Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698078676182.pdf (Sierra Leone)
The World Bank INTEFNATIONAL &ANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION ANO DE!ELOPMENl INTERNATIONA!

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H Street N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20433 USA.

(2021477-123i Cable Address: Cable Address: INTBAFRAD INDEVAS Honorable Kaifala Marah Minister ofFinarce & Economic Development Ministry of Finance & Economic Deveiopment Ministerial Building George Skeet Freetown, Sierra Leone 2014 Re: Revitalizing EducatioD Deyelopment in Sierra Leone Multi-Donor Trust Furd (REDiSL MDTF) Grant No.
TF0U720 Revit lizing Educrtion DevelopmeBt Projecl Excellency ln response to the request for financial assistance made on behalf of the Republic of Siena Leone ("Recipient"), I am pleased to inform you that the Inlernational Bank for ReconsEuction and Development and the lnternaiional D€velopmenr Association (ointly, "World Bank"), acting as adminisrrator of granl funds provided by the Govemment of the United Kingdom of Creat Britain and Northem lreland, represented by the Department for Intemational Development ("Donof) under the Reitalizing Education Development in Sierra-Leone Multi-Donor Trust Fwtd (F0721 52), proposes to extend to the Recipient, a grant in an amount not to exceed two million four hundred sixty-four thousand eight hundred United States Dollars (US$2,464,800) ("Grant") on the terms and conditions set forth or refered to in this letter agreement C'Agreement"), \yhich includcs the attached Annex, 1o assist in the financing of the project described in the Annex ("Project").
This Gmnt is funded out of the abovementioncd trust fund lbr which thc World Bank receives pedodic contributions from the Donor.

ln accordance with Section 3.02 of the Standard Conditions (as defined in the Annex to this Agreemenr), rhe world Bank's payment obligations in corurection with this Agreement are limiEd to the amount of funds made available to it by d)e Donor under the abovementioned trust funq and the Recipient's right to withdraw the Crant prcceeds is subject to the availability ofsuch funds.
The Recipient represents, by confirming its agr€ement below, that it is authorized to enter into dlis Agrcement and to carry out the Prqect in accordance with the tems and conditions sel forth or refcrred 1o in this Agreement.

Please confirm the Recipient's €reement to the foregoing by having an aulhorized official ofthe Recipient sign and dale the enclosed copy ofthis Agrcemen(, and rcturning it to the World Bank.
Upon receipt by the world Bank of this counteBigned copy, this Agreement shall become effective as of the date specified by the World Bank in accordance with Seclion 5.02 of the Annex to this Ageement; provided, however, that the offer of this Ageement shall be deemed withdrawn if the World Bank has not rec€ived the countersigned copy ofthis Agreement et m , D Er- =rfl -{ -rt rr-l o { EP7 3 ^/.
€ within ninety (90) days after the dare of signature of this Agreement by the Wortd Bank, unless the World Bank shall have established a Iater date for such purpose.

Very truly yours, INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT & INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCTATION B Di lan Walliser Strates/ and Operalions Africa Region AGREED: REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE B Nu Title Authorized Representati ve ,4--a " -A b,,.,,q.1:)*.,.-{ .- 6.3tL tlznu ou",-05 JQ Enclosures: (t) \.)
(3) (4) (s) Slandard Conditions for Grants Made by the World Bank Out of various Funds, dated February 15,2012 Disbursement Lefier of the same date as this Agre€ment, Disbursement Cuidelines for Projecs, dated May I, 2006 Cuidclines on Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruplion in Projecls Financed by IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants, dated October I 5, 2006 and revised in January 201 I Guidelines: hocurement ofGoods, Works and Non-consulting Services under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 201I Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 201I together with World B.ank -3 REDiSL MDTF Grant No.
TF0U720 ANNEX Article I Standard Couditiors; DcfinitioDs 1.01.

Standatd Conditions.

The Standard Conditions for Crants Made by the World Bankbut of Various Funds dated February 15, 2012 C'Standard Conditions") constitute an integral part of this Agreement.

1.02- Delinitions.
1.02- Delinitions.

Linless the context requires otherwise, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in the Standard Conditions or in the Global PartneBhip tbr Education Fund Grant Agreement for the Projecr (TF016568) ("GPEF Grant Agreement") or in this Agreement.

