delays in the The enrollment targets have construction and delivery of been met. The construction is equipment. expected to be completed by March 2013 and equipment delivered by April 2013. Revise the legal texts to support university Text Value The new law approved in Feb There is still no particular Key Decrees related to autonomy including the university statue 2008 has provided the legal change University Management are status for increasing approved. Universities autonomy. The decrees to follow the law must indicate their capacity to manage self-generated resources. Date 01-Mar-2007 08-Mar-2013 30-Nov-2013 Comments There are still no particular The government has changes since the last visit. prepared a draft document to be discussed by cabinet, changing the status of Universities. Creation of a Quality Assurance and Promotion Text Value Informal quality assurance There is no particular change New entity set up with Agency that will put in place a system of quality managed by Ministry of since the last mission mission, manual of assurance by the end of the project Higher Education Committee procedures and guidelines on Evaluation Date 01-Feb-2006 08-Mar-2013 30-Nov-2013 Comments Establish and render operational the Text Value Draft manual of procedures Complete at least one round Public Disclosure Copy competitive fund (PAQ) completed by project of the competitive fund appraisal Date 30-May-2006 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Comments The target has been met Improve the efficiency of project Text Value No system to measure 90% of actions on time implementation units by an improvement in procurement delays procurement delays (% of activities on time) Date 30-Jun-2006 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Comments There is no particular change Intermediate Results Indicators Page 3 of 5 The World Bank Report No: ISR9592 Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Implementation of an action plan to strengthen Text Value Responsibilities and There is no particular change Realignment of Ministry and the capacity of the Ministry of Higher Education capacities needed to since the last mission clarity on responsibilities for Public Disclosure Copy to implement reforms. implement reforms not implementing Government's established program objective and reforms Date 30-May-2006 08-Mar-2013 30-Nov-2013 Comments There is no particular change since the last mission. 5% of higher education institutions evaluated Text Value National Evaluation There is no particular change 5% or 40 establishments by the new quality assurance agency Committee exists and is since the last mission responsible for putting in place a process to develop mission and guidelines for new Agency Date 06-Jun-2006 08-Mar-2013 30-Nov-2013 Comments There is no particular change since the last mission Fifty grants awarded and implemented by PAQ Text Value First call for proposals issued 2 new call for proposals were 1 round completed (disbursed in June 2006 launched and 43 sub-projects and evaluated) have been awarded. The MOUs with recipient institutions have been signed. Date 30-Jun-2006 08-Mar-2013 30-Nov-2013 Comments 2 new call for proposals were launched and 43 sub-projects have been awarded. The MOUs with recipient institutions have been signed. Data on Financial Performance (as of 16-Apr-2013) Public Disclosure Copy Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P075809 IBRD-73920 Effective 15-Jun-2006 18-Jul-2006 17-Nov-2006 30-Nov-2011 30-Nov-2013 Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P075809 IBRD-73920 Effective USD 76.00 76.00 0.00 34.47 44.29 45.00 Page 4 of 5 The World Bank Report No: ISR9592 Disbursement Graph Public Disclosure Copy Key Decisions Regarding Implementation The Bank and the Ministry of Higher Education agreed that a full review of all project activities will be carried out during the May 2013 mission and key actions agreed to increase substantially the disbursement of the loan by the November 30, 2013 closing date. Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Projects There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Page 5 of 5