GPEF GRANT NUMBER TF0C3496-ZR Global Partnership for Education Fund Grant Agreement (Primary Education Quality Improvement Project) between DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO and INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (acting as trustee of the Global Partnership for Education Fund) GPEF GRANT NUMBER TF0C3496-ZR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION FUND GRANT AGREEMENT AGREEMENT dated as of the Signature Date between DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (“Recipient”) and INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION and INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT (“Bank”), acting as trustee of the Global Partnership for Education Fund. The Recipient and the Bank hereby agree as follows: Article I Standard Conditions; Definitions 1.01. The Standard Conditions (as defined in the Appendix to this Agreement) apply to and form part of this Agreement. 1.02. Unless the context requires otherwise, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in the Standard Conditions or in the Appendix to this Agreement. Article II The Project 2.01. The Recipient declares its commitment to the objective of the project described in Schedule 1 to this Agreement (“Project”). To this end, the Recipient shall carry out the Project through the Ministry in charge of primary education (“MEPST”), in accordance with the provisions of Article II of the Standard Conditions and Schedule 2 to this Agreement. Article III The Grant 3.01. The Bank agrees to extend to the Recipient a grant in an amount not to exceed sixty-seven million United States Dollars ($67,000,000) (“Grant”) to assist in financing the Project. 3.02. The Recipient may withdraw the proceeds of the Grant in accordance with Section III of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 3.03. The Grant is funded out of the abovementioned trust fund for which the Bank receives periodic contributions from the donors to the trust fund. In accordance with Section 3.02 of the Standard Conditions, the Bank’s payment obligations in connection with this Agreement are limited to the amount of funds made available to it by the donors -2- under the abovementioned trust fund, and the Recipient’s right to withdraw the Grant proceeds is subject to the availability of such funds. Article IV Effectiveness; Termination 4.01. This Agreement shall not become effective until evidence satisfactory to the Bank has been furnished to the Bank that the condition specified below has been satisfied, namely, that the execution and delivery of this Agreement on behalf of the Recipient have been duly authorized or ratified by all necessary governmental action. 4.02. By signing the Grant Agreement, the Recipient shall be deemed to represent and warrant that on the Signature Date, the Grant Agreement has been duly authorized by, and executed and delivered on behalf of, the Recipient and is legally binding upon the Recipient in accordance with its terms, except where additional action is required to make such Grant Agreement legally binding. Where additional action is required following the Signature Date, the Recipient shall notify the Bank when such additional action has been taken. By providing such notification, the Recipient shall be deemed to represent and warrant that on the date of such notification the Grant Agreement is legally binding upon the Recipient in accordance with its terms. 4.03. Except as the Recipient and the Bank shall otherwise agree, this Agreement shall enter into effect on the date upon which the Bank dispatches to the Recipient notice of its acceptance of the evidence required pursuant to Section 4.01 (“Effective Date”). If, before the Effective Date, any event has occurred which would have entitled the Bank to suspend the right of the Recipient to make withdrawals from the Grant Account if this Agreement had been effective, the Bank may postpone the dispatch of the notice referred to in this Section until such event (or events) has (or have) ceased to exist. 4.04. Termination for Failure to Become Effective. This Agreement and all obligations of the parties under it shall terminate if it has not entered into effect by the date one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of this Agreement, unless the Bank, after consideration of the reasons for the delay, establishes a later date for the purpose of this Section. The Bank shall promptly notify the Recipient of such later date. Article V Recipient’s Representative; Addresses 501. The Recipient’s Representative referred to in Section 7.02 of the Standard Conditions is the minister in charge of finance. 5.02. For purposes of Section 7.01 of the Standard Conditions: (a) the Recipient’s address is: -3- Ministry of Finance Boulevard du 30 Juin - Commune de la Gombe Kinshasa 1 Democratic Republic of Congo; and (b) the Recipient’s Electronic Address is: E-mail: cabfinances@minfinrdc.com 5.03. For purposes of Section 7.01 of the Standard Conditions: (a) the Bank’s address is: International Development Association 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 United States of America; and (b) the Bank’s Electronic Address is: Telex: Facsimile: 248423 (MCI) or 1-202-477-6391 64145 (MCI) -4- AGREED as of the Signature Date. