According to bank documents, the project objectives are a) to expand access to and improve quality of remote learning and b) strengthen education system resilience to tackle COVID-19 and other crises.

The project includes three components with a focus on promoting learning continuity during the period of school closures and reopening.

1. Component 1: Improving the access to and quality of remote learning. Supporting learning continuity and increasing inclusion by generating systemic improvements in distance learning are the primary aims of this component. The project will finance: (a) development and broadcast of lessons for TV, lessons for radios, lessons for MENFOP’s e-learning platform, including technical support (TA) to strengthen the quality of content and delivery; (b) development, printing and distribution and/or purchase of learning materials (such as booklets, readers) for vulnerable children in all five regions; and (c) professional development for teachers, pedagogical advisors, and inspectors on effective delivery of diverse remote learning approaches. This component will include retroactive financing to printing and distribution activities already undertaken. Televised lessons will be close-captioned to help hearing-impaired students. The televised content will be based on the national curriculum. In vulnerable areas (such as refugee communities, rural areas), local monitors will be engaged as focal points ensure that children are able to access the material and they will also be available to provide pedagogical support and respond to questions.

2. Component 2: Supporting healthy and safe re-opening of schools. This component is centered on ensuring schools open safely with a package of activities in place to promote student well-being, enrolment and retention and to address the heightened risk of drop-out of vulnerable groups including girls and children with disabilities. The project will finance (a) the rehabilitation of latrines and improvement of WASH infrastructure to improve school hygiene[1]; (b) psycho-social support programs to address well-being of children, parents and teachers; (c) communication campaigns for parents and students to prevent disease transmission, and targeted back-to-school campaigns to motivate vulnerable students at high risk of dropout; (d) protection of vulnerable groups of children and young people through school meals programs and/or take-home rations for girls to encourage their re-enrollment for students in rural areas, (e) literacy support to refugee students and families; (e) roll-out of refresher lessons to cover missed content; and (f) provision of school kits for vulnerable students (students outside of Djiboutiville/rural areas and refugee students) in primary grades. MENFOP will also undertake a learning diagnostic of all children at the start of school reopening to determine the extent of learning loss and need for refresher courses.

3. Component 3: Strengthening resilience of the education sector to respond to emergencies. This component is designed to build the long-term capacity and resilience of the sector in use of digital learning with a longterm view to strengthen the self-learning abilities of students in case of further COVID-19 related schools closures or other emergencies. Activities to be financed include (a) capacity building in emergency planning and management at the level of MENFOP, regional offices, and schools, (b) purchase of educational hardware and software for use in schools located in disadvantaged zones[2]; (c) equipment and minor rehabilitation of pedagogical resource centers (CRP) in the regions to strengthen their capacity to respond to learning needs and local emergencies, (d) strengthening the capacity of educational television channel through the provision of equipment and training, and (d) school internet connections.

According to the World Bank, the project overall E&S risks are 'Moderate'.

Project funds provided by the Education for All Supervising Entity.

World Bank:
Contact : Samira Halabi
Title : Senior Education Specialist
Telephone No : 5220+33044
Email : shalabi@worldbank.org 

Borrower:
Republic of Djibouti

Implementing Agency:
MENFOP
Contact : MOHAMED ABDALLAH MAHYOUB
Title : Secrétaire Général au Ministère de l'Education nationale et
Telephone No : 25377817006
Email : mohamedabdallahmahyoub@gmail.com

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint