The World Bank Mali - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) REPORT NO.: RES44308 DOCUMENT OF THE WORLD BANK RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF MALI - HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT PROJECT APPROVED ON MAY 7, 2015 TO MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND FINANCES EDUCATION AFRICA WEST Regional Vice President: Ousmane Diagana Country Director: Soukeyna Kane Regional Director: Dena Ringold Practice Manager/Manager: Meskerem Mulatu Task Team Leader(s): Jeffrey Waite The World Bank Mali - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) I. BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument P151318 Investment Project Financing Original EA Category Current EA Category Partial Assessment (B) Partial Assessment (B) Approval Date Current Closing Date 07-May-2015 31-Dec-2020 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency Ministry of Economy and Finances Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO The development objective of the proposed Mali Higher Education Support Project (HESP) is to improve the relevance of selected higher education programs and the stewardship of the higher education system in Mali.   Summary Status of Financing (US$, Millions) Net Ln/Cr/Tf Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed IDA-56060 07-May-2015 30-May-2015 23-Sep-2015 31-Dec-2020 14.00 10.87 3.10 IDA-D0430 07-May-2015 30-May-2015 23-Sep-2015 31-Dec-2020 19.00 17.33 1.52 The World Bank Mali - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No I. SUMMARY OF PROJECT STATUS AND PROPOSED CHANGES PROPOSED CHANGE AND RATIONALE As noted in the Borrower's letter dated November 11, 2020, the only change being proposed in this Level Two restructuring is to modify the Closing Date of the Credit and Grant from December 31, 2020 to June 30, 2021 (see Credit No. 5606-ML and Grant No. D043-ML, Financing Agreement, Schedule 2, Section IV, Sub-section B, paragraph 3), on the grounds that the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent government transition negatively impacted project implementation, particularly during the second half of the calendar year. The Project’s Development Objectives remain achievable, and the performance of the Borrower remains satisfactory overall. The Bank and the Borrower have agreed on an action plan that the Borrower will carry out to complete the Project, using the remaining funds available. PROJECT STATUS The Project was approved on May 7, 2015, and declared effective on September 23, 2015. Based on extensive consultations all relevant stakeholders involved in project implementation, in central government and in the higher education institutions (HEIs) themselves, along with a close monitoring and review of the implementation status of the planned activities, the project has already achieved considerable success. The six indicators linked directly to the two parts of the Project Development Objective - program relevance and system stewardship - have been achieved, or surpassed. And of the ten intermediate indicators linked to component outcomes, just one is yet to be achieve ("share of budget in participating HEIs allocated to pedagogical inputs"). With this in mind, the PDO achievement progress rating is expected to remain at "satisfactory" for the remainder of the project. As explained below for each component, the proposed six-month project extension would enable the Borrower to complete the small number of activities that have already been programmed... but that have been delayed due to this year's COVID-19 pandemic and recent political events. Component 1: Support to Selected Public Higher Education Institutions ($22.0m). This component aims to improve the relevance of selected higher education programs, while also contributing to improving stewardship, by supporting governance improvements and quality related interventions in selected existing HEIs with strong commitment to reform and supporting a new institution offering programs in agriculture, livestock, mining and technology. The component, in particular, supports four selected HEIs through annual performance-based contracts with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. With the exception of two HEIs that failed to meet all target in the 2016/17, all four HEIs achieved all seven targets in the other four academic years 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20. Activities to be completed here include: the purchase of equipment for the University of Segou’s newly created livestock department; and the preparation of technical specifications for the purchase of equipment and the confirmation of the curriculum for the proposed Bamako African School of Mines. Component 2: Higher Education System Support ($8.0m). This component aims to improve the stewardship of the higher education system in Mali by strengthening the Government’s capacity to: articulate and implement reforms; The World Bank Mali - Higher Education Support Project (P151318) play an overall oversight and regulatory role, including for the private sector; and manage information. Key activities include: support to the Planning and Prospective Unit; support to the Quality Assurance Unit, which was established by the Government on November 1, 2017; development of a management information system; development of virtual libraries; and technical assistance. Activities to be completed here include: the adoption of a regulatory framework granting institutional autonomy to HEIs (originally planned for June 2020); the drafting of a medium-term development plan and a two-year an action plan for the Planning and Prospective Unit; the preparation of its higher education statistical yearbook; and the purchase of IT equipment for the management information system. Component 3: Project Management and Technical Assistance ($3.0m). This component established the Project Implementation Unit, adequately staffed with experts to ensure smooth implementation of the project. The Unit team continues to be highly engaged and proactive, and satisfactorily manage the project, including through holding regular meetings to closely monitor the implementation of planned project activities. Activities to be completed here include: a final audit; and other operating expenses, such as payment of salaries. II. DETAILED CHANGES LOAN CLOSING DATE(S) Original Revised Proposed Proposed Deadline Ln/Cr/Tf Status Closing Closing(s) Closing for Withdrawal Applications IDA-56060 Effective 31-Dec-2020 30-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2021 IDA-D0430 Effective 31-Dec-2020 30-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2021