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO By: _____________________________________ Authorized Representative Nicolas Kazadi Kadima-Nzuji Name: __________________________ Finance minister Title: __________________________ 25-Jan-2024 Date: ___________________________ INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (acting as trustee of the Global Partnership for Education Fund) By _____________________________________ Authorized Representative Albert G Zeufack Name: ___________________________ Country Director Title: __________________________ 23-Jan-2024 Date: ___________________________ -5- SCHEDULE 1 Project Description The objectives of the Project are to increase access to improved learning environments and strengthen the quality of teaching practices in primary education. The Project consists of the following components: Component 1. Increasing Access to Improved Learning Environments Increasing access to quality learning environments inclusive of girls and children with disabilities in disadvantaged communities of the Selected Provinces with most severe needs, through: (a) the construction (or rehabilitation when applicable), furnishing, and equipment of disabled-accessible and eco-sensitive primary education classrooms, including the construction of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, including disabled-accessible latrine blocks (by gender), handwashing facilities, and water supply from existing water network or autonomous water sources, and as needed, the construction of an administrative block, including primary school director’s office and teachers’ room, and perimeter fences; and (b) the provision of technical assistance for social mobilization and capacity building on operation and maintenance of primary school facilities, particularly the WASH facilities, including construction manuals and technical specifications to achieve cost reductions, sample labor contracts, and draft bidding documents for local and central procurements; as well as developing guidance to enhance resilience to climate change, and to promote energy efficiency that reduces carbon emissions and school operating costs. Component 2. Improving Teacher Effectiveness 1. Strengthening Classroom Instruction, through: (a) the purchase and distribution of textbooks (including a teacher’s guide with structured lessons plans, including digital and braille versions of the textbooks and guides when feasible) in French, Mathematics, and Sciences for Grades 5 and 6 in public primary school nation- wide, including the acquisition of locked cupboards or other suitable solutions for public primary schools without secure storage facilities; (b) the provision of technical assistance to conduct a review of technical specifications and procurement methods to analyze constraints on the production, distribution and use of textbooks, and to develop a national policy aimed at ensuring the sustainable availability of textbooks in primary education; (c) the strengthening of continuous teacher development in the Selected Provinces through, inter alia, the development and delivery of a capacity building package further defined in the PIM for relevant people of the Réseaux d’Écoles de Proximité (REP) (including public primary school inspectors, directors, and teachers of grades 5 and 6) to support, inter alia, the identification, development, or adaptation of pedagogical support resources in key areas linked to identified deficiencies through the classroom observation instruments to be developed under Component 3.1 below. -6- 2. Supporting Teacher Management Reforms, through: (a) carrying out an awareness raising and capacity-building campaign in a number of Recipient’s provinces defined in the PIM, targeted at senior managers responsible for human resources management to recruit qualified and motivated primary teachers into the profession, with a focus on female teachers; (b) the selection and hiring of new female teachers in public primary schools in the Selected Provinces (PBC#1.1- 1.3); and (c) the carrying out of capacity building activities to benefit relevant provincial education official regarding the Recipient’s new standards-based system for performance evaluation and career development under preparation. Component 3: Strengthening Systems and Project Management 1. Strengthening Critical Management Systems, through: (a) capacity building activities and the collection, compilation, reporting and analysis of annual school census for preprimary, primary and secondary education to produce the national statistical yearbook for selected academic years; (b) the development of user- friendly school report cards that will be digitally linked to the EMIS database to allow automatic updating, and the provision of capacity building on the use of said school report cards; (c) the development of a national policy for the financing of the annual data collection exercise for the statistical yearbook; (d) strengthening quality assurance systems through technical assistance, training, equipment and materials to carry out two nation-wide representative, sample-based assessment of teaching learning practices in primary education, as well as a nation-wide representative, sample-based assessment in math and French language, including the production, dissemination and discussions of the findings and recommendations of both nation-wide