3. Design and implement World Bank Group ICT application projects, consistently taking into account:
(i) Local context and capabilities, country readiness, complementary investments in infrastructure and training, and project-specific change management challenges
(ii) The need to support cross-sectoral enablers, including the development of policies and standards that would apply across agencies and apex institutions to effectively lead the ICT agenda across sectors
(iii) The benefits of shared infrastructure and services so that applications and services may be shared across government agencies wherever feasible, which is critical to avoid waste and ensure coherence across government.abc
- Quality of design of the ICT component is the most critical factor affecting the overall performance of projects.
- Almost 40 percent of projects with ICT components have design shortcomings that could affect overall project outcomes.
- Most of the design shortcomings could be minimized by avoiding a narrow technological approach to ICT solutions.
- While country approaches and arrangements for e-government vary, coordination of IT initiatives and investment is important. External evidence suggests the need for e-government institutions to promote a national strategy for e-government and common information infrastructure and applications across sectors to promote a consistent approach across different agencies and sectors and to avoid duplication of efforts and investment.
- Integration of IT systems in projects with ICT components requires strong government implementation capacity.
- Change management needs to be incorporated in the implementation of ICT components in large projects.
Original Response: Management agrees with the recommendation, which is at the core of the new Sector Strategy under development. The Bank's ICT unit will formulate a concise guidance note for use by task team leaders designing ICT project components.
WB Action G: Pilot the use of country diagnostics to guide selectivity of ICT project components in view of local contexts and cross-sectoral enablers
Indicator:
· Number of country diagnostics
Baseline: 0
Target: 2
Timeline: FY14
WB Action H: Pilot the use of shared IT-services for potential use in WBG ICT application projects
Indicator:
· Bank support to shared IT services infrastructure platform
Baseline: 0
Target: 2
Timeline: FY14
IEG acknowledges that the ICT practice has carried out 22 country diagnostics including an ICT sector diagnostics taking into account the local contexts. It will be helpful to see how these diagnostics translate into the selectivity of ICT projects and the performance of those projects, as well as evidence of effectiveness of implementing ICT solutions in projects across the Bank group activities relating to different sectors. Regarding Action H, IEG would require more information on the pilot operation in Ethiopia.
WB Action G: ICT team contributed to 22 systematic country diagnostics (SCDs) and country partnership frameworks (CPFs) involving ICT in the following countries:
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Colombia
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Guatemala
- Guinea Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Nicaragua
- Sierra Leone
- Sri Lanka
- Senegal
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uzbekistan
In Cameroon, significant component on telecom & ICT is introduced. QER for SCD is planned for September 2016.
In Chad, significant component on telecom & ICT is included. SCD went to Board in June 2016.
In Togo, ICT sector analysis and regulatory bottlenecks were included, in line with an ongoing operation.
In Mali, ICT was included in both CPF and SCD, with sector analysis, changes and issues in policy and regulation, potential of ICT to improve efficiency, and importance of ICT to agriculture (access to market, e-vouchers etc.).
In Burkina Faso, inputs on ICT sector were given on ICT sector analysis, ICT for agriculture, importance of mobile banking, market constraints, performance of universal service fund, and shift in focus from telephony to broadband.
In Madagascar, inputs on ICT were given for infrastructure needs, ICT for agriculture, ICT for social protection and gender.
In Ethiopia, a country diagnostic study was completed, as an input to the SCD, following the WDR16 framework. This was further extended into three deliverables for the government under a Trust-Funded TA program, covering a national broadband plan, an updated ICT policy and a strategy for the ICT manufacturing sector.
WB Action H: - Ethiopia
IEG acknowledges that the ICT practice has carried out five country diagnostics including an ICT sector diagnostics taking into account the local contexts. It will be helpful to see how these diagnostics translate into the selectivity of ICT projects and the performance of those projects, as well as evidence of effectiveness of implementing ICT solutions in projects across the Bank group activities relating to different sectors.
Action G:
Five systematic country diagnostics (SCDs) including an ICT sector diagnostics were completed in FY15:
- Botswana SCD (March 2015) &ndash Improving connectivity: Helping to close Botswana's connectivity gap - thus increasing market access and lowering costs - is critical to competitiveness. This will require a focus on: improving the speed, quality, and cost effectiveness of ICT infrastructure (especially broadband).
