1. African Centres of Excellence – Satisfaction Survey Results
Second draft, results of both the 2017 wave as the wave, covering students from the enrolment years 2014, and 2016

6. VERIFICATION OF DISBURSEMENT LINKED RESULTS (DLR)
AFRICA CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE –WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

7. KEY OBJECTIVES Methods of verification of DLRs Key Challenges
Proposed Improvements
Disbursement of achieved results

8. Methods of Verification
DLR 2.1 – 2.4 (Enrolments & Internships)
Submission of results framework
Submission of results framework ACEs for the time-period being verified
Reports reviewed by RFU
Comments for fine-tuning-missing data etc
Second data quality check by agency
M&E reports verified by third party agency
Quality review of the submitted reports
Student survey and selected phone calls
Open online for students for a period of 2-3 weeks
Strong communication to centers including sharing of “non-responders lists”
Sample calls to students after closure to reach who could or cannot be reached via the online

9. Methods of Verification
DRL 2.6 (External Revenue)
ACEs record details of the revenue generated externally in the data sheet for Indicator 4.
These include the original amount received or generated
Details of the bank account in which the specific amount is stored
The origin of the funds; and the purpose for which the funds were generated
Submitted as part of the M&E report
Validated and signed by the institution’s external auditor

10. Methods of Verification
DLR 2.5 (Accreditation)
ACEs notify the RFU (AAU) when programme accreditation is acquired with documentation.
Details of the accreditation
Scanned copies of the accreditation certificate
The contact details for the Accrediting Agency
All others useful information regarding the accreditation
The RFU verifies confirms the relevance of the accrediting agency

11. Methods of Verification
DLR 2.7 (Research Publications)
List of research publications produced by the centers and their partners over the period under review
Submission of articles to AAU
AAU submits to Elsevier
Elsevier submits list to AAU
AAU submits to experts for subject matter experts review

12. Methods of Verification
DLR 2.8 (Teaching & Learning Environment)
Milestones developed by the ACEs and approved by the World Bank
Signing of contracts, initiation of procurement processes, actual procurement, refurbishment and actual construction
Milestone achieved communicated to the RFU (AAU) indicating
Which particular milestone(s) has been achieved
Appending supporting documentation
Milestones
Verification Unit
Procedure
Signing of contracts
RFU
Cross-checking the documents submitted and posted online
Procurement of equipment refurbishment and construction
Technical expert and or architect
On-site verification is done for groups of centres at a time

13. Methods of Verification
DLR 3.1 – 3.4 (Financial Management)
Verified by the World Bank Financial management and Project teams
Verification here is based on documentation submitted and made available online
The verified results are made available to the center for feedback before finalisation
Timely withdrawal
Functioning audit committee
Functioning internal audit unit
Financial online transparency

14. Methods of Verification
DLR 4 (Procurement)
Results are verified by the World Bank
submission of post-procurement audit reports by the ACEs

15. Key challenges DLR 2.1-2.4-student enrollment
Wrong contacts or missing information from reports
Data compilation and treatment mistakes
Inadequate verification period for the short-term courses
Use of wrong excel sheet format for the reporting or changes in the standard format
Internet connectivity

16. Key challenges DLR 2.5-accredidation and assessments
Straightforward –no issues per say
DLR 2.6-research publications
Some issues around relevance of publication and center objective
DLR 2.7-revenue generation
Some delays in response from auditor to AAU on confirmation of audit reports
DLR 2.8-infrastructure and equipment milestones
Ensure that the milestones are indeed fully achieved with full documentation prior to costly verification exercise

17. Improvement of Verification Process
DLR 2.6-research publications
Population of publications based on article submitted by the center and not the researchers name
DLR 2.4-Improved short term courses verification
immediately after the course is delivered.
Submission of detailed information sheet
Delivery of short student survey by the center
submission of this survey result and information sheet to the AAU within 2 weeks of short course delivery

18. Most recent verification in Cote d’Ivoire
Center
# Reported Students
% Correctly Reported
% Response rate
CEA-MEM
120
98%
84%
CEA_CCBAD 73
82%
92%
ENSEA
374
79%

19. Improvements of Verification Process
Continued better Communication
Advance notification of launch of survey
Sharing “non-reponse” list with centers
Maintain strong and regular communication with ACE M&E officers
Deepen the DLIs/DLRs definitions
Undertake regular coordination with Technopolis on the student verification process
Sharing results prior to workshop
Discussion in operational M&E clinics
Re-submission with clarifications

20. Disbursement Process
The RFU prepares a verification letter incl EEPs for the ACE in question
Submitted to the World Bank with copies to the centre in question
World Bank authorizes disbursement based on these letters