exercises; (e) the provision of technical assistance to MEPST to carry out a diagnostic research and develop an action plan aimed at strengthening classroom practices and improving learning outcomes, based on the findings and recommendations; (f) the partial financing of the participation costs of Recipient in the upcoming regional learning assessment organized by PASEC (as the terms and conditions of this financing are further detailed in the PIM); (g) the provision of technical assistance and carrying out of public consultations to develop a draft plan and review/draft legal-regulatory acts aimed at enabling the autonomous and sustainable operations of the CIEAS; and (h) the strengthening of the MEPST capacity at the provincial level in gender- sensitive planning budgeting, monitoring and reporting. 2. Supporting Project Management and Monitoring and Evaluation Provision of support to the PCT for the implementation, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the Project, through the provision of technical assistance, training and Operating Costs. -7- Component 3. Contingent Emergency Response Provision of immediate response to an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, as needed. -8- SCHEDULE 2 Project Execution Section I. Institutional and Other Arrangements A. Institutional Arrangements. 1. The Recipient shall vest the overall responsibility of Project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation (including reporting aspects) of the Project in its MEPST, and to this end, shall, through the MEPST (through its General Secretariat) to, no later than three (3) months after the Effective Date, or such later date as agreed by the Bank, establish, and thereafter maintain throughout Project implementation, a Project Coordination Team (“PCT”), responsible for the day-to-day implementation (including financial management, procurement and environmental and social aspects) of the Project, with functions, responsibilities and sufficient resources acceptable to the Bank, and staffed with competent personnel in adequate numbers, with qualifications, experience, integrity and terms of reference satisfactory to the Bank and as set forth in the PIM. 2. The Recipient shall maintain, throughout Project implementation, the Steering Committee chaired by the MEPST (“Steering Committee”) with composition, terms of reference and roles and responsibilities acceptable to the Bank and set forth in the PIM; said Steering Committee to provide inter alia, overall strategic guidance and Project oversight, approve the Annual Work Programs, review implementation and evaluation reports, and resolve inter-ministerial issues, as applicable. 3. Without limitation to the provisions above, the Recipient shall ensure the coordination and collaboration within the MEPST directorates and services with responsibility for the technical implementation of the Project and their support to PCT (including DINAC under Component 1, DIPROMAD under Component 2.1, SERNAFOR-Primaire under Component 2.1, DRH under Component 2.2, DINACOPE for PBCs under Component 2.2(b), DIGE under Component 3.1, CIEAS under Component 3.1(g) and DEP/DAF under Component 3.1(h)), as well as of other relevant Recipient’s ministries, entities and agencies each with responsibilities in the technical implementation of the Project activities, all pursuant to adequate arrangements as set forth in the Project Implementation Manual. B. Project Implementation Manual 1. The Recipient, through the PCT, shall: -9- (a) no later than three (3) months after the effective Date, or such later date as agreed by the Bank, prepare and adopt a manual acceptable to the Bank (“Project Implementation Manual” or “PIM”); (b) carry out the Project in accordance with the requirements set forth in the PIM; and (c) not assign, amend, abrogate, or waive the PIM or any of its provisions, except with the prior written approval of the Bank. In case of any conflict between the terms of the PIM and those of this Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall prevail. C. Annual Work and Budget Programs 1. The Recipient, through the PCT, shall, not later than November 30 in each calendar year during Project implementation, prepare and furnish to the Bank, a program of Project activities proposed for implementation in the following calendar year, including: (a) a detailed timetable for the sequencing and implementation of said activities; and (b) the types of expenditures required for such activities, a proposed financing plan and a budget (“Annual Work and Budget Program”). 