The total project budget is US$ 59.8 million, financed by a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and two grants. The implementation period covers the period from October 2023 to December 2029 and its main objective is to strengthen the educational infrastructure and improve the quality of the teaching process.
In 2024, only the preparatory component of the project amounting to €669.9 thousand (36.6% of the planned amount of $8.38 million) was spent, reflecting a low implementation rate. The majority of the disbursements were for consulting services amounting to EUR 519.3 thousand (77.5%). Other significant expenditures included the purchase of goods and services (€109.8 thousand) and the purchase of property, plant and equipment (€37.3 thousand).
Although the overall financial picture is compliant, the audit identified a number of non-compliances that need to be addressed. These relate to the classification of protocol expenditures for activities, consultant contracts awarded that do not conform to the WB standard model, and the speed of disbursement of loan proceeds leading to renegotiation of the contractual terms of their disbursement by the lenders.
And most deplorable of all is executive reporting, which has diverged in figures depending on the “place of disbursement”. “This discrepancy calls into question the correlation and integrity of reporting and may affect the budget analysis process at the national level,” the audit report says. Simply put – it undermines creditor confidence.
The audit mission was conducted with the participation of World Bank experts. Responsible working groups for project implementation function within the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC) and the National Office of Regional and Local Development (ONDRL).
The project has four components: improving the quality of pedagogical practice – $18.25 million, modernizing the learning environment – $33.17 million, strengthening education and project management – $8.38 million, and emergency response component – no allocated budget.
