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Pakistan Seeks World Bank Assent for $400m HEDP Restructuring
The government of Pakistan has requested the World Bank to restructure the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project, worth $400 million, for the third time.
The project aims to support research excellence, improve teaching and learning, and strengthen governance in the higher education sector.
The project, currently in its fifth year of implementation, has made significant progress, with 02 intermediate results indicators already met, 09 likely to be met, and 02 unlikely to be met.
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However, the IT-related procurements under Component 3 have been delayed due to various reasons, including the delayed hiring of IT staff and the need for revision of the procurement strategy to address capacity challenges in the local IT market.
The requested extension, with a revised closing date of June 30, 2025, will enable the completion of critical IT and IT-related activities and the full achievement of Performance-Based Conditions (PBCs).
The restructuring also entails changes in four PBCs, including the shifting of targets and the revision of wording to apply to both Affiliated Colleges and Affiliating Universities.
This is the third time the project has been restructured, with previous restructurings approved in 2021 and 2023 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic impacts and repurpose unutilized funds, respectively.
The HEDP project has the potential to significantly improve the higher education sector in Pakistan, and the requested restructuring aims to ensure its successful completion.
The World Bank’s approval is awaited to move forward with the restructuring plan.