2. The Recipient, through the Steering Committee, shall exchange views with and seek approval of the Bank on each such proposed Annual Work and Budget Program and shall thereafter carry out such program of activities for such following year as shall have been agreed between the Recipient and the Bank. 3. Only those activities which are included in an Annual Work and Budget Program shall be implemented. Except with the prior and written concurrence of the Bank, the Annual Work and Budget Program shall not be waived, amended, or otherwise modified to include new activities. D. Verification of Achievement of PBCs For purposes of implementing PBC#1.1 to PBC#1.3 under Component 2.2(b) of the Project, the Recipient, through the MEPST, shall carry out a verification process through an independent verification agency that the Bank has confirmed in writing to be acceptable, as determined in the Verification Protocol (“Verification Agent”), for the verification of achievement of PBCs which are set forth in the table in Schedule 3 to this Agreement, and furnish to the Bank, not later than sixty (60) days after the verification of compliance of said PBCs, reports on the results of said verification of compliance process of such scope and in such detail as the Bank shall reasonably request. - 10 - E. Environmental and Social Standards 1. The Recipient shall ensure that the Project is carried out in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards, in a manner acceptable to the Bank. 2. Without limitation upon paragraph 1 above, the Recipient shall ensure that the Project is implemented in accordance with the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (“ESCP”), in a manner acceptable to the Bank. To this end, the Recipient shall ensure that: (a) the measures and actions specified in the ESCP are implemented with due diligence and efficiency, as provided in the ESCP; (b) sufficient funds are available to cover the costs of implementing the ESCP; (c) policies and procedures are maintained, and qualified and experienced staff in adequate numbers are retained to implement the ESCP, as provided in the ESCP; and (d) the ESCP, or any provision thereof, is not amended, repealed, suspended or waived, except as the Bank shall otherwise agree in writing, as specified in the ESCP, and ensure that the revised ESCP is disclosed promptly thereafter. 3. In case of any inconsistencies between the ESCP and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. 4. The Recipient shall ensure that: (a) all measures necessary are taken to collect, compile, and furnish to the Bank through regular reports, with the frequency specified in the ESCP, and promptly in a separate report or reports, if so requested by the Bank, information on the status of compliance with the ESCP and the environmental and social instruments referred to therein, all such reports in form and substance acceptable to the Bank, setting out, inter alia: (i) the status of implementation of the ESCP; (ii) conditions, if any, which interfere or threaten to interfere with the implementation of the ESCP; and (iii) corrective and preventive measures taken or required to be taken to address such conditions; and (b) the Bank is promptly notified of any incident or accident related to or having an impact on the Project which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected communities, the public or workers, in accordance with the ESCP, the environmental and social instruments referenced therein and the Environmental and Social Standards. - 11 - 5. The Recipient shall establish, publicize, maintain and operate an accessible grievance mechanism, to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances of Project-affected people, and take all measures necessary and appropriate to resolve, or facilitate the resolution of, such concerns and grievances, in a manner acceptable to the Bank. 6. The Recipient shall ensure that all bidding documents and contracts for civil works under the Project include the obligation of contractors, subcontractors and supervising entities to: (a) comply with the relevant aspects of ESCP and the environmental and social instruments referred to therein; and (b) adopt and enforce codes of conduct that should be provided to and signed by all workers, detailing measures to address environmental, social, health and safety risks, and the risks of sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and violence against children, all as applicable to such civil works commissioned or carried out pursuant to said contracts. F. Contingent Emergency Response 1. In order to ensure the proper implementation of contingent emergency response activities under Component 4 of the Project (“Contingent Emergency Response Component”), the Recipient shall ensure that: (a) a manual (“CERC Manual”) is prepared and adopted in form and substance acceptable to the Bank, which shall set forth detailed implementation arrangements for the Contingent Emergency Response Component, including: (i) any structures or institutional arrangements for coordinating and implementing the Contingent Emergency Response Component; (ii) specific activities which may be included in the Contingent Emergency Response Component, Eligible Expenditures required therefor (“Emergency Expenditures”), and any procedures for such inclusion; (iii) financial management arrangements for the Contingent Emergency Response Component; (iv) procurement methods and procedures for the Contingent Emergency Response Component; (v) documentation required for withdrawals of Financing amounts to finance Emergency Expenditures; (vi) a description of the environmental and social assessment and management arrangements for the Contingent Emergency Response Component; and (vii) a template Emergency Action Plan; (b) the Emergency Action Plan is prepared and adopted in form and substance acceptable to the Bank; (c) the Contingent Emergency Response Component is carried out in accordance with the CERC Manual and the Emergency Action Plan; provided, however, that in the event of any inconsistency between