- Cote d'Ivoire - SCD (June 2015): Relevance of ICT as it provides a range of emerging work opportunities for the youth, from microwork to applications development, that are a direct result of global internet diffusion and increased availability of affordable broadband. ICT in CI has a highly competitive mobile market with very high levels of penetration and new legal and regulatory framework. Challenge is to establish a competitive access to submarine cables, extend nthe GSM signal and Internet coverage into rural areas, extend the GSM signal and mobile broadband Internet coverage into rural areas, develop a robust National Broadband Policy.
- Lesotho SCD (June 2015) &ndash Developing key infrastructure: To increase market access and lower costs, it will be necessary to close infrastructure gaps. This will require a focus on improving the speed, quality, and cost effectiveness of ICT infrastructure. ICT infrastructure is limited (rank 129).
- Mali SCD (June 2015) In the ICT sector, the fiber-optic backbone is present, but policies to increase competition, enhance coverage, reduce prices and stimulate innovation are not in place. Investments in ICT infrastructure have to be preceded by reforms that improve competition in the sector.
- Mauritius SCD: ICT sector: promotion of infrastructure sharing and unbundling the local loop network would further reduce tariffs for international bandwidth connectivity.
WB ICT team provided ICT notes and inputs to the SCD (on-going): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives, Pacific Islands and Sri Lanka
Action H:
- RCIP 5 - Uganda (P130871)
- Bangladesh P122201 project provides shared infrastructure and services platforms (Data center, NEA and interoperability framework, training and cybersecurity) across Government.
Additional Information from Management:
WB Action G
- Action: Pilot the use of country diagnostics to guide selectivity of ICT project components in view of local contexts and cross-sectoral enablers
- Indicator: Number of country diagnostics
- Baseline: 0
- Target: 2
- Timeline: FY14
The World Bank has piloted the use of country diagnostics to guide selectivity of ICT project components, and has completed the action scheduled under MAR for FY14.
During FY13-FY15, the World Bank has conducted 10 studies as diagnostics and preparatory notes for systematic country diagnostics of client countries on using ICT:
- Myanmar: The World Bank completed an ICT note for the Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD) for Myanmar. The note made a case for the use of ICT as a cross-sector enabler. In applying selectivity, the final SCD did not adopt ICT as a priority.
- Haiti: The World Bank completed a diagnostic on the use of ICT for development of disaster-affected Haiti.
- Liberia: The World Bank produced a country diagnostic in June 2014 on Liberia to assess the scope and feasibility of using digital identity as an enabler for cross-sectoral economic and social development.
- Sierra Leone: The World Bank produced a country diagnostic in June 2014 on Sierra Leone to assess the scope and feasibility of using digital identity as an enabler for cross-sectoral economic and social development.
- Botswana: The World Bank prepared a note for the use of ICT in the SCD for Botswana in March 2015. Helping to close Botswana's connectivity gap - thus increasing market access and lowering costs - is critical to competitiveness. This requires a focus on: improving the speed, quality, and cost effectiveness of ICT infrastructure (especially broadband).
- Nigeria: The World Bank produced a country diagnostic in June 2015 on Nigeria to assess the scope and feasibility of using digital identity as an enabler for cross-sectoral economic and social development, and to review the ecosystem of digital identity in Nigeria.
- Cote d'Ivoire: The World Bank prepared a note for the use of ICT in the SCD for Cote d'Ivoire in June 2015. ICT is relevant as it provides a range of emerging work opportunities for the youth, from microwork to applications development, as a direct result of global internet diffusion and increased availability of affordable broadband. The challenge in the country has been to establish a competitive access to submarine cables, extend the GSM signal, offer internet coverage into rural areas, and develop a robust National Broadband Policy.
- Lesotho: The World Bank prepared a note for the use of ICT in the SCD for Lesotho in June 2015. To increase market access and lower costs, it would be necessary to close infrastructure gaps. This would require a focus on improving the speed, quality, and cost effectiveness of ICT infrastructure.
