Reforms to improve the GoG’s framework for school operations and maintenance (O&M) were built into the compact design and included both conditions precedent tied to disbursements and an incentive fund dedicated to school O&M. The compact included several prerequisites to school rehabilitation funding that required the GoG to develop and implement a school operations and maintenance plan. After MCC clarified its expectations of what “substantial compliance” with the plan looked like, the GoG met all operations and maintenance-related requirements on time. Although a combination of conditional disbursements and financial incentives focused energy and helped ensure near-term results during the compact term, it is not yet evident if institutional reforms related to school O&M will remain in place.
The compact also planned policy reforms to better link TVET providers and industry, primarily through providing the GoG with technical assistance via the Industry-Led Skills and Workforce Development Project. During compact development, MCC worked with the Ministry of Education and Science to identify how to best provide technical assistance that would help cultivate policies that improved engagement with industry and provided economic returns. As part of the Strengthening Sector Policy and Provider Practice Activity, the GoG, MCC, and MCA-Georgia ensured that the technical assistance provided through MCC built on that provided by other donors. Close collaboration with other donors, including the European Union in particular, ensured smooth coordination on assistance with TVET policy reform.
| Compact Component(s) | Major CP or Policy Reform | Rating: Met on Time/Deferred/Not Met | Narrative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations and Maintenance Sub-Activity | Prior to the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the initial group of schools to be rehabilitated under the Improved Learning Environment Infrastructure Activity: ESIDA must have hired or designated at least one permanent, dedicated and technically qualified staff member, satisfactory to MCC, to develop and implement the forthcoming School Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Plan | Met on time | In August 2016 ESIDA hired a staff member dedicated to development and implementation of the school O&M plan. |
| Operations and Maintenance Sub-Activity | Prior to the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the initial group of schools to be rehabilitated under the Improved Learning Environment Infrastructure Activity: MCA-Georgia must have hired a consultant to coordinate development of the eventual School O&M Plan | Met on time | In August 2016 MCA-Georgia hired a consultant to coordinate the development of the O&M plan. |
| Operations and Maintenance Sub-Activity | Prior to the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the second group of schools to be rehabilitated under the Improved Learning Environment Infrastructure Activity, and the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the O&M incentive fund: MCA-Georgia must have developed the School O&M Plan satisfactory to MCC, that is ready for adoption by the Government | Met on time | MCC approved the School O&M Plan in March 2017. |
| Operations and Maintenance Sub-Activity | Prior to the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the second group of schools to be rehabilitated under the Improved Learning Environment Infrastructure Activity, and the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the O&M incentive fund: ESIDA must have maintained a staff member dedicated to development and implementation of the School O&M Plan, and will have identified the staff team responsible for implementation of the School O&M Plan | Met on time | In August 2016 and January 2017 ESIDA hired two staff members dedicated to development and implementation of the school O&M plan. |
| Operations and Maintenance Sub-Activity | Prior to the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the second group of schools to be rehabilitated under the Improved Learning Environment Infrastructure Activity, and the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the O&M incentive fund: the Government must be in substantial compliance with an Implementation Letter to be issued by MCC regarding the framework for the O&M incentive fund (the “O&M Implementation Letter”) | Met on time | MCC issued an implementation letter in October 2016. The Government satisfied the requirements of the letter in March 2017. |
| Operations and Maintenance Sub-Activity | Prior to the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the third and any subsequent tranches of schools to be rehabilitated under the Improved Learning Environment Infrastructure Activity, and for any subsequent Disbursements of Program Funding for the O&M incentive fund: the Government must be in substantial compliance with the School O&M Plan | Met on time, after implementation letters were issued to clarify the meaning of “substantial compliance” | The Government satisfied the requirements of the letter in March 2018. |
| Operations and Maintenance Sub-Activity | Prior to the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the third and any subsequent groups of schools to be rehabilitated under the Improved Learning Environment Infrastructure Activity, and for any subsequent Disbursements of Program Funding for the O&M incentive fund: ESIDA must have maintained adequate staffing levels to implement the School O&M Plan | Met on time | The Government satisfied this requirement in March 2018. |
| Operations and Maintenance Sub-Activity | Prior to the initial Disbursement of Program Funding for the third and any subsequent groups of schools to be rehabilitated under the Improved Learning Environment Infrastructure Activity, and for any subsequent Disbursements of Program Funding for the O&M incentive fund: the Government must be in substantial compliance with the O&M Implementation Letter | Met on time | The Government satisfied this requirement in March 2018. |