the - 12 - provisions of the CERC Manual or the Emergency Action Plan and this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail; and (d) neither the CERC Manual or the Emergency Action Plan is amended, suspended, abrogated, repealed or waived without the prior written approval by the Bank. 2. The Recipient shall ensure that the structures and arrangements referred to in the CERC Manual are maintained throughout the implementation of the Contingent Emergency Response Component, with adequate staff and resources satisfactory to Bank. 3. The Recipient shall ensure that: (a) the environmental and social instruments required for the Contingent Emergency Response Component are prepared, disclosed and adopted in accordance with the CERC Manual and the ESCP, and in form and substance acceptable to the Bank; and (b) the Contingent Emergency Response Component is carried out in accordance with the environmental and social instruments in a manner acceptable to the Bank. 4. Activities under the Contingency Emergency Response Component shall be undertaken only after an Eligible Crisis or Emergency has occurred. Section II. Project Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation A. Documents; Records In addition, and without limitation to the obligations set forth in Section 2.05 of the Standard Conditions, the Recipient shall ensure that: 1. All records evidencing expenditures under the Project are retained for seven years and six months after the Closing Date, such records to include: (a) this Agreement, all addenda thereof, and any amendments thereto; (b) the Recipient’s financial and narrative progress reports submitted to the Bank; (c) the Recipient’s financial information related to the Grant, including audit reports, invoices and payroll records; (d) the Recipient’s implementation documentation (including sub- agreements, procurement files, contracts, purchase orders); and (e) the corresponding supporting evidence referred to in Section 3.04 of the Standard Conditions. 2. The representatives of the Bank are: (i) able to examine all records referred to above in paragraph (a); (ii) provided all such information concerning such records - 13 - as they may from time-to-time reasonably request; and (iii) able to disclose such records and information to the Donor(s). B. Project Reports The Recipient shall ensure that each Project Report is furnished to the Bank not later than one (1) month after the end of each calendar semester, covering the calendar semester. Section III. Withdrawal of Grant Proceeds A. General 1. The Recipient may withdraw the proceeds of the Grant in accordance with the provisions of: (a) Article III of the Standard Conditions; and (b) this Section; to finance Eligible Expenditures in the amount allocated and, if applicable, up to the percentage set forth against each Category of the following table: Category Amount of the Percentage of Grant Allocated Expenditures to be (Expressed in USD) Financed. (Inclusive of Taxes) (1) Goods, works, non- consulting services (including Training), consulting services and Operating Costs under 63,300,000 100% Component 1, Component 2 (except Component 2.2(b)) and Component 3 of the Project (2) Eligible PBC Expenditures 100% allocated to under Component 2.2(b) of 3,700,000 each PBC as set forth the Project in Schedule 3 (3) Emergency Expenditures under Component 4 of the 0 100% Project TOTAL AMOUNT 67,000,000 - 14 - B. Withdrawal Conditions; Withdrawal Period 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Part A of this Section no withdrawal shall be made: (a) for payments made prior to the Signature Date; or (b) for payments under Category (2) with respect to each PBC, as set forth in Schedule 3, for which a withdrawal request has been submitted, until and unless the Recipient has also submitted evidence satisfactory to the Bank that the following conditions have been met: (i) evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank, of the Eligible PBC Expenditures paid, as presented in the IFR and verified pursuant to the Verification Protocol; and (ii) supporting documentation confirming the Recipient’s achievement of the respective PBC or PBCs in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank, as further elaborated in Schedule 3 and as set forth in the Verification Protocol, including, but not limited to, a report issued by the Verification Agent, confirming the achievement of the respective PBC or PBCs; (c) for Emergency Expenditures under Category (3), unless and until all of the following conditions have been met in respect of said expenditures: (i) (A) the Recipient has determined that an Eligible Crisis or Emergency has occurred, and has furnished to the Bank a request to withdraw Grant amounts under Category (3); and (B) the Bank has agreed with such determination, accepted said request and notified the Recipient thereof; and (ii) the Recipient has adopted the CERC Manual and Emergency Action Plan, in form and substance acceptable to the Bank. