Regional : Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region

Sovereign Project | 52183-001

The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) supports (i) Pacific developing member countries (DMCs) to address perennial challenges of improving quality of education through enhanced regionalism and mutually beneficial partnerships with regional institutions focused on education priorities articulated in the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) 2021-2024 (Phase 1); (ii) the development and access to a regional repository platform for open, distance and flexible learning (ODFL); and (iii) small assessments, studies, and exchanges to expand knowledge development and program development in the region.

Project Details

Project Name Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region
Project Number 52183-001
Country / Economy Regional
Cook Islands
Fiji
Micronesia, Federated States of
Kiribati
Nauru
Niue
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Marshall Islands
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 9645-REG: Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 750,000.00
TA 9645-REG: Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region (Supplementary)
Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund US$ 500,000.00
High Level Technology Fund US$ 500,000.00
TA 9645-REG: Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region
Global Partnership for Education Fund US$ 389,875.00
TA 9645-REG: Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region
New Zealand US$ 2.35 million
Global Partnership for Education Fund US$ 15.00 million
TA 9645-REG: Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 1.50 million
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Education / Education sector development - Education sector development - social protection initiatives - Pre-primary and primary - Pre-primary and primary - social protection initiatives - Secondary - Secondary - social protection initiatives - Technical and vocational education and training - Tertiary

Gender Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) supports (i) Pacific developing member countries (DMCs) to address perennial challenges of improving quality of education through enhanced regionalism and mutually beneficial partnerships with regional institutions focused on education priorities articulated in the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) 2021-2024 (Phase 1); (ii) the development and access to a regional repository platform for open, distance and flexible learning (ODFL); and (iii) small assessments, studies, and exchanges to expand knowledge development and program development in the region.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

While Pacific DMCs have made significant progress toward universal access to primary education, student learning outcomes remain poor. Results of the 2015 Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA) show modest improvements, but greater effort is needed to strengthen learning as a foundational capacity that prepares young people for further education and work.

Moreover, quality of education remains a challenge despite an emphasis on quality improvement strategies in many DMCs. A number of constraints identified as impacting on quality include: economic, geographical and political constraints; coordination constraints; capacity and accountability constraints on teachers and education managers; data constraints; social constraints, including issues of gender inequality; and constraints relating to language of instruction. Several factors are thought to have contributed to progress including commitment by governments to development goals, partnerships at all levels, including those between DMCs and development partners, regional cooperation through high level forum and regional institutions, increasing demand for a qualified workforce; integrated national education planning and budgeting; school-based improvement initiatives; curriculum reform; and national polices for early childhood.

Pacific DMCs are all challenged by their remoteness, dispersion, and small economies vulnerable to climate change risks and shocks. Strengthened regional mechanisms that encourage Pacific regional institutions coordination and collaboration at the planning and implementation level are key to ensuring that limited financial resources are efficiently and effectively deployed. At the 2017 ADB Annual General Meeting, Pacific governors requested more Pacific-based solutions, underlining the importance of south-south learning and utilization of Pacific institutions and consultants.

Regionalism is critical, and the PACREF supports this well. The PacREF that was approved at the Forum Education Ministers Meeting in May 2018 provides the shared priorities for education and training in the region for the next 4 years, while also responding appropriately to global and regional demands. The four key policy areas identified are: (i) High quality, relevant programs are provided for all levels of education, (ii) Learners' needs are met through a broad range of programs and delivery modalities, (iii) Learners at all levels of education achieve their full potential, from early childhood education to skills development; and (iv) The teaching profession is supported and empowered through opportunities for continuous development, shared understanding and accountability. The PACREF was developed over two years by a small working group of the Pacific Heads of Education Systems, chaired by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and funded by ADB with Global Partnership for Education financing. It will be governed to ensure continued Pacific country ownership. Development partners will pool and coordinate funding under the framework supporting a group of identified regional institutions in a coordinated delivery of agreed priority regional goods and services under the framework.

Lastly, access to quality and relevant education content that is contextually appropriate to the Pacific region has been a large challenge. Inroads have been made in this area with a few development partners, including ADB, trialing e-learning resources, and the potential usefulness of a regional platform to better promote ODFL have become clear.