- Mali: The World Bank prepared a note for the use of ICT in the SCD for Mali in June 2015. In the ICT sector, the fiber-optic backbone is present, but policies to increase competition, enhance coverage, reduce prices and stimulate innovation are not in place. Investments in ICT infrastructure have to be preceded by reforms that improve competition in the sector.
- Mauritius: The promotion of infrastructure sharing and unbundling the local loop network would further reduce tariffs for international bandwidth connectivity.
In addition, the World Bank team provided ICT notes and inputs to ongoing SCDs in: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives, Pacific Islands and Sri Lanka.
Based on the above, we propose a rating of Substantial for achieving intended objectives.
WB Action H
- Action: Pilot the use of shared IT-services for potential use in WBG ICT application projects
- Indicator: Bank support to shared IT services infrastructure platform
- Baseline: 0
- Target: 2
- Timeline: FY14
The World Bank has piloted the use of shared IT-services and completed the action by FY14. IT infrastructure and services are now incorporated in World Bank-funded projects.
During FY13-FY15, the World Bank approved 6 projects in which the use of shared IT services is included:
- Mongolia SMART Government Project (P13089, June 2014, $19.4 million): The project provides support for the use of shared IT infrastructure (data centers, and citizen engagement platform) across government in Mongolia.
- Myanmar Telecommunications Sector Reform (P145534, February 2014, $31.5 million): The project provides support for the use of shared IT infrastructure across government in establishing a national portal for Myanmar.
- Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project (P121755, April 2011, $50 million): The project puts in place a shared mobile service delivery platform for the delivery of mobile public services (mApps) to all participating line agencies in Afghanistan.
- Ghana eTransform Project (P144140, October 2013, $97 million): The project supports the development of shared platforms and services (clouds, cybersecurity, open data and analytics, data protection, and electronic services) in Ghana.
- Uganda Regional Communications Infrastructure Program - SOP 5 - Uganda (P130871, May 2015, $75 million): The project supports the use of share infrastructure and services for setting up electronic government in Uganda.
- Bangladesh Leveraging ICT Growth, Employment and Governance Project (P122201, September 2012, $70 million): The project provides shared infrastructure and services platforms (data centers, NEA, interoperability framework, training, and cybersecurity) across government for Bangladesh.
Based on the above, we propose a rating of Substantial for achieving intended objectives.
IEG acknowledges that the ICT practice has carried out two country diagnostics and supported three projects with the use of shared IT services. While the number of projects exceeds the target set for FY14 and this is commendable, IEG seeks to understand how well these projects have taken into account the local context, cross-sectoral enablers and policies issues, and benefits of shared infrastructure and services, and what their status and performance of the project implementation is.
Action G: 3 country diagnostics have been carried out.
⢠Myanmar: WB completed an ICT note for the Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD) for Myanmar. The note made a case for the use of ICT as a cross-sector enabler. In practicing selectivity, the final SCD did not adopt ICT as a priority.
⢠Liberia and Sierra Leone: Two country diagnostics were completed in Liberia and Sierra Leone to assess the scope and feasibility of digital identity as an enabler for cross-sectoral economic and social development.
Action H: 3 countries have been supported with pilots or projects on the use of shared IT services.
⢠The Mongolia SMART government project provides support for the use of shared IT infrastructure (data centers, and citizen engagement platform) across government.
⢠The Myanmar project provides support for the use of shared IT infrastructure across government in establishing a national portal for Myanmar.
⢠The Afghanistan project puts in place a shared mobile service delivery platform for the delivery of mobile public services (mApps) to all participating line agencies.
(2013 Rating: Negligible)
(Response from 2013. First MAR follow-up will be in 2014)
IEG seeks for more evidence in the World Bank's adoption level of IEG recommendations as there is almost no information to base IEG's assessment on. The E-Moldova project was approved before IEG's ICT evaluation was completed and therefore more information is required to assess how IEG recommendations on strengthening the design and implementation of ICT applications projects have been incorporated in the World Bank's ICT operations.
(2013 Rating: Medium)
(Response from 2013. First MAR follow-up will be in 2014)
WB Action H
Status:
- 1 key implementation is completed in Moldova with the e-Moldova project. The project implements a government cloud as shared IT infrastructure.
Baseline: 0
Target: 2
Timeline: FY14