A Louis Berger-led (http://LouisBerger.com) consortium including GOPA and SCET Tunisia was selected by the Ministry of Education in Tunisia to provide technical assistance on a European Investment Bank (EIB) co-financed 213-million-euro school modernization program, Modernisation des Établissements Scolaires (MES). The three-year nationwide initiative will lead to nearly 60 new schools and 310 renovated educational facilities.
“We are proud to support the Tunisian government modernize its educational infrastructure throughout the country,” said Jacques Blanc, senior vice president. “The joint venture will provide innovative engineering services, including energy efficiency, in key markets for our firm such as buildings and facilities.”
Education is a strategic sector for the Tunisian government, with the Ministry of Education having one of the largest stakes in the national budget. The current educational facilities modernization initiative will increase elementary school capacity by 200,000 students. Also, across the country, around 238,000 high school students will benefit from the program.
The joint venture will support the Ministry’s project execution team during the procurement process by preparing architectural design and engineering works tender dossiers. MES is a decentralized nationwide initiative. The team of experts will manage a complex procurement process to be organized in more than 25 of the Ministry of Education’s regional offices. The team will conduct capacity building and training on procurement-related topics.
The consortium will prepare the design, manage and supervise the works contracts and provide financial management services. The experts will support the Ministry’s project execution team to comply with EIB’s quality assurance, procurement, environmental and social requirements.
Louis Berger has more than 50 years of experience in Africa, including more than 15 years in Tunisia, where the company has implemented projects in the agriculture, economic and institutional development and water markets.