Article II Project Execution 2.01.


Pruject Objeclives and Description- The objective of the Project is to improve the learning environment in targeted schools and establish systems for monitoring of educalion interventions and outcomes.

The Project consisls ofthe fouowing pans: Part 1.


Improving the Learring Environment and OpportuDities in Trrgeted Arers (a) (i) Provision of Performance-Based School Grants to Eligible Schools for the delivery of education services/outpuls: and (ii) Provision of technical advisory services and training fot, inter alia, the yalidation and monitoring of the delivery of said educadon services,/outputs.
(b) (c) Piloting activities designed to enhance school readiness of pre-primary students, in particular: (i) construction of approximately 30 classrooms; rehabililation of approximately 20 classrooms; and operationalization of said constructed and renovated pre-primary classrooms; (ii) developing implementing and disseminaling an ECCE training program for pre-primary teachers (pre-service and in-sen ice) and caregivers; and (iii) developing, implementing and monitoring ECCE minimum quality standards (including provision of associated training to local education oIficers, staff and school admi nistrators).
lmplemenring a program of actions designed to strengthen reading outcomes in early grades, in particular: (i) Provision of approximalely 1.9 million reading books, reading support packets and teacher leaming materials for primary grades 1-3 in govemment and community schools; (ii) rolling out of reading campaigns at the school, community and national levels; and (iii) design and implementation of a comprehensive training progiam (including, appropriate manuals and support packages), targeting, among others, p mary school teachers, trainers and administratoB.
-4 (d) Operationalizing and suengthening the capacity of the Teachers Service Commission for delivery of its statutory mandate, all through the provision of technical advisory services, training, operating costs and acquisition of goods for the purpose.

Part 2.
Part 2.

Strengthen Education Senice Delivery (a) Establishing systems and processes for effective measurement of leaming outcomes, in particular: (i) establishing staffing and operationalizing a semi-autonomous assessment unit within MEST; and (ii) design and implemenhtion ofa class 5 language (english and, mathematics) assessment exercise.
(b) Establishing robust school data collection and analysis syslems, in particular: (i) carrying ou1 of an annual school census; (ii) designing a streamlined./abridged census for administration in off-years; (iii) establishing a technical data collection and M&E teaql in the Directorate of Planning and Policy; (iii) development of an M&E needs assessment and plan; and (iv) supporting decentralizalion of data collection and clean up at the district level.
(c) Establishing and operationalizing a temporary change unit within MEST Part 3.

Project Management 8Dd Supervisioo (a) Strengthening the capaciry of MEST for day to day implementation, coordination and management of Projecl activities (including procurement, financial management, environmental and social safeguards, supervision and reporting aspecls) and resula, all though the provision of technical advisory services, training, operating costs and acquisition ofgoods for the purpose.
(b) Carrying out ofmonitoring and evaluation of Project activities.

2.02.

Pruject Execution Generally.

The Recipient declares its commitment 1o the objective of the Project.
To tlris end, the Recipient shall carry oul the Project through MEST in accordance with the provisions of: (a) Article ll of the Standard Conditions; (b) the "Cuidelines on Preventing and Combating Fraud and Coruption in Projects Financed by IBRD Loans and bA Credi$ and Grants", dated October 15,2006 and revised in January 20ll ("Anti-Coruption Guidelines'); and (c) this Anicle tl.

2.03.

Institutional and Other Anangements.
The provisions of Section I.A, l.B and I.E of Schedule 2 to the CPEF Grant Agreement (and related definitions) are hereby incorporated by reference in this Section and shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis ,tutandis, and the Recipient undertakes to comply with the provisions thereof to the same extent as if such provisions had been set out in full in this Agreement, subject, however, to the follo\a,ing qualifications: (.a) references to "World Bank" shall be construed as ieferences to the "[nternational Bank for Reconstruction and Development and lntemational Development Association, acting as administmtor of grant funds provided by Coverrunent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northem lreland, represented by the Depanment for lntemational Development under the Revitalizing Education Dettelopmenl in Siena-Leone Mulri-' Donor Trusr Fund (TF072152)"; nd -5- (b) references to "Grant" shall be construed as references to the Grant provided for under this Agreemenl.
2.04.

