The World Bank Report No: ISR9521 Implementation Status & Results Uganda Millennium Science Initiative (P086513) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: Millennium Science Initiative (P086513) Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 13 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 26-Jun-2013 Country: Uganda Approval FY: 2006 Product Line: IBRD/IDA Region: AFRICA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Key Dates Board Approval Date 25-May-2006 Original Closing Date 31-Dec-2011 Planned Mid Term Review Date 01-Apr-2007 Last Archived ISR Date 01-Jan-2013 Effectiveness Date 02-Mar-2007 Revised Closing Date 30-Jun-2013 Actual Mid Term Review Date 15-Sep-2010 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The project's development objective is for Ugandan universities and research institutes to produce more and better qualified science and engineering graduates, and higher quality and more relevant research, and for firms to utilize these outputs to improve productivity for the sake of enhancing S&T-led growth. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost MSI Funding Facility (USD 16.69 million) has provided competitively-awarded grants through three 16.69 different windows, each dedicated t o a specific purpose. (USD 16.65 million) will support an Outreach Program, plus institutional strengthening, M&E, and 16.65 policy studies. Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Public Disclosure Copy Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Low Low Implementation Status Overview The Uganda Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) project was a key intervention to support Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) at a time when funding for STI was scarce and the research base was stagnant. However, there were some positive indications of Government's commitment to STI. Government was placing greater emphasis on S&T at all levels of education and budget allocations were increasing These indications signaled the need for investment dedicated to giving an impetus to STI both at the policy level as well as at the institutional level. The project design benefited from the Bank's comparative advantage in transferring its global knowledge, in particular drawing upon best practices and lessons learned from similar projects in Latin American countries. A key achievement of the Project, the mechanism to institutionalize merit based, competitive research grants was adapted Page 1 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9521 to Ugandan conditions from the experience gained from similar Millennium Science Initiative projects in Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, and Mexico. In this context, MSI was approved on 25 May 2006 for a credit of $30 million equivalent to support an emerging environment for STI. It became effective on March 2, 2007. The project was due to close on December 31, 2011. The Project was restructured twice and its closing date was extended to June 30, 2013. As of June 4, 2013 disbursements under the Public Disclosure Copy credit stood at $31.355 million out of the current credit value of about $31.357 million (historical credit of $30 million) representing 99.99% utilization. All project activities are on schedule to be completed by June 30, 2013. The government as well as the Bank team has begun preparations for the project Implementation and Completion and Results Report (ICR) which is due by December 31, 2013. Project activities were clustered in two components. Component 1 supported: (i) competitive grants to research teams (ii) creation of undergraduate programs in S&T subjects and/or upgrading of existing S&T degree programs in select institutions; and (iii) collaboration with private sector cooperation to solve problems of direct interest to industry, and pursue solutions; and (iv) formal firm-based internships for students. Component 2 supported an outreach program, institutional strengthening of Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (UNCST) and Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Monitoring and Evaluation, and policy studies. The Project Development Objective was highly relevant at the time of design and remains so at project closing. However, the project was restructured and the indicators were revised to better align their relevance to the PDO and to make them more measurable. End target values were not changed. The Project has registered significant achievements against its PDO. Four of the five PDO indicators were surpassed. The remaining indicator also registered significant gains towards PDO targets. The Project contributed to substantial increase of active researchers and publication in international peer reviewed journals. There was also a substantial increase in the number of students obtaining undergraduate and graduate degrees. Employability of S&T graduates improved as measured by the increase in percentage of S&T graduates employed by firms active in technology development. As a result of these achievements, the Project has contributed substantially to promoting the STI agenda in Uganda. It was instrumental in the development of the National STI Policy that was adopted by Government in 2009. The Project also supported the development of the Implementation Plan for the STI policy. MSI provided a platform for regional and international scientific community for policy dialogue on STI. The Project’s adoption of a transparent mechanism for awarding