December 12, 2008 No. 43/08-BD CDB FINANCES BASIC EDUCATION PROJECT IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will provide a grant equivalent to USD400,000 to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to assist in conducting a series of studies towards the preparation of a second Basic Education Project. The outcomes of these studies will provide a framework for CDB's intervention in the education sector in Antigua and Barbuda, and for informing the government's longer-term strategic reform of education. Consultants will be engaged to assist in gathering up-to-date information, and providing analyses on the key aspects of the sector which would help inform decision-making about the overall design of the project. In particular, the information gathered by the consultants will inform the specific elements should be funded. The first phase will entail the conduct of studies which will contribute to the establishment of a framework for undertaking coordinated and systematic interventions in the education sector, while the second phase will look at the most feasible options for addressing some of the issues and challenges identified in the sector plan.