Donor VbibiliE and Vbit (a) (b) The Recipient shall take or cause to be taken all such measures as the World Bank may reasonably request to identify publicly the Donor(s) support for the Project.

For the purposes ofsection 2.09 ofthe Standard Conditions, the Recipienl shall, upon the World Bank's request, take all measures required on irs part to enable the representatives of the Donor(s) to visit any part of the Recipient's territory for purposes related to the Project.

2.05.
2.05.

Project Monitofing, Reporxing and Evalualion (a) (b) The Recipient shall monitor and evaluate the progress ofthe Project and prepare Proj ect, Reports in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.06 ofthe Standard Conditions and on the basis of indicators acceptable to the World Bank.

Each Project Report shall cover the period of one calendar semester, and shall be fumished to the World Bank not later than one month after the end ofthe period covered by such report.
The Recipient shall prepare the Completion Report in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.06 ofthe Standard Conditions.

The Completion Repon shall be fumished to the World Bank not later than nine months after the Closing Date.

2.06.

Financial Managemenl (a) (b) (c) The Recipient shall ensure thal a financial management system is maintained in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.07 ofthe Standard Conditions.
The Recipient shall ensure that interim unaudited finaBcial reports for the Project are prepared and furnished to the World Bank not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter, covering the quarter, in forrn and subslance satisfactory to the World Bank.

The Recipient shal!

have its Financial Statements audited in accordance with the provisions of Section ?.07 (b\ of the Standard Conditions.
Each such audit of the Financial Statements shall cover the period of one Fiscal Year of the Recipient.

The audited Financial Statements for each such period shall be furnished to the world Bank not Iater than six months sfter the end ofsuch period.

2.07.
Procuremen, (a) General, All goods, works, non-consulting services and consultants' services required for the Project and to be financed out of the proceeds of the Grant shall be procured in accordance with the requirements set forth or referred to in: (i) Section I of the "Guidelines: Procurement of Goods, Works and Non-consulting Services under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants by World Bank -6 (b) (c) (ii) (iii) Borrowers" dated January 20ll ("Procurement Guidelines"), in the case of goods, works and non-consulting services; Sections I and IV of the "Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Crcdits and Crants by World Bank Borrowers" dated January 20ll ("Consultant Guidelines") in the case of consultants' services; and the provisions of this Section, as the same shall be elaborated in the procurerlent plan prcpared and updaled from time to time by the Recipient for the Project in accordance with paragraph l.l8 of the Procurement Cuidelines and paragraph 1.25 ofthe Coosultant Guidelines ("Procurement Plan').
Definitions.

The capitalized terms used in the following paragraphs of this Section to describe particular procuremenl methods or methods of review by the World Bank of particular conuacts, refet to the corresponding method described in Sections II and III of the Procurernenr Cuidelines, or Sections II, IIl, Iv and V ofthe Consultant Guidelines, as the case may be.

Particular Methods of Procurement ofGoods.


Works and Non-consulting Services (i) (ii) Except as otherwise provided in sub-paragraph (ii) below, goods, works and non- consuliing services shall be procured under contracts awarded on the basis of lntemational Competitive Bidding.
The following methods, other than International Competitive Bidding, may be used for procurement of goods, works and non-consulting services for those contracts which are specified in the Procurement Plan: (A) National Competitive Bidding, sd7'ecr b the additional provisiot s ih sub-paragraph (iii) below; (B) Shopping; (C) procurement under Framework Agreements in accordance with procedures which have been found acceptable to the World Bank; (D) Direct Contracting; (E) Force Account; (F) Procurement from United Nations Office for Projecl Services (UNOPs); (G) Weu-established Private Sector Procurement to the Methods or Commercial Practices which have been found acceptabt€ World Bank; (H) Community Participation procedures which have been found acceptable to the World Bank; (l) Shopping; and (J) Direct Cont acting.
(iii) Additional National Competitive Biddine (NCB) Procedures.

