TERMS OF REFERNCE FOR THE MID TERM REVIEW FOR THE EDUCATION QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Background
Mission Objectives
The Ministry of Education (MOE), Government of Afghanistan, the World Bank, a team from the
Government of Norway and a consultant representing the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA) will jointly undertake a Mid Term Review (MTR) mission of the Education Quality Improvement
Program (EQUIP) to assess the progress made in improving the quality and access to education in
Afghanistan. The MTR will review all project components and assess: (a) the capacity of schools and
communities in better managing teaching–learning activities (b) the status of human resource
development (teachers, principals and education administration personnel) capacity and physical
facilities; and (c) institutional development of schools, District Education Departments (DEDs),
Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) and the MOE at the center and, (d) the extent to which the
project has promoted the priority for female students within each component of the Program. The MTR
mission will review project achievement against project targets and indicators, and agree with MOE on
needed adjustments, including restructuring, if any. The MTR will suggest changes in implementation
arrangements/capacity building as necessary. All of this will be reflected in the mission’s aide memoir.
The work of the MTR mission will be based on a comprehensive MTR Report to be provided by MOE no
later than fifteen days prior to the MTR mission, as well as selected field visits.
Team
The team will consist of Scherezad J. Monami Latif (Task Team Leader/ Education Specialist),
Habibullah Wajdi (co-Task Team Leader/ Education Specialist), Irajen Appasamy (Senior Operations
Officer), Pema Lhazom (Operations Officer), Hena Mukherjee (consultant), S.R. Tiwari (consultant),
Rajiv Agarwal (consultant), Md. Moklesur Rahman (consultant), Deepal Fernando (Senior Procurement
Specialist), Rahimullah Wardak (Procurement Specialist), David C. Freese (Senior Finance Officer),
Kenneth Okpara (Senior Financial Management Specialist) and Asha Narayan (Financial Management
Analyst). The participants representing the Royal Norwegian Government will be the following: Ms.
Marit Granheim, Ms. Janne Lexow and Mr. Anders Wirak. Barbara McIIveen will be a participant
representing Canadian CIDA. Hasib Karimzada and Julie-Anne Graitge will support the team from Kabul
and Washington respectively. Each of these team members will be responsible for the following Project
components.
Responsibilities
Scherezad Latif and Habibullah Wajdi will be responsible for the overall coordination of all mission
activities and ensuring effective communication with MOE, donors, relevant NGOs and other concerned
agencies on assessment of all project components; and, the finalization of the Aide Memoire. They will
lead discussions with Government and other stakeholders. Ms. Latif will in particular lead the discussion
with possible ARTF donor partners on this program.
Irajen Appassamy, Md. Moklesur Rahman and Anders Wirak will review progress under Component
I: 1.1 School Grant for Quality Enhancement focusing on how grants have supported the improvement
of teaching learning activities and improving the general school environment; particularly, how effective
the role/ capacity of the School Management Committee (SMC) has been in school based decision
making and resource management vis-à-vis the MOE, PEDs, and DEDs in implementation and
monitoring of the quality grants. Appropriate recommendations for this Component and a list of key
actions for the remaining implementation period will be suggested.
S. R. Tiwari, Rajiv Agarwal and Janne Lexow will review progress 1.2 School Grants for
Infrastructure Development -- focusing on the improvement of school facilities using local/low cost
technology at existing government registered primary schools, middle and secondary schools with
teachers on payroll and assessing the efficacy of the policy to prioritize as follows: (a) girls schools; (b)
schools with boys’ and girls’ section/shifts; and (c) boys schools which plan /open up section for girls and
the assess the role of the community vis-à-vis that MoE, DEDs, PEDs/NGOs in the implementation and
monitoring of infrastructure development. Appropriate recommendations for this Component and a list of
key actions for the remaining implementation period will be suggested.
Hena Mukherjee and Marit Granheim will review progress under Component 2: Support to schools
through Human Resource Development: 2.1 Teacher Training 2.2 focusing on current MOE and
relevant donor activities (especially the USAID BESST project) in the sub sector including pre service
training, curriculum, expansion of teacher training colleges (TTCs), teacher standards and certification.
The review will have a special focus on accomplishments of the INSET I if any and recommend future
ways forward in in-service teacher training and Teacher Training activities of the government overall.
Barbra McIIveen will review progress under component 2.3 Training of Principals and 2.3 Capacity
Building of Districts and Provincial Departments. She will review activities under this component
undertaken by the USAID BESST project and recommend ways in which the EQUIP can collaborate
and/or supplement those initiatives already undertaken. She will also recommend ways in which the
project can contribute specifically to increasing the institutional capacity of PEDs and DEDs in planning,
management and administration, financial management, accounting, educational development and support
for teacher training and in monitoring and supervision. Based on the review and progress of the above
component, the team will suggest strategies and recommendations and key action plans for the remaining
period of the Project. Ms. Tibbetts will also assess progress made so far in the operatinoalization of the
MOE’s Five Year Strategic Plan especially in relation to activities under the project.
Irajen Appassamy will review the progress under Component 3:3.1 Policy Development and 3.2
Monitoring and Evaluation focusing on (a) the capacity of MOE to lead the development of the EMIS
with a focus on the EMIS as a tool for informed policy decisions (b) establishment of monitoring and
evaluation mechanism at all levels of the project and the use of a third party annual evaluation report of
program objectives to be submitted to the GMU and the Ministry of Finance (MOF). Based on the review
and progress of the above component, the team will suggest strategies and recommendations and key
action plans for the remaining period of the Project.
Project Management
Pema Lhazom and Md. Moklesur Rahman will review the current staffing and management capacity at
various levels of project management with a focus on coordination between the line departments, and the
Grants Management Unit (GMU) in the execution of project activities. Ms. Lhazom and Mr. Appasamy
will as part of their review, redefine the roles responsibilities and accountability functions of major actors
in project management where relevant in order to facilitate better coordination and for effective
implementation of the project. They will also develop a map of technical assistance provided through the
project so far and identify gaps and recommend future action in regards TA for the project.
Procurement
Deepal Fernando and Rahimullah Wardak will be responsible for all procurement-related aspects of the
project. They will assess procurement performance so far, assess procurement capacity at the GMU
identify the major issues, and make appropriate recommendations in the mission’s aide memoire.
Financial Management & Disbursements
Kenneth Okpara and Asha Narayan will (a) assess financial management performance, including the
annual audits (b) draw up an action plan together with project authorities for addressing audit issues
expeditiously if relevant (c) review the Project Management Report, primarily checking whether the semiannual expenditure plan match the agreed implementation schedule; and (d) identify major financial
management and disbursement issues and make appropriate recommendations to the mission’s aide
memoire.
David Freese will assess disbursement performance, identify major issues and make appropriate
recommendations to the mission’s aide memoire. He will also assist the TTL lead the discussions with
ARTF donors on modalities and legal requirements having to do with future funding through the project.