merit based, and competitive research forms the cornerstone of the credibility and successful outcomes from the research grants. Most of the project achievements are expected to be sustained. For example, the introduction of new as well as upgraded S&T programs will continue to enlarge the pool of S&T graduates. Upgraded laboratories and equipment is expected to have positive impact on the quality of ST programs. Competitive grants have strengthened research capacity in universities and research institutions. The capacity of UNCST and UIRI has been strengthened. Government will need to provide adequate financial resources to sustain these achievements Locations Public Disclosure Copy No Location data has been entered Results Project Development Objective Indicators Page 2 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9521 Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target PDO Indicator 4: Percentage of total Text Value % (out of total employees in 35% 25% employees in firms active in technology the surveyed firm) Public Disclosure Copy development/evaluation that are STE <5% graduates (diploma or degree) Date 21-Sep-2007 04-Jun-2013 30-Jun-2013 Comments PDO Indicator 3: Number of science and Number Value technology undergraduates and postgraduates Date 20-May-2006 04-Jun-2013 30-Jun-2013 Comments Phd: 24 Phd 42 Phd: 36 (Baseline +50%) MSc: 245 Msc 504 MSc: 330 (Baseline +35%) BSc: 3241 Bsc 5533 BSc: 4861 (Baseline+50%) PDO Indicator 1: Number of active researchers Text Value Researchers -261 720 522 Date 02-Mar-2007 04-Jun-2013 30-Jun-2013 Comments PDO Indicator 2: Percentage of researchers Percentage Value 2.00 35.00 4.00 publishing in int’l peer-reviewed journals Date 21-Sep-2012 15-Jan-2013 30-Jun-2013 Comments PDO Indicator 5: Percentage of clients who Text Value UNCST: 39.3 UNCST 37.4 No end target was set are satisfied with responsiveness of UNCST UIRI: 34.2 UIRI 74.2 and UIRI to their needs Date 21-Sep-2007 04-Jun-2013 30-Jun-2013 Comments Percentage for UNCST The data show that there was Percentage for UIRI an increase in client satisfaction for both UIRI and UNCST up to 2009, and a drop in 2011for UNCST. This can be explained by the fact that there has been no fresh call for research proposals due to the lack of funding Public Disclosure Copy Intermediate Results Indicators Page 3 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9521 Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Intermediate Result A: Text Value A1: Technical Committee & TC constituted and fully Indicator A1: MSI TC seated; MSI Funding Facility established, grantees Calls-for-proposals non- fucntional. Ratio of applicant call for proposals issued Public Disclosure Copy selected through transparent, merited based existent at the beginning of to funded proposals 11:1 during year one of competition. project implementation -- achieved. Indicator A2: Ratio of applicants to fundable proposals 3:1 or greater for Windows A & B. Date 25-May-2006 04-Jun-2013 30-Jun-2013 Comments Accomplished Intermediate Result B: Text Value No SRT or RT funded at the 100% completed Indicator B1: Assessment of Senior Research Teams (SRTs) and Research beginning of the project research progress by Teams (RTs) fully staffed, equipped and independent visiting teams operational; undergraduate programs admitting reveals research and training students. goals on track in 80% ofSRTs and RTs. Postgraduate theses topics identified. Date 25-May-2006 04-Jun-2013 30-Jun-2013 Comments Accomplished Intermediate Result C: Text Value No SRTs or RT funded at Publications in international Indicator C1: Publications, Research results leading to planned beginning of project journals 26; Theses 88 (31 patent applications, and publications; Undergraduate students enrolled PhD & 57 Msc.); 950 students postgraduate theses in draft, in tertiary education (number) and enrolment in new STE submission dates identified. Postgraduate students enrolled (number) programs at 95% capacity. Indicator C2: New program enrollment at 70% of capacity. Date 25-May-2006 04-Jun-2013 30-Jun-2013 Comments 1, Intermediate Result Text Value A1: Technical Committee & TC functional. 12c meetings Indicator A1: MSI TC seated; A: MSI Funding Facility established, grantees Calls-for-proposals non- held. Ratio of applicants to call for proposals issued selected trhough transparent, merited based existent at the beginning of funded proposals 11:1 during year one of Public Disclosure Copy competition. project implementation -- achieved. Indicator A2: Ratio of applicants to fundable proposals 3:1 or greater for Windows A & B. Date 04-Jun-2013 31-Dec-2012 Comments Three rounds of research grants have been funded beyond the two planned Page 4 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9521 under the project. No further research grants are being funded Public Disclosure Copy Data on Financial Performance (as of 28-May-2013) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P086513 IDA-41740 Effective 25-May-2006 11-Aug-2006 02-Mar-2007 31-Dec-2011 30-Jun-2013 Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P086513 IDA-41740 Effective XDR 20.90 20.90 0.00 20.90 0.00 100.00 Disbursement Graph Public Disclosure Copy Key Decisions Regarding Implementation The Project will close on June 30, 2013 Restructuring History Level two Approved on 16-Dec-2012 Page 5 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9521 Related Projects There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy Page 6 of 6