The procedures to be followed for NCB shall be the open competitive bidding procedures set forth in the Recipient's Public Procurement Act ("the Act'), provided, however, that said procedures shall be subject to the provisions of Section l, paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4, respectively, of the Procurement Cuidelines, and subject to the following additional procedures (i.e.
exceptions to the Act): (A) Bidding documents acceptable to the Wortd Bank shall be used; (B) Eiigibility to participate in a procuement process and to be awarded a World Bank-financed contract shall be as defined under Section I of the Procurement Guidelines.

Accordingly, no bidder or polential biddeJ ihall -7- be declared ineligible for contracts financed by the Worid Bank for reasons other than rhose provided in Section I of the Procurement cuidelines.
Foreign bidders shall be allowed to panicipate in NCB procedures, and foreign bidders shall not be obligated to partner with local bidders in order to participate in a procurernent process: Bidding shall not be restricted to pre-registered firms, and foreign bidders shall not be required to be registered with local authorities as a prerequisite for submitting bids; No margins of preference of any son (e.g., on the basis of bidder nationality, origin of goods, services or labor, and/or preferential programs) shall be applied in the bid evaluation; Joint venture or consortium partners shall be jointly and severally lidble for their obligations.
BiddeB shall be given at least thirty (30) days from the date of publicatiod of the invitation to bid or the date of availability ofthe bidding documents, whichever is later, to prepare and submit bids.
Bids shall be submined in a single envelope; An extension of bid validity, if justified by exceptional circulnstances, may be requested in rvritilrg from all bidders before the original bid validity expiration date, provided that such extension shall cover only the minimum period required to complete the evaluation and award a contract, but not lo exceed lhirty (30) days.
No further extensions shall be requested without the prior written concurrence ofthe world Bank; All bids (or the sole bid if only one bid is received) shall not be rejected, the procurement process shall not be cancelled, and new bids shall not be solicited without the World Bank's prior written concurrence; Qualification criteria shall be applied on a pass or fail basis; Bidd€rs shall be given at least twenly-eighr (28) days from the receipt of notificalion ofaward to submit performance securities; In accordance with the hocurement Guidelines, each bidding document and contract shali include provisions stating the World Bank's policy to in fraud and sanction firms or individuals found to have eng€ed corruption as set fonh in the Procurement Guidelinesi and ln accordance with the Procurement Guidelines, each bidding docurnent and conuact shall include provisions stating the World Bank's policy with respecl ro inspection and audit of accounts, records and other documenls relating to the submission ofbids and contract performance (c) (D) (E) (F) (c) (H) (D (r) (K) -8- (d) ParticularMethodsofProcuremenlofConsultants'Services (l) (ii) Except as otherwise provided in sub-paragraph (ii) below, consultants'.
services shall be procured under contmcts awaJded on the basis of Quality- and Cb$- based Selection.
The following methods, other than Quality- and Cost-based Selection, may be used for the procwemenl of consultants' services for those assignments which are specified in the Procurement Plan: (A) Quality-based Selection; (B) Selection under a Fixed Budget; (C) Least Cost Selection; (D) Selection based on Consultants' Qualifications; (E) Single-source Selection of consulting firms; (F) Well-established Private Sector Procurement Methods or Commercial Pmctices vrtich have been found acceptable to the World Bank; (G) Selection of consultants under lndefinite Delivery Contract or Pric€ Agreement; (H) Selection of lndividual Consultanr; and (l) Single-source procedures for the Selection of lndividuai Consultants.
(e) Review bv the World Bank of hocurement Decisions.

The Procurement Plan shall set fonh lhose contrads which shall be subject to the World Bank's Prior Review.

All other contacts shall be subject to Post Review by the World Bank.

Article III \Yithdrawal of Graot Prmeeds 3-01- Eligible Exgendilures.
The Recipient may withdraw the proceeds of the Grant in accordance with the provisions oi (a) the Standard Conditions; (b) this Sectioni and (c) such additional instructions as the World Bank may speci$ by notice to the Recipient (including the "World Bank Disbursement Guidelines for Projects" dated May 2006, as revised fiom time to time L'y the World Bank and as made applicable to this .Agreement pursuant to such insfuctions), to finance Eligible Expenditures as set forth in the following table- The table specifies the categories of Eligible Expenditures that may be financed out of the proceeds of the Grant ("Category"), the allocations ofthe amounts ofthe 6rant to each Category, and the percentage of expenditures to be financed for Eligible Expenditures in each Category: C8tegory (3) Goods, works, non-consulting services, consultants' services, Training and Operating Costs under Part 2 ofthe Project Amount of Gra[t Allocated (expr€ssed in USD) Percentage of Expenditures to be Financed (inclusive of Taxes) I I 2,464,800 t 00% TOTAL A\{OUNT 2,464,800 I 3.02. llithdrawal Conditions.
Notwith$anding the provisions of Section 3.01 of this Agreement, no withdrawal shall be made for payments made prior 10 the date of countersignirtue of this Agreement by the ReciPient, except lhat withdrawals up to {rn aSSregate amount not to -9- exceed $500,000 equivalent may be made for payments made prior to this date but on or after December 13,2013. for Eligible Expenditures under Category (3).

