Insecurity: World Bank moves to secure $1.2b AGILE project in Nigeria 

The World Bank has mandated the hiring of a security consultant to address pervasive insecurity issues affecting its $1.2 billion loan Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in Nigeria, a report from the bank has disclosed.

The AGILE project aims to improve secondary education opportunities among girls in targeted areas but faces significant challenges due to security concerns.
Initially approved in July 2020 with a loan amount of $500 million, the project received an additional financing approval of $700 million in September 2023, bringing the total project funding to $1.2 billion, according to the implementation status and results report for the project from the World Bank.

However, according to the report, only 49 per cent of the initial financing has been disbursed and nothing has been disbursed from the additional financing as the project faces delays in implementation.

The AGILE project has key components, such as creating safe and accessible learning spaces ($757.30 million), fostering an enabling environment for girls ($373.50 million), project management and system strengthening ($59.20 million) and unallocated funds ($10 million).

Despite a delayed start, the AGILE project has shown notable achievements across various fronts.

Among other challenges, insecurity remains a critical issue, hindering the implementation and supervision of project activities in some states.

The insecurity has made it difficult to implement and monitor project activities effectively, putting the project’s objectives at risk.
The report from the World Bank read: “The slow implementation of critical project activities remains an obstacle for some states. The inefficient performance of lagging states could undermine project progress.

“These states have shown low capacity in implementing critical activities such as fiduciary, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and project management. Security challenges remain pervasive across some states, making it difficult to implement and supervise the implementation of project activities in affected areas.

Bureaucratic processes and changes in SPIU staff continue to cause delays in the implementation of project activities in some of the project states.”

The World Bank report highlighted the need for enhanced security measures and immediate actions to ensure the safety and continuation of the project.

To address these challenges, the World Bank has instructed all State Project Implementation Units (SPIUs) to recruit a security consultant and appoint a government security focal person in each state. This measure aims to enhance security protocols and provide a safer environment for implementing project activities.

The report added: “The World Bank team will continue to liaise with State Governors and Education Commissioners to minimise turnover at the SPIU level and ensure that qualified staff are recruited to support project activities. States will need to introduce more enhanced security measures for schools. All SPIUs are now required to recruit a security consultant and appoint a security government focal person in the states.

“The National Project Coordinating Unit (NPCU) will also need to increase targeted support to participating states through technical assistance, training and refresher courses and standardised reporting frameworks. The World Bank is also considering Hands-On Expanded Implementation Support (HEIS) for states in view of low capacity and high volume of future procurements.”

As schools in the country struggle with persistent attacks by extremists, bandits and kidnappers, the Federal Government launched the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools 2023-2026, with a total investment size of N144.8 billion in December 2022.

Through the former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, the government asked for financial support from state governments, agencies, the private sector and development partners in implementing the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools 2023-2026.

By 2023, the government announced that a total of N15 billion has been earmarked to fund the implementation of Financing Safe Schools for 2023.

The initiative was planned to begin in 18 states, covering at least 48 schools in each state this year, with support from the World Bank, UNICEF and Civil Society Organisations.

As of March 19, 2024, only  2,814 primary and secondary schools in the country had registered for the Safe Schools Initiative.