Impact

Inclusive and equitable quality education ensured and lifelong learning opportunities for all promoted (Sustainable Development Goal 4)

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Regional capacity to improve education outcomes in the Pacific enhanced

Progress Toward Outcome

The PacREF facilitation unit (PFU) has assumed the role of coordinating key regional and international education agencies. Four key policy areas for regional education improvements were identified and an implementation plan developed and agreed by all PDMCs. Development of e-learning resources for STEM subjects was identified as a regional priority.

Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

PACREF implementation supported

Regional repository and learning management platform for ODFL established

Small assessments, studies, and exchanges to expand knowledge development and program development supported.

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

Following the approval of the Education Sector Program Implementation Grant from the Global Partnership for Education, the PFU together with the four implementing agencies, the University of the South Pacific, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community through its Education Quality Assessment Programme, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, and UNICEF, have been steadily gaining momentum in the conducting activities towards the development of the regional goods under the four policy areas.

Following the inception meeting with the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts (MEHA) in Q3 of 2021, an ICT Systems Design Engineer was mobilized and an in- country consultation was fielded recently together with the Chief Technical Advisor to commence the systems design.

The concept development and approval of TA 9807-PNG: Improved Technical Vocation Education and Training for Employment, has been supported. Additional priority regional studies have been identified: (i) education financing in selected Pacific countries, (ii) enabling equitable access to education, and (iii) learning loss and recovery from the impact of COVID-19.

Geographical Location Regional
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services Consultants following the ADB Procurement Policy: Goods, Works, Non-consulting, and Consulting Services (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated staff instructions. A national consulting firm will be recruited under the quality- and cost-based selection method with a quality cost ratio of 80:20 and simplified technical proposal for the development of the e-learning resources and teacher capacity development.
Procurement Procurement of IT equipment for schools and other goods for software trialing of proprietary e-learning resource and multimedia application software will use request for quotation method. The procurement of IT equipment for schools will be undertaken by the ADB project team in close coordination with MEHA while the procurement of goods for software trialing of proprietary e-learning resource and multimedia application software will be undertaken by the national consulting firm. All procurement will be in accordance with the ADB Procurement Policy and the Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers (2017, as amended from time to time).
Responsible ADB Officer Borjegren, Per A.S.
Responsible ADB Department Sectors Group
Responsible ADB Division Human and Social Development Sector Office (SG-HSD)
Executing Agencies
Asian Development Bank
Timetable
Concept Clearance 09 Oct 2018
Fact Finding 20 Aug 2018 to 24 Aug 2018
MRM -
Approval 29 Nov 2018
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 15 Sep 2022

TA 9645-REG

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
29 Nov 2018 - 29 Nov 2018 31 Dec 2023 30 Jun 2025 -
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
2,250,000.00 18,741,666.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 20,991,666.00 09 Sep 2023 2,046,090.45

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

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Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Education Expert, Pacific Private Education Sector Market Assessment Individual - Consulting Closed
Role of Education in Regional Mobility and Brain Drain Individual - Consulting Closed
Equitable Access to Education in the Pacific Individual - Consulting Closed
Education Financing Individual - Consulting Closed
POST-PANDEMIC LEARNING RECOVERY Individual - Consulting Closed
Education Advisor Individual - Consulting Closed
Program Evaluation Specialist, PacREF Mid-Term Review Individual - Consulting Closed
Team Leader, PacREF Mid-Term Review Individual - Consulting Closed
Development of the e-Learning Resources and Teacher Capacity Firm - Consulting Closed
Sr. Education Advisor Individual - Consulting Closed
ICT Systems Design Engineer Individual - Consulting Closed
Program Facilitating Unit Office Administrator Individual - Consulting Closed
Program Facilitating Unit Office Manager/Administrator Individual - Consulting Closed
Communications Officer Individual - Consulting Closed
Senior Procurement & Finance Officer Individual - Consulting Closed
Program Facilitating Unit Office Manager/Administrator Individual - Consulting Closed
Coordinator for the Pacific Regional Education Framework Individual - Consulting Closed
Program Facilitating Unit Office Manager/Administrator Individual - Consulting Closed
Regional Coordination of PacREF Planning and Implementation – Special Responsibility: Rolling Plan Development and PacREF Oversight Support Individual - Consulting Closed
Regional Coordination of PacREF Planning and Implementation – Special Responsibility: Rolling Plan Development and South-South Cooperation Support Individual - Consulting Closed
Chief Technical Advisor / Team Leader for Open, Distance, and Flexible Learning Individual - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

None currently available.