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Part B.1(b) of this Section, if any of the PBCs referred to in Schedule 3 to this Agreement has not been achieved, the Bank may, by notice to the Recipient: (i) reallocate all or a portion of the proceeds of the Grant then allocated to said PBC to any other PBC or any other Category; and/or (ii) cancel all or a portion of the proceeds of the Grant then allocated to said PBC. 3. The Closing Date is March 31, 2028. - 15 - SCHEDULE 3 Performance-Based Conditions PBC Amount of the Grant Allocated (Expressed in USD) PBC#1.1: 800 new female primary teachers 1,000,000 are regularly paid and working at a public USD 10,000 per percentage point primary school in the Selected Provinces. achieved of 800 new female primary teachers, up to 1,000,000. PBC#1.2: Cumulative 1,600 new female 1,200,000 primary teachers are regularly paid and USD 12,000 per percentage point working at a public primary school in the achieved of 1,600 new female primary Selected Provinces. teachers, up to 1,200,000. PBC#1.3: Cumulative 2,400 new female 1,500,000 primary teachers are regularly paid and USD 15,000 per percentage point working at a public primary school in the achieved of 2,400 new female primary Selected Provinces. teachers, up to 1,500,000. - 16 - APPENDIX Definitions 1. “Annual Work and Budget Program” means an annual work and budget program for the implementation of the Project referred to in Section I.C of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 2. “Anticorruption Action Plan” means an action plan designed to enhance transparency and accountability, and to be included in the PIM, including: (a) fiduciary measures required to strengthen the control environment; (b) measures necessary or appropriate to enable civil society and the public in general to denounce abuses or irregularities; and (c) measures designed to mitigate fiduciary risks. 3. “Anti-Corruption Guidelines” means, for purposes of paragraph 2 of the Appendix to the Standard Conditions, the “Guidelines on Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption in Projects Financed by IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants”, dated October 15, 2006, and revised in January 2011, and as of July 1, 2016. 4. “Category” means a category set forth in the table in Section III.A of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 5. “CERC Manual” means the manual referred to in Section I.F of Schedule 2 to this Agreement, as such manual may be updated from time to time with the agreement of the Bank, and which is an integral part of the Project Implementation Manual. 6. “CIEAS” means Cellule Indépendante d’Évaluation des Acquis Scolaires, each Independent Learning Assessment Unit. 7. “Contingent Emergency Response Component” means any activity or activities to be carried out under Component 4 of the Project to respond to an Eligible Crisis or Emergency. 8. “DAF” means Direction des Affaires Financières, the Administrative and Financial Department within MEPST. 9. “DAF” Direction des Etudes et de la Planification, the Directorate for Studies and Planning within MEPST. 10. “DIGE” means Direction d’Information de Gestion de l’Education, the Education Management Information Directorate within MEPST. 11. “DINAC” means Direction Nationale de Construction, de Réhabilitation, d’Entretien et de Gestion des Infrastructures Scolaires, the National Department - 17 - of Construction, Rehabilitation, Maintenance and Management of School Infrastructures within MEPST. 12. "DINACOPE" means Direction nationale de Contrôle, de la Préparation de la Paie et de la Maîtrise des Effectifs des Enseignants et du Personnel administratif des Etablissements scolaires, the Recipient’s National Direction of Control, Preparation of the Payroll and Control of the Number of Teachers and Administrative Staff of the Educational Establishments. 13. “DIPROMAD” means Direction des Programmes Scolaires et Matériel Didactique, the School Programs and Teaching Materials Department within MEPST. 14. “DRH” means Département des Ressources Humaines, the Department of Human Resources within MEPST. 15. “Eligible Crisis or Emergency” means an event that has caused, or is likely to imminently cause, a major adverse economic and/or social impact to the Recipient, associated with a natural or man-made crisis or disaster. 16. “Eligible PBC Expenditures” means the Eligible Expenditures acceptable to the Bank and listed in the PIM consisting of salaries of the newly recruited female primary teachers, incurred and paid by the Recipient in connection with Component 2.2(b) of the Project. 17. “Emergency Action Plan” means the plan referred to in Section I.F.1(b) of Schedule 2 to this Agreement, detailing the activities, budget, implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation arrangements, to respond to the Eligible Crisis or Emergency. 18. “Emergency Expenditures” means the eligible expenditures set forth in the CERC Manual referred to in Section I.F.1(a) of Schedule 2 to this Agreement and required for the Contingent Emergency Response Component. 19. “EMIS” means Education Management Information System. 