Competency-Based Financial Management Training for World Bank Projects in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan

Synopsis:

Mera Maan was contracted by Ernst and Young Pakistan to support The World Bank in Afghanistan with the development of a competency-based framework for financial management training. The aim was to ensure proper utilization of funds and enhance the capacity of project financial management staff working on development projects. The project involved developing a highly experiential and visualized training curriculum and modules on project financial management. These modules were designed to be delivered to the finance officials from The World Bank-assisted projects in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

 

Narrative of the Project Description:

Background:

Since 2002, The World Bank has been actively supporting social, economic, infrastructure, and human development in Afghanistan through a series of projects funded by the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) and International Development Association (IDA). With a portfolio of 35 projects amounting to approximately $5 billion, The World Bank has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the proper utilization of funds, focusing on economy, efficiency, and mitigating chances of misuse.

Objectives:

– Develop competency-based framework for financial management training.
– Assess existing financial management knowledge and skills of project staff.
– Identify gaps in financial management knowledge and skills.
– Design highly experiential and visualized training curriculum and modules.
– Conduct pilot training with 30 finance officials from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
– Test adequacy and methodology of the training module during the pilot.
– Update training module based on pilot feedback.
– Enhance financial management practices in World Bank-assisted projects in Afghanistan and neighboring regions.

Project Impact:

The project successfully developed a competency-based training curriculum and training modules on project financial management. Approximately 30 finance officials from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the pilot training, where the adequacy and methodology of the training module were tested. Based on the feedback received during the pilot training, the training module was further updated to incorporate valuable suggestions from the participants. The competency-based approach and visualized training materials aimed to improve the financial management practices in World Bank-assisted projects, ultimately contributing to better utilization of funds and enhanced project outcomes in Afghanistan and the neighboring regions.