3.03.
3.03.

Withdrowal Pefiod- The Closiog Date refered to in Section 3.06 (c) of the Standard Condilions is February 28,2017 .

Article IV Additional Remedies 4.01.
Additional Events of Suspensioz The Additional Events of Suspension referred to in Section 4.02 (k) of the Standard Conditions consist ofrhe following, namely that: (a) (b) As a result ofevents which have occurred after the date ofthis Agreement, a situetion has arisen which shall make it improbable thai the Program, or a significant part of it will be carried out; and the World Bank has determined after the Effective Date refered to in Section 5.02 of this Agreemenr that prior to such date but after the date of this Agreement, an event has occurred which would have entitled the World Bank to susp€nd the Recipient's right to make withdrawals from the Grant Account if this Agreement had been effective on the date such event occurred.
4.02.

The Additional Events of Acceleration consist of the following, namely, that the event specified in paragraph 4.01 (b) occurs and is continuing for a period of sixty (60) days after notice ofthe event has been dispatched by the World Bank to rhe Recipient.

Article v Effeetiveness; Termiration 5.01.
This Agreement shall not become effective until evidence satisfactory to the 'rly'orld Bank has been furnished to the World Bank that the conditions specified below have been satisfied, namely, that lhe GPEF Grant Agrcement daled the same date as this Agreement, b€tween the Recipient and the world Bank acting as administrator of Global Partnership for Education Fund (TF016568), providing a grant in support ofthe Project, has been executed and delivered and all conditions precedenl to its effectiveness or to the right of the Recipient to make withdrawals under it (other than rhe effectiveness ofthis Agreement) have been fulfilled.
5.02.

Except as the Recipient and the World Bank shall otherwise agree, this Agreeme shall enter into effect on the date upon which the World Bank dispatches to the Recipient notice of its acceptance ofthe evidence required puEuant to Section 5.01 ("Effective Date").
Ii before the Effective Date, any event has occured which would have entitled the World Bank to suspend the right of the Recipient to make withdrawals from the Grant Account if this Agreement had been effective, the World Bank may postpone the dispatch of the nolice referred to in ftis Section until such event (or events) has (or have) ceased to exist.

5.03.

Termination for Failwe to Become Elfecttue.


'fhis Agreement and all obligations of the if it has not entered into effect by the date ninety (90) days after parties under it shall t€nninate the date of this Agreement, unless the World Bank, after consideralion of the ressons for the -10- delay, sstablishes a later date for the purf,ose of this Section.

The World Bank shatl promptly notiry the Recipient of such later date.

Article VI RecipieDt's Representatiye; Addresses 6.01.
Recipient's Represenlative.

The Recipient's Representative referred to in Section 7.02 of the Standard Conditions is its minister responsible for finance.

6.02.

Recipienl's Addtess.

The Recipient's Address referred to in Section 7.01 of the Standard Conditions is: Ministry ofFinance and Economic Development Treasury Building Ceorge Street Freetown, Sierra Leone Facsimile: 23222229060 6.03.

Wo d Ban*'s Addrcss.


The World Bank's Address referred to in Section 7.01 of the Standard Conditions is: Intemational Develgprylent.Association I 8l 8 H Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C.20433 Uniled States of America Cabler Telex: Facsimile: INDEVAS Washington, D.C. 248423 (MCt) or 64145 (MCI) t-202477 -6391 i. UJ lllH Ul,t101 L 1_:____-__-.-a.r'r- LN3ttlVllUYd