The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) AFRICA WEST | Niger | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2020 | Seq No: 2 | ARCHIVED on 08-Jan-2021 | ISR44633 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Secondary Education, Republic of Niger, Ministry of Primary Education Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 06-Apr-2020 Effectiveness Date: 28-Sep-2020 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 14-Sep-2023 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: Original Closing Date: 30-Apr-2026 Revised Closing Date: 30-Apr-2026 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) To improve the quality of teaching and learning conditions in select regions, and strengthen education planning and management Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Improving Teaching Practices:(Cost $72.00 M) Promoting Learning for Girls and Boys:(Cost $18.00 M) Strengthening Systems and Capacities for the Delivery of Education Services:(Cost $36.00 M) Project Administration and Coordination:(Cost $10.00 M) Contingency Emergency Response Component Unallocated:(Cost $4.00 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating High High Implementation Status and Key Decisions The findings and recommendations presented in this Implementation Status Report (ISR) are based on ongoing virtual meetings, emails, and phone calls held with the client over the last several months. A full virtual implementation support mission is scheduled to take place in January 2021, at which time all of the key findings and associated ratings presented herein will be reexamined. Project Overview. The Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (LIRE, P168779)—with a total allocation of US$ 140 million— was approved by the World Bank’s (WB) Board of Executive Directors on April 6, 2020 and signed by the Country Manager and Niger’s Minister of Finance on May 30, 2020. The expected closing date of the project is April 30, 2026. The Project’s development objectives (PDO) are to improve the quality of teaching and learning conditions in select five regions (i.e., Diffa, Maradi, Tahoua, Zinder and Tillabéry), and strengthen 1/8/2021 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) education planning and management. The project consists of five components. The first component promotes improvements in classroom teaching practices and pedagogy, while the second facilitates direct interventions to improve learning by all children and address the most critical learning deficits. The third component strengthens the overall management of the education system, including by intensifying efforts to monitor and evaluate educational processes and outcomes. The fourth component focuses on project administration; and finally, the fifth "emergency response" component has also been added in the event that an unplanned emergency response is required. Project implementation. LIRE became effective on September 28, 2020, following the fulfillment of each effectiveness conditions. The LIRE’s Project Preparation Advance (PPA) has financed critical preparatory tasks and studies, including:  The completion of an in-depth evaluation and audit of the 11 Primary Teacher Training Institutes (ENIs) and 1 Secondary Teacher Training Institute (ENS). The outcomes of the audit have been disseminated to the directors of ENIs and ENS and key officials at the Ministries of Education on December 10, 2020. Based on this strategic study, the Government will pursue a number of critical reforms in the sector with the support from LIRE, particularly those related to: (i) curriculum reform; (ii) pedagogical practices; and (iii) effective teacher training modalities.  A contract has been signed with the firm that will carry out a geo-mapping of primary and secondary schools targeted by LIRE. This activity is expected to be launched in February 2021.  Technical expertise has been recruited and started working on the mapping of non-formal education arrangements across the country, which is a pre-requisite to rolling out the initiatives planned under Component 2: Promoting Learning for Girls and Boys. The interventions are targeted to the most vulnerable in Niger, including girls, displaced children, and out-of-school rural poor. The component consists of a series of direct interventions focused on improving reading proficiency and numeracy and adapted to different student populations and settings, with complementary awareness-raising activities within communities. The task team will carry out a full supervision mission and update overall implementation progress including procurement, FM, and safeguards implementation as soon as the situation normalizes. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance High High High Macroeconomic Substantial High Substantial Sector Strategies and Policies Substantial Substantial Substantial Technical Design of Project or Program Substantial Substantial Substantial Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Substantial High High Sustainability Fiduciary Substantial High High Environment and Social Moderate Moderate Moderate Stakeholders Substantial Substantial Substantial Other High High High Overall High High High Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes 1/8/2021 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) Improved teaching practices IN00927683 ►Increased percentage of targeted teachers in basic education demonstrating improved teaching practices in the classroom (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 20 percentage points Value n.a. 0.00 0.00 increase over the project lifetime Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Proportion of basic education teachers benefiting from new coaching activities who demonstrate improved teaching practices (using classroom observation tool under project). For reporting, a random sample of Comments: teachers will be selected and the % of teachers from this sample demonstrating new skills l(via trainings) will be reported. Baseline expected Y2 or Y3. Improved learning conditions for girls and boys IN00927684 ►Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning (Number, Corporate) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 600,000.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 IN00927692 Female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 IN00927693 ►Out-of-school children and adolescents benefiting from direct interventions to support learning (disaggregated by general population, host communities and refugees) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 200,000.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Beneficiaries include children and adolescents age 7-16 who are out-of-school and/or attending Comments: Makarantas schools. IN00927694 Female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 Strengthened education planning and management IN00927685 ►Primary and lower secondary schools benefiting from a performance grant and meeting the minimum requirements in terms of teaching and learning conditions (Percentage, Custom) 1/8/2021 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Tracks whether project funded school grants are used to improve teaching/learning conditions at school Comments: level. Minimum requirements defined in Y1 and will include sub-indicators on the availability of essential inputs, differentiated for primary and lower secondary schools. IN00927691 ►National large-scale standardized learning assessments completed (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Administration of a national large-scale assessment using national data and standardized tests. The Comments: methodology used should allow for comparability of subsequent assessments (items, administration procedures, and scoring methods). IN00938695 ►Large-scale primary/secondary learning assessments