C. Higher Level Objectives to which the Project Contributes

C. Higher Level Objectives to which the Project Contributes

25. 
    The Project is aligned with the government’s ESSP, which forms an integral part of the broader government Vision 2020. As mentioned above, the five main program areas are: (i) access and equity; (ii) quality and relevance; (iii) research and development; (iv) science, technology and innovation; and (v) sector management. The project primarily supports results areas in program areas (i), (ii) and (v) through strategic interventions to increase access, improve relevance, and cross cutting system improvements in curriculum and teacher management/training. A detailed mapping of the components and sub-components onto the ESSP key program areas and key results areas is provided in Annex 4.
    

26. 
    The proposed project contributes to the goals stated in the Global Partnership for Education’s (GPE’s) Strategic Plan (2016-2020) of: (i) improved and more equitable learning outcomes; (ii) increased equity, gender equality and inclusion; and (iii) effective and efficient educational system. The project aims to improve learning outcomes through systematic improvements to teacher training, and curriculum delivery and increase equity and access through a set of both supply and demand side interventions in targeted areas with vulnerable populations and low enrollment. Finally, the project supports improved monitoring and evaluation and data utilization capacity building to support system wide improvements to service delivery.
    

27. 
    The project is aligned with the World Bank Group’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. Education is a driver of development and a tool for reducing poverty as it contributes to economic growth and development by providing children the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills required to lead successful, healthy, and productive lives. In the same vein, the project is closely aligned with the World Bank Education Sector Strategy 2020 Learning for all (April 2012). The Education Sector Support Program Project is aimed at providing inclusive education for all through interventions which address regional variations in access and quality, and the needs of vulnerable populations through targeting mechanisms and adaptive interventions. Furthermore, systematic improvements to resource management, and teacher training to improve teaching and learning for all students, combined with investments in early education are principled on the need to invest early, invest smartly, invest for all.
    

28. 
    The last World Bank Group country assistance strategy for The Gambia was the Second Joint Partnership Strategy (JPS) (FY2013 to FY2016), which was a joint document (Report #72140) of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The Bank had been planning to extend the validity of that strategy, but following the change of government in early 2017, decided instead to prepare a Country Engagement Note (CEN) (2018-2020), expected to be delivered later in FY18, explaining how the WBG will engage with the new government, while a Systematic Country Diagnostic is under development. The CEN will include a review of the achievements under the Second JPS and is expected to focus on three areas of engagement: macroeconomic stabilization; restarting growth; and protecting the poorest from the impact of macroeconomic instability. This operation will strongly contribute to this third area.
    

Table 1. Key PDO Results