Mongolia : Improving School Dormitory Environment for Primary Students in Western Region Project

Project Name

Improving School Dormitory Environment for Primary Students in Western Region Project

Project Number

49168-001

Country / Economy

• Mongolia

Project Status

Closed

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Grant

Source of Funding / Amount

Grant 9182-MON: Improving School Dormitory Environment for Primary Students in Western Region

Source	Amount
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific	US$ 3.00 million

Strategic Agendas

• Environmentally sustainable growth
• Inclusive economic growth

Drivers of Change

• Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
• Governance and capacity development
• Knowledge solutions
• Partnerships

Sector / Subsector

• Education /

Gender

Effective gender mainstreaming

Description

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Impact

School dormitory system reformed

Equal access to quality education increased

Universal primary education achieved

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Models to improve physical dormitory environment and services in three aimags of the western region established and implemented

Progress Toward Outcome

The project has been successfully completed achieving all its intended outputs and outcome by 30 September 2019, and was financially closed as of 4 March 2020. The project final workshop was conducted on 30 September 2019 with representatives of the project executing agency and beneficiaries.

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

Physical school dormitory environment improved

Capacity to deliver school dormitory services improved

Policy and regulatory frameworks to improve the school dormitory environment developed

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

The project has been successfully completed achieving all its intended outputs and outcome, and was financially closed as of 4 March 2020.

Due to the shortage of funds, 12 school dormitory buildings were renovated in accordance with the relevant standards and requirements. The dormitories were renovated to adequately cope with winter temperatures, wind, and precipitation. The dormitories were equipped with WASH facilities that meet the MECSS minimum requirements. Specifically, the dormitories have proper number of faucets, toilets and showers according to their capacity of numbers (1 faucet per 30, 1 toilet per 30 girls and 40 boys and 1 shower per 20 children). The furniture, equipment, books, education tools, sports tools, STEM tools, educational science materials, musical instruments and other teaching and learning items were supplied to the child development rooms of the target school dormitories under the project.

The capacity building activities were conducted for the school dormitory teachers and guards, the school principals, primary grade teachers, accountants and cooks, staff of the local education departments, and aimag authorities on various issues related to health, safety, services and environment of the school dormitories. The experience sharing workshops for all dormitory teachers of all schools in country, were conducted in the project aimags in August 2019 with participation of 719 dormitory and primary grade teachers, social workers, staff of education department.

The project also supported improving the regulatory framework for the school dormitory. The Comprehensive Standard for School Dormitory Environment and Services, which was developed under the project, was approved on 30 September 2019 by the Standardization and Metrology Agency. The options of funding formula for school dormitory meals were developed under the project, and by the government decision the per student dormitory meal cost was increased from MNT2,315 to MNT3,472.

Geographical Location

Nation-wide, Dzavhan Aymag, Govi-Altay Aymag, Uvs Aymag

Safeguard Categories

Environment

C

Involuntary Resettlement

C

Indigenous Peoples

B

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

The project is classified as category C for environment safeguard and is likely to have minimal adverse environmental impacts. The General Environmental Management Plan (GEMP) defines all potential minor adverse impacts of the repair and extension works, monitoring requirements and institutional responsibilities during the civil works. According to the requirement of ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS, 2009), the Project was categorized as 'C for environment since it was unlikely to have adverse environmental impacts. The major negative environmental impacts were associated with increased level of noise and dust due to the usage of vehicles and building mechanization. Construction debris generated during rehabilitation works were disposed according to environment management plan.

Involuntary Resettlement

The project is categorized as C for involuntary resettlement category as it will not require any land acquisition or resettlement. Involuntary settlement have not occurred during project implementation. Construction activities were accommodated within existing premises avoiding land acquisition and/or resettlement. There were no temporary or permanent loss of land or other assets.

Indigenous Peoples

The project is categorized as B for indigenous peoples. In accordance with the study done by the Social Development Specialist, there are no any ethnic minority groups and issues in Gobi- Altai and Zavkhan aimags. There are several ethnic minority groups living in Uvs aimag. Khoton ethnic group live in Tarialan soum of Uvs aimag, where 97% of total children living in the dormitory is Khoton children. Only 10-20% of total children living in the dormitories are children of Durvud and Bayad ethnic groups in Sagil soum of Uvs aimag. Only 6 kazakh children live in the dormitory of Khovd soum of Uvs aimag. Except Kazakh ethnic group, there is no big difference in terms of language, religion, and cultural aspects between the ethnic groups. Indigenous peoples weren't affected by the project.

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

Major stakeholders, including central government agencies, aimag governments, school management, dormitory staff, primary teachers, students, parents, herder families, ethnic minority groups, etc. have been consulted and results of the consultations have been incorporated into the project design.

During Project Implementation

The PIU prepares a briefing on the project implementation periodically for the MECSS and MOF. Public consultation during construction relied on informal interviews with the school staff and nearby residents during site inspections by the PIU, the architectural engineers, and the environment specialist. In line with SSEMP, construction companies placed grievance boxes at the construction site in view of public. Grievance redress mechanisms were followed by construction companies.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Lonjid, Itgel

Responsible ADB Department

East Asia Department

Responsible ADB Division

Mongolia Resident Mission (MNRM)

Executing Agencies

Ministry of Education and Science

Timetable

Concept Clearance

02 Jul 2015

Fact Finding

28 May 2015 to 15 Jun 2015

MRM

21 Jul 2015

Approval

26 Nov 2015

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

02 Apr 2020

Funding

Grant 9182-MON