completed (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No -- No Yes Date 03-Aug-2020 -- 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 CRI Comments: Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Improving Teaching Practices IN00927695 ►Pedagogical and organizational audit conducted, and reports produced for ENIs and ENS (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 The audit has been completed and results disseminated among directors of ENIs and ENS, as well as key Comments: officials at MEP and MES. The reports are being finalized. IN00927698 ►Number of teacher trainers trained (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 150.00 1/8/2021 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Number of trainers trained to deliver training to students-teachers at ENIs. Training takes into account the Comments: revision and improvement of the org/content of the ENIs. IN00927701 ►Classroom observation tools to assess teaching practices are established (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Tool to measure teacher practice/performance. Used by inspectors during school visits but may be also Comments: used be external observers. COT is accompanied by classroom observation report. Considered established once designed, piloted by DFIC (w/ external support) and validated by MEP/MES. IN00927704 ►Number of basic education teachers participating in the new coaching activities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 12,000.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Number of primary/lower secondary school teachers benefiting from new coaching activities. Measures Comments: number of teachers who attend all group meetings organized by CAPED/UP in the 4 weeks preceding time of measurement. IN00927707 ►Number of coaching facilitators trained (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 480.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Beneficiaries are pedagogical advisors, school inspectors, school directors and experienced teachers who Comments: act as facilitators for the coaching activities. IN00927709 ►Structured lessons are developed and digitized (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Development of structured lessons, including standardized exercises and classroom assessments, in 2-3 Comments: national languages and French. New materials are digitized. Promoting Learning for Girls and Boys IN00927696 ►Number of students benefiting from remedial prevention programs at the primary and lower secondary level (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 1/8/2021 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 250,000.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Tracks progress in the number of primary and lower secondary school students who benefit from Comments: remediation activities focused on language and mathematics to enhance learning under the Project interventions. IN00927700 Female (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 IN00927702 ►Number of selected Makaranta schools that have signed an agreement with MEP (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 The agreement allocates grants to Makaranta schools providing that they include in their curriculum a Comments: minimum volume of teaching hours dedicated to reading and mathematics, taught by facilitators trained under the Project interventions. IN00927705 ►Number of girls benefiting from the learning space initiative (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,000.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Comments: Tracks the implementation of interventions under the learning space initiative supported by the Project IN00927706 Percentage which remain enrolled in secondary school at the end of the year (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 70.00 Strengthening Systems and Building Capacities for the Delivery of Education Services IN00927697 ►Number of regional education authorities having achieved at least 80% of their PBC objectives (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 This indicator will track the implementation of PBC and the performance of Regional education authorities Comments: at the primary and secondary level in the regions of Diffa, Zinder, Tillaberi, Tahoua and Maradi IN00927699 1/8/2021 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) ►Percentage of targeted inspectorates having achieved at least 80% of their PBC objectives (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Tracks the implementation of PBC and the performance of targeted inspectorates at the primary and Comments: secondary level in the regions of Diffa, Zinder, Tillaberi, Tahoua and Maradi IN00927703 ►Number of primary and lower secondary schools benefiting from a grant based on a signed performance agreement (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,300.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 This indicator will track the implementation of the school grant programs in select districts in the regions of Comments: Diffa, Zinder, Tillaberi, Tahoua and Maradi IN00927708 ►Number of communities trained on verifying the use and implementation of school grants (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,300.00 Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Citizen-engagement indicator. Communities will be regularly consulted on project interventions and it is expected that CE feedback will be integrated in school plans and throughout implementation. Indicator will Comments: monitor the number of communities who have been enabled, through appropriate training, to verify the use and implementation of grants in accordance with the school plan. IN00927710 ►New protocol on teacher deployment is established (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Comments: The protocol will support equitable deployment of teachers in the country using school-level information. IN00927711 ►A time-bound capacity-building and skills transfer implementation plan is established and implemented (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 A time-bound capacity-building and skills transfer implementation plan is to be established between the Comments: international experts of the Task force and their counterparts (homologues) officially nominated at MEP and MES to ensure national capacities are built throughout project implementation. IN00927712 1/8/2021 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) ►A national online education platform is established (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 The development of the platform, content, and its free access and use. To focus on teachers, teacher Comments: trainers, ENI staff and administrative staff. Platform conceived to extend to other education stakeholders in the future, including students, parents and the general public. IN00927713 ►Annual school census conducted through new digital tools and report produced (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 03-Aug-2020 14-Jul-2020 05-Jan-2021 03-Aug-2026 Comments: Digital data collection carried out and report of the results prepared before the end of the school year Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P168779 IDA-65720 Effective USD 20.00 20.00 0.00 0.00 21.22 0% P168779 IDA-D5800 Effective USD 120.00 120.00 0.00 5.52 120.69 4.4% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P168779 IDA-65720 Effective 06-Apr-2020 04-May-2020 28-Sep-2020 30-Apr-2026 30-Apr-2026 P168779 IDA-D5800 Effective 06-Apr-2020 04-May-2020 28-Sep-2020 30-Apr-2026 30-Apr-2026 Cumulative Disbursements 1/8/2021 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project (P168779) PBC Disbursement Achievement Disbursed amount in Disbursement % PBC ID PBC Type Description Coc PBC Amount Status Coc for PBC Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 1/8/2021 Page 9 of 9