Assessing Sector Institutions: Lessons Of Experience From Zambia's Education Sector (world Bank Discussion Paper)

This study presents the methodological customization of Institutional Environment Assessments (IEAs) introduced in discussion paper no. 252 into Sector Institutional Assessments (SIAs) and discusses the first experience with its operationalization. It describes the SIA, how it is actually being conducted in the education sector in Zambia, and discusses what lessons are being learned. The Zambia pilot application of the SIA is divided into two distinct phases. Phase one consists of the assessment of the core sector agency: the Ministry of Education, which was combined with a Management Audit of the Ministry as required by the Public Service Reform Program, hence the designation MASA (Management Audit and Institutional Assessment) for the exercise of phase one. Phase two, not yet completed at this writing, brings the remaining sector ministries into a full SIA, building on the results of the MASA. Furthermore, the study pays particular attention to the recently launched preparation of the Zambia Integrated Sector Education Program and draws on the discussions of the AFR thematic team on broad sector approach to lending. It also includes the design of the full SIA for the education sector in Zambia and goes as far as progress with its implementation allows it to be documented and reported at the time of its publication.