20. “Environmental and Social Commitment Plan” or “ESCP” means the environmental and social commitment plan for the Project, dated December 11, 2023, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof, which sets out the material measures and actions that the Recipient shall carry out or cause to be carried out to address the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the Project, including the timeframes of the actions and measures, institutional, staffing, training, monitoring and reporting arrangements, and any environmental and social instruments to be prepared thereunder. - 18 - 21. “Environmental and Social Standards” or “ESSs” means, collectively: (i) “Environmental and Social Standard 1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts”; (ii) “Environmental and Social Standard 2: Labor and Working Conditions”; (iii) “Environmental and Social Standard 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management”; (iv) “Environmental and Social Standard 4: Community Health and Safety”; (v) “Environmental and Social Standard 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement”; (vi) “Environmental and Social Standard 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources”; (vii) “Environmental and Social Standard 7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub- Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities”; (viii) “Environmental and Social Standard 8: Cultural Heritage”; (ix) “Environmental and Social Standard 9: Financial Intermediaries”; (x) “Environmental and Social Standard 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure”; effective on October 1, 2018, as published by the Bank. 22. “IFR” means each interim unaudited financial report for the Project referred to in the Disbursement and Financial Information Letter. 23. “MEPST” means Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education, the ministry of the Recipient in charge of primary education, or any successor thereto as further defined in the PIM. 24. “Operating Costs” means the reasonable costs set forth in each Annual Work and Budget Program for the incremental expenses incurred by the PCT and other relevant Recipient’s authorities participating in the Project on account of the Project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, consisting of, inter alia: vehicle operation and maintenance, communication and insurance costs, banking charges, rental expenses, office (and office equipment) maintenance, utilities, document duplication/printing, consumables, travel cost and per diem for Project staff for travel linked to the implementation of the Project, and incremental salaries of contractual staff for the Project (but excluding salaries of officials of the Recipient’s civil service). 25. “PASEC” means Programme d’analyse des systems éducatifs de la CONFEMEN, the Recipient’s Education Systems Analysis Program. 26. “PBC” means a performance-based condition referred to in Schedule 3 to this Agreement; and “PBCs” means more than one PBC. 27. “Procurement Regulations” means, for purposes of paragraph 20 of the Appendix to the Standard Conditions, the “World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers”, dated September 2023. - 19 - 28. “Project Coordination Team” or “PCT” means the team referred to in Section I.A.1 of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 29. “Project Implementation Manual” or “PIM” means the Recipient’s manual acceptable to the Bank, containing, inter alia: (i) specific provisions on detailed implementation arrangements for the carrying out of the Project including the roles and responsibilities of the different entities participating in Project implementation; (ii) the procurement, financial management and disbursement requirements thereof; (iii)  the performance indicators of the Project; (iv) the Anticorruption Action Plan for preventing, detecting, reporting, investigation, remediation and otherwise addressing fraud and corruption, including compliance with the Anti-Corruption Guidelines (which shall be annexed thereto); and (v) the Verification Protocol; as said manual may be amended from time to time with the Bank’s prior written consent. 30. “Selected Provinces” means, for Components 1, 2.1(c) and 2.2(b) the following five (5) Recipient’s target provinces: Ituri, Kasai, Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental and Sud-Kivu, or any other Recipient’s provinces as agreed with the Bank and listed in the PIM. 31. “SERNAFOR” means Service National de Formation, the Recipient’s National Service of Training. 32. “Signature Date” means the later of the two dates on which the Recipient and the Bank signed this Agreement and such definition applies to all references to “the date of the Grant Agreement” in the Standard Conditions. 33. “Standard Conditions” means the “International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Development Association Standard Conditions for Grant Financing Made by the Bank out of Trust Funds”, dated February 25, 2019. 34. “Steering Committee” or “SC” means the committee referred to in Section I.A.2 of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 35. “Training” means training and workshops, including purchase and publication of materials, rental of facilities, course fees, study tours and travel and subsistence for participants, trainees and trainers. 36. “Verification Agent” means the entity or entities listed in the Verification Protocol and referred to in Section I.D of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 37. “Verification Protocol” means the PBC verification process referred to in Section I.D of Schedule 2 to this Agreement and set forth in the PIM; as said Verification Protocol may be amended from time to time with the Bank’s prior written consent. - 20 - 38. “WASH” means water supply, sanitation and hygiene.