Uzbekistan: Expansion and Modernization of Public Education Infrastructure, Phase I

DESCRIPTION

This Project Preparation Special Fund (PPSF) grant will support project preparation activities and related implementation support for the Expansion and Modernization of Public Education Infrastructure Project in Uzbekistan.

The Project seeks to address the issue of insufficient classroom capacity in the country by enhancing the public education system through three main approaches: (i) creation of new schools, (ii) renovation and expansion of existing schools by construction of additional buildings and repair of existing buildings, and (iii) acquisition of modern educational tools and equipment.

The PPSF grant will be used to conduct preparatory activities to enhance implementation readiness and the quality of the proposed investment. Specifically, the grant will support consultancy services for the preparation of feasibility studies, including site assessments, review of legal and regulatory frameworks, preparation of engineering designs, procurement packages, and development of environment and social (E&S) instruments, as well as preparatory activities for Phase 2 of the Project. The grant will also finance capacity building activities for the Project Implementation Entity, which is the Innovation, Technology, Strategy Center, a state-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan.