The Bank Mission team met with the PMU as part of its support and implementation mission from the 15th to the 23rd of September, 2024. Anula Harasgama (Senior Financial Management Specialist) and Ms. Anjali Anjali Vitharanage (Senior Procurement Specialist) led the meeting. Mr. Jerome Bezzina (Task Team Leader, Sr. Digital Development Specialist) and Ms. Anna Metz (co-Task Team Leader, Sr. Digital Development Specialist) attended the meeting.

Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, project manager, led the PMU team, accompanied by Mr. Ahmed Haleem (Communications Specialist), Ms. Shama Ahmed Rasheed (Procurement Specialist), Ms. Ahlam Abdul Sattar (Finance Management Specialist), and Ms. Fathmath Shafa Hussain (Project Officer).

The team discussed the institutional arrangements and transition of financial management responsibilities to the new implementing agency, MOHST, highlighting the challenges in meeting all necessary requirements within the required timeframe. The PMU also emphasized that the initial funding allocation for project implementation under Component 4 was insufficient, identifying this as a critical concern that should be prioritized for resolution.

Additionally, procurement challenges were discussed, including two ongoing cases where qualified bidders submitted prices significantly exceeding the estimated budget. The World Bank recommended revising budget estimates through additional market research for future procurements, as current estimates are outdated. The discussion also explored reasons for limited bidder responses and strategies to attract more participants.