1. EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE (ACEII) Lusaka, Zambia May 2, 2018

2. Africa Development Challenges
Sub Saharan Africa is a land of youth, rich natural resources, and great opportunities and promises
Remarkable growth over the last 15 years, but still the world’s poorest region, faces challenges in maintaining sustainable and inclusive economic growth
Commitment from African governments to transform the continent through “industrialization” and “regional integration”
Recent economic growth and foreign investment have boosted demand for greater technological skills and applied research
Higher education GER about 6 percent; less than 30% major in science, health, ICT and engineering programs. Low research output

3. Higher Education as Driver for Growth
Skills development
For productivity
For competitiveness
Access to knowledge / information
Application; problem-solving
Remaining relevant
Adapting to change
Generating new knowledge: research

4. Benefits of Regional Center of Excellence (CoE)
Promote specialization and economy of scale
Promote mobility of students and faculty
Concentrate limited resources to develop best talent
Knowledge spill-over and networking nationally regionally and share best practice
Demonstration Effect: Pilot Higher education reform
Globally, the CoE approach used in post basic education and can be effective in serving the short term skills needs but also in catalyzing reform and in injecting dynamism to the system

5. ACE as a Response What are ACEs? What do ACEs aim to achieve?
Existing African institutions, competitively selected using criteria benchmarked to the best international practices in postgraduate education.
What do ACEs aim to achieve?
Promote regional specialization among participating universities in areas that address specific common regional development challenges
Strengthen the capacities of these universities to deliver quality, market-relevant post-graduate education, and build collaborative research capacity in select priority sectors, such as health, extractive industries, or transport, etc.

6. Overview – ACE I & ACE II
46 Centers of Excellence across Africa
22 in Central and West Africa
24 in Eastern and Southern Africa
16 Countries
10 priority sectors
US$ 313: US$ 165 for ACE I and US$ 148 for ACE II
Funding of each center is tied to agreed results and only disbursed for their achievement – ensuring stronger ownership.

7. Forging a network to support SSA’s development
EXAMPLES OF BANK-SUPPORTED RESULTS IN 2011& 2012
Forging a network to support SSA’s development
Cameroon
IT (1)
Rwanda
IT (1); Energy (1) Education (1); Statistics (1)
Nigeria
Agriculture (3); IT (1); Extractives (1); Material Science (1); Health (4)
Senegal
IT (1)
Health (1)
Uganda
Agriculture (2)
Material Science (1) Health (1)
Ethiopia
Agriculture (1); Water (1); Transport (1); Health (1)
Burkina Faso
Water (1)
Kenya
Agriculture (2)
Energy (1)
Tanzania
Agriculture (2; Water (1); Health (1)
Ivory Coast
Agriculture (1)
Statistics (1)
Extractives (1)
Ghana
Agriculture (1)
Water Mgt. (1)
Health (1)
Malawi
Agriculture (1) Health (1)
Benin
Applied Math (1)
Togo
Agriculture (1)
Mozambique
Extractives (1)
Zambia
Extractives (1);
Health (1)

8. Distribution by Thematic Area
Agriculture (14); Information Technology (4); Energy (2)
Extractives (Oil, Gas, Mining) (2); Water Management and Infrastructure (4)
Material Science and Mining (4); Transport (1); Health (11)
Education (1); Statistics (3)

9. ACE Management Structure
Coordinated and administered by a Regional Facilitation Unit: Inter- University Council for East Africa
Supported/supervised by a National Steering Committee (NSC) and guided by a Regional Steering Committee (RSC)
Implemented by each ACE with full dedicated center management staff

10. Results-based Financing Model
Funds are disbursed only when the agreed results are achieved:
Agrees on a set of results which are measurable, achievable and within control of institution
Makes funding allocation objective, predictable, and transparent
Uses government procurement rules to strengthen capacity
Respect for institutional autonomy and leadership, and still aligns institutional objectives with development goals
Improves institutional capacity to plan, decide and implement
Increases accountability, focuses on results

11. ACE II Recent Developments
Zambia ACEs became effective and received the 1st disbursement
19% of IDA disbursed against DLI1 only
IUCEA/WB Joint supervision mission to Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya (upcoming)
1st Annual Work Plan along with budget for all ACEs have been developed, reviewed, and approved, most ACEs have also submitted their 2nd Annual Work Plans and results framework 2018
IUCEA launch the two regional initiatives: master scholarships for female students and incubators
IUCEA in the process of contracting independent verification firms for successive DLIs
IUCEA interviewing the shortlisted candidates for ACEII project coordinator

12. ACE II Results – Total Student Enrollment by Gender
Indicator:
Count of students enrolled in ACEs disaggregated by gender
Student Enrollment by Gender

13. ACE II Results – Regional Student Enrollment by Gender
Indicator:
Count of students enrolled in ACEs disaggregated by gender
Student Enrollment by Gender

14. ACE II Results – Project Development Objective
PDO
Baseline
By 2017
By 2018
MOUs on partnerships for collaboration 66 84
158
Accredited educational Programs offered by ACEs 59 58
125
Direct Project beneficiaries
(Total)
779
1195
3271
Direct Project beneficiaries (% Females) 40
398
766

15. Intermediate Results (Component one)
ACE II Results – Intermediate Result (Component 1: Strengthening ACEs in Regional Priority Areas)
Intermediate Results (Component one)
Baseline
By 2017
By 2018
Faculty and PhD Student Exchange- Research & Teaching (Total) 64
138
248
Faculty and PhD Student Exchange- Research & Teaching (Females) 16 19 36
Amount of externally generated revenue by ACEs
(million USD)
6.1
12.39
23.61
Internationally recognized publications
(Total)
194
308
557
(Co-authored with regional collaborators) 15
122
213
No. of institutions hosting ACEs participating in the PASET benchmarking 7 13

16. ACE II some highlights ACEIoT receives national accreditation
CDT Africa wins 2 million pounds of Global Health Research Award
ACE DS teams up with Microsoft
ACEIoT receives national accreditation
ACEWM wins $1.5m for water infrastructure project
WISE-future student enrollment hits 50

17. ACEs reporting 0 enrollment and 0 income generation
12 ACEIoT
ACEs reporting 0 enrollment and 0 income generation
Center Enrollment
External income generation
CDT-Africa
Insefood
ACEESD
ACEIoT
ACEITLMS
ACE-DS
ACEIDHA
ACESM
CESAAM
ACEESD
ACEIoT
ACE-DS
CREATES
MaRCCI
ACEIDHA
ACESM

18. Overall challenges Advocacy and branding of ACEs
Balancing autonomy and sustainability
National, regional, and International accreditation
Academic staff professional development
Industrial partnership can be further strengthened
Difficulty in enrolling regional and female students
ACE staff incentives
Technical assistance to ACEs
National Steering Committee functioning
Verification delayed causing cash shortages in some ACEs