The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) SOUTH ASIA | Sri Lanka | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2015 | Seq No: 16 | ARCHIVED on 28-Apr-2023 | ISR55579 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Social Empowerment (MWCASE), Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 24-Jun-2015 Effectiveness Date: 04-Dec-2015 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 17-Apr-2018 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 17-Apr-2018 Original Closing Date: 30-Jun-2021 Revised Closing Date: 15-Jun-2023 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The project development objective is to enhance equitable access to and improve the quality of ECD services. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Expanding and strengthening the delivery of ECD services:(Cost $45.00 M) Project management, and monitoring and evaluation (M &E):(Cost $5.00 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Substantial Moderate Implementation Status and Key Decisions Since September 2022, the Project has made notable progress towards achieving the Project Development Objective (PDO): “to enhance equitable access to and improve the quality of ECD services.” Two of the three indicator targets have been surpassed and the third one has achieved 95 percent of the target. The PDO rating is now upgraded to Satisfactory. After the last project restructuring in December 2022, the number of intermediate results indicators has increased from ten to eleven with the addition of an indicator on the morning meal program. Of the eleven intermediate results indicators, 5 have been achieved /overachieved, and 4 are on-track to being achieved before the project closing date. Only two intermediate indicators related to the morning meal program and tuition fee waiver program may not be fully achieved by the project closing date. Most of the construction activities have been completed. Of the remaining 24 contracts, 23 have been signed, and work has already commenced in 16 out of 23 sites. There is one pending Direct Contract in the Procurement Plan for clearance. Fifteen out of the 19 new contracts for incomplete civil works in the Plantation sector will likely be completed by the project closing date since the contracts have now been awarded. Only 4 ECD centers in the Plantation sector at early stages of the construction process face risk of non-completion by the project closing date. The implementing agency (PHDT) has been requested to issue a letter agreeing to take over 4/28/2023 Page 1 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) the financing of the incomplete sites in the event they are not completed by the project closing date. The rating for the Implementation Progress (IP) is therefore also upgraded to Satisfactory. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Moderate Substantial Substantial Macroeconomic Moderate Substantial Substantial Sector Strategies and Policies Substantial Substantial Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Substantial Substantial Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Substantial Substantial Moderate Sustainability Fiduciary High High Substantial Environment and Social Moderate Moderate Moderate Stakeholders Moderate Moderate Low Other -- -- -- Overall Substantial Substantial Moderate Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Enhancing equitable access to ECD services IN01271919 ►Children enrolled in ECD centers (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 512,620.00 620,659.00 628,220.00 661,150.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 The PDO indicator has reached 95 percent of the end line targets of total enrollment, with 50 percent for Comments: girls. IN01271942 Girls (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 4/28/2023 Page 2 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) Value 253,900.00 310,330.00 314,110.00 327,400.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 Improving the quality of ECD services IN01271920 ►ECD centers aligned with national quality standards (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 1,000.00 6,219.00 7,225.00 6,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 The number of ECD centers aligned with national quality centers as of March 15,2023, is 7,225, with 6,549 in non-plantation areas and 676 in plantation areas. The results indicate 120 percent of the end Comments: of target project achieved. IN01271941 ►ECD centers conducting annual child development assessments (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 6,923.00 11,043.00 7,500.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 The child development assessment activity had a delayed start due to the time taken to develop the assessment tool kit and manuals followed by approval from the Ministry. The activity started in late 2018 and picked up pace in 2019 and early 2020. However, the repeated closures of the ECD centers since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis have stalled this activity. With the project restructuring and extension of the project end date the project end target has been Comments: increased from 5,000 to 7,500. Despite all challenges, by March 15, 2023, the number of ECD centers that conducted child development assessments exceeded by 3,543 as compared with the end target. The current achievement is 11,043 (147 percent of the EOP) with 10,423 in non-plantation areas and 620 in plantations as of March 15, 2023. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Expanding and strengthening the delivery of ECD services IN01271943 ►Number of project beneficiaries (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 520,000.00 1,613,788.00 1,670,270.00 1,700,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 4/28/2023 Page 3 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) The number of project beneficiaries includes children, ECD teachers, parents, members of the community (who were provided ECD awareness and orientation programs), ECD officers, officials of the Divisional Secretariat, Ministry, and PMU staff. Comments: By March 15, 2023, the project has achieved 98.2 percent of the EOP target for total project beneficiaries and 109 percent of the EOP target for female beneficiaries. IN01271946 Number of Female Project beneficiaries (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 260,000.00 913,385.00 925,775.00 850,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 IN01271947 ►ECD centers receiving facility improvement grants (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 4,989.00 6,460.00 7,500.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 The new end-of-project target in the restructured project is 7,500. This included 6000 FIGs and an additional 1,500 centers to receive smaller FIGs for water and sanitation facilities. As of March 15, 2023 work is completed in 6,460 centers and grants given to 6,497centers. From 2017- Comments: 2023, water and sanitation support given to 1,576 centers. The number of completed total FIGs achievement is 86 percent of the EOP target. IN01271948 ►ECD teachers and teacher assistants completing standardized short-term training (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 17,283.00 19,890.00 21,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 Due to the increasing demand for short-service teacher training, the project has expanded the provision to include teachers from ECD centers outside the project coverage to provide equitable services for the ECD sector. Hence, the achievement has exceeded the end target. Under the restructured project with the extended project timeline the end target has been increased to 20,000. Comments: This activity was stalled due to the COVID surge and is expected to pick up the pace with the opening of the ECD centers in October 2021. However, some of the activities stalled due to the economic crisis. The achievement as of March 15, 2023 is 95 percent of the EOP. IN01271949 ►Children receiving tuition fee support through the project (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 53,475.00 57,773.00 91,000.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 Comments: This indicator has over-achieved its target for December 2020. As this has been overachieved this activity has been completed ahead of time. 4/28/2023 Page 4 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) The project has not granted tuition fee waivers to any new children during the COVID pandemic and the closure of centers. However, under the restructured project at the end of 2022, the EOP was changed to 91,000. As of March 15, 2023, the achievement is 63 percent of the revised EOP target. IN01271950 ►Awareness programs conducted by SMWCD, PCs and ECD centers (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 3,814.00 3,993.00 2,550.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 The PMU has made efforts to reach out to more parents and members of the community and so conducted more programs on ECD awareness and orientation. Hence the results achieved have exceeded the end target. Under the restructured and extended project timeline, the end target has been increased to 2,550. Comments: Although the project has exceeded this project end target, based on the increasing demand from parents and the community, the project conducted more awareness programs, and the current achievement as of March 15, 2023 is 3,814, with 2,523 in non-plantation and 1,470 in Plantation. This is achievement of 160 percent of EOP target. IN01271951 ►ECD centers established in unserved/ underserved areas (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 109.00 132.00 155.00 Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 The construction work stalled due to COVID-19 and the economic crisis (material and fuel shortages). The contracts for new construction of ECD centers were not awarded due to tight timelines, and potential material shortages in the market. Therefore, under the restructured project during the economic crisis in December 2022, the new end-of-project target reduced to 155. This includes ECD centers in the plantation and non-plantation regions (a total of 155) and one center for children with special needs that Comments: the PMU will establish on behalf of the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities. As of March 15, 2023, the achievement is 132 out of the end project target of 155. Out of these, 164 are in the plantations and 26 in the non-plantation areas. As of March 15, 2023, 85 percent of the EOP target achieved. IN01271952 ►Development of ECD Curriculum Guideline and Monitoring Framework (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Curriculum Framework approved, and Draft curriculum tabled to Curriculum Frameowk New curriculum guidelines printed in Value the National ECD approved and teacher approved and pilot test three languages committee. training commenced commenced. (English, Sinhalese, Tamil). Date 30-Sep-2021 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 This is a new custom indicator added under the restructured project. Curriculum Framework has been approved, and curricular guidelines have been printed in all three Comments: languages (English, Sinhalese, Tamil). Teacher training has not yet commenced. IN01271953 4/28/2023 Page 5 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) ►Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning (Number, Corporate) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 190,267.00 191,305.00 156,615.00 Date 31-Dec-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 A new corporate indicator has been included on the number of children benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning. The end target is for 6,000 centers (that will receive a number of project interventions, including FIGs, teacher training support, teaching-learning materials, furniture and equipment, and parental awareness programs) with an average of about 26 children per center. The Comments: achievement to date includes 191,305 children that have received these interventions, with 95,491 girls. This is 122 percent of the EOP target for the total number of students and 122 percent EOP target for female beneficiaries. This indicator will be monitored for all the project-supported ECD centers. IN01271954 Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning - Female (Number, Corporate Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 95,134.00 95,491.00 78,300.00 IN01271955 ►Children ECD morning meal program (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 97,730.00 155,000.00 Date 30-Nov-2022 30-Nov-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 Due to the economic crisis, the Project was restructured to extend the closing date. The restructuring included support for the ECD Morning Meal Program (MPP) in preschools in malnourishment hotspots. It Comments: covers 75,474 non-plantation and 22,256 plantation sector children. This is an achievement of 63 percent of the estimated EOP target of 155,000. Project management, and monitoring and evaluation (M &E) IN01271944 ►Establishment and utilization of M & E system (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target The M&E system is functional. Regular data processing and monitoring are ongoing M & E system for tracking The M&E system is functional performance. functional and updated Value No M&E system exists with data on FIGs, Monitoring data from The sub-system for training, and fee waiver. 80% of ECD centers in MMP has been MIS developed, and data processing and monitoring is institutionalized. Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 4/28/2023 Page 6 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) The MIS is updated with the mini-census survey conducted in October 2022. Comments: A separate system has been developed to track the ECD Morning Meal Program (MPP). IN01271945 ►Beneficiary feedback survey from Provinces through Social Audits (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Final social audit Findings of social audit Social audit is in report has been conducted in all nine Value None progress in all nine received and is being provinces provinces reviewed. disseminated. Date 01-Jan-2015 31-Aug-2022 15-Mar-2023 15-Jun-2023 The draft social audit report is ready. Comments: Overall Comments IR The following indicators were part of the original project’s Results Framework. However, during project restructuring, the following indicators were eliminated. They continued to be tracked as the six additional results are being achieved: (1) ECD centers receiving teaching-learning material packages. (2) ECD trainers completing training of trainers (TOT). (3) Persons completing ECD certificate/diploma/degree courses (child caregivers' training). (4) Development of ECD resource centers in Provinces. (5) Uniform ECD center registration framework developed. (6) Administrative staff completing standardized ECD training. The aide-memoire attached to this ISR includes the details on the achievement of the above. Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P151916 IDA-56780 Effective USD 50.00 50.00 0.00 39.80 9.51 81% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P151916 IDA-56780 Effective 24-Jun-2015 23-Oct-2015 04-Dec-2015 30-Jun-2021 15-Jun-2023 4/28/2023 Page 7 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Early Childhood Development Project (P151916) Cumulative Disbursements Restructuring History Level 2 Approved on 19-May-2021 ,Level 2 Approved on 18-Dec-2022 Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 4/28/2023 Page 8 of 8