The World Bank Report No: ISR13039 Implementation Status & Results Afghanistan Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project (P121755) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project (P121755) Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 5 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 24-Dec-2013 Country: Afghanistan Approval FY: 2011 Product Line: IBRD/IDA Region: SOUTH ASIA Lending Instrument: Emergency Recovery Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Key Dates Board Approval Date 26-Apr-2011 Original Closing Date 30-Jun-2016 Planned Mid Term Review Date 31-Jan-2014 Last Archived ISR Date 23-May-2013 Effectiveness Date 14-Jun-2011 Revised Closing Date 30-Jun-2016 Actual Mid Term Review Date Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The Project Development Objective is to expand connectivity, mainstream use of mobile applications in strategic sectors in the government and support development of the local IT industry. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Expanding Connectivity 30.00 Mainstreaming Mobile Applications 9.30 IT Industry Development 4.30 Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Public Disclosure Copy Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate Implementation Status Overview This ISR is based on the findings of an implementation support mission of November 2013. The project has been effective for 2.5 years and has made good progress. Almost all consultancies, non-consulting services, and goods & works contracts have been awarded. Disbursements are about 35 percent, having picked up significantly with progress on major activities since the previous ISR. Estimates suggest that disbursements will cross 40 percent by January 2014. The institutional arrangements for Project implementation are in place and functioning with all key project staff positions hired. There is strong institutional support from the Ministry of Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13039 Communications & IT (MCIT). Component 1—Expanding connectivity: (1) The consultancy for mobile sector TA and ICT sector policy development has concluded and follow up actions are being discussed, with the regulatory agency already implementing some of the recommendations of the work; (2) Deployment of the optical fiber network is underway. Improved coordination with and Public Disclosure Copy continued support of MoPW and local officials will help accelerate work. Volatile security conditions continue to pose a challenge to deployment, especially in the Central section. Component 2—Mainstreaming mobile applications: (1) The preparation of a mobile government strategy has resumed, with an individual consultant hired to complete this task; (2) The first round of the Innovation Support Program has concluded and the client will be sharing the details on results and process with the World Bank for review by January 31, 2014. The Operations Manual may need to be updated (following appropriate procedures) to reflect lessons learnt from this round; (3) The Mobile Service Delivery Platform has been tested and a soft launch in March 2014 has been agreed The World Bank team has requested that the Ministry engage with mobile network operators and the Government to ensure their connection with and use of the platform. Component 3—IT Industry Development: (1) The consultancy on IT industry development policy TA is underway; (2) The first phase of IT skills development ended with about 450 trainees, and selection of the training service providers for the second phase to train 1050 additional people is now underway and will be completed in January 2014; (3) Procurement of the incubator management firm is underway, and should be contracted by January 2014, and development of the prefabricated incubator space will also begin in December 2013. Project management—The team proposed and MCIT agreed to close the capacity building incentive program (under Component 4, for US$400K) due to non-activity since the start of the Project. These funds will now be used partly for regular training activities for MCIT staff, and partly to cover expected increases in Project operating costs over 2014-2015. Its closing will not affect the Project’s DO or results. The Project mid-term review is scheduled for late January 2014. During the review, the team will engage with the client to discuss and finalize reallocation of funds among components, and expanding or changing some activities to maximize Project development impact. Minor restructuring may be needed; no changes to the PDO are foreseen at this time. At this time, barring a significant deterioration of the security situation, it is expected that project objectives will be on track to be met in a timely manner. Locations Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Afghanistan Not Entered Bazar-e Yakawlang Afghanistan Not Entered Shaykh 'Ali Afghanistan Not Entered Wilayat-e Parwan Public Disclosure Copy Afghanistan Not Entered Panjab Afghanistan Not Entered La'l Afghanistan Not Entered Kunduz Afghanistan Not Entered Kishim Afghanistan Not Entered Kabul Afghanistan Not Entered Fayzabad Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13039 Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Afghanistan Not Entered Dowlatyar Public Disclosure Copy Afghanistan Not Entered Daykondi Afghanistan Not Entered Chaghcharan Afghanistan Not Entered Bamyan Afghanistan Not Entered Faizabad Afghanistan Not Entered Kishim Afghanistan Not Entered Panjab Afghanistan Not Entered Waras Afghanistan Not Entered Yakawlang Afghanistan Not Entered Chaghcharan Afghanistan Not Entered Dowlatyar Afghanistan Not Entered La'l wa Sar Jangal Afghanistan Not Entered Khanabad Afghanistan Not Entered Bangi Afghanistan Not Entered Taloqan Afghanistan Not Entered Shaykh 'Ali Afghanistan Not Entered Kunduz Afghanistan Not Entered Bamyan Public Disclosure Copy Afghanistan Not Entered Shibar Afghanistan Not Entered Daykundi Results Project Development Objective Indicators Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13039 Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Length of fiber optic network built under the Number Value 0.00 150.00 1000.00 project Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Public Disclosure Copy Comments Aprox. 2500 km of fiber optic Deployment is progressing. backbone has been developed outside of the project. Number of people trained under the project Number Value 0.00 590.00 1500.00 Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Skills development strategy Selection of training institutes being finalized. for second phase of the program is underway. MCIT's training programs to be accelerated. Direct project beneficiaries Number Value 0.00 700.00 1000000.00 Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Includes the students for the IT skills training. Female beneficiaries Percentage Value 0.00 63.00 100.00 Sub Type Supplemental Access to Internet services Percentage Value 3.00 14.00 10.00 Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Percentage of people with access to internet services Access to telephone services Percentage Value 55.00 77.00 80.00 Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Percentage of people with access to telephone services Public Disclosure Copy Number of ministry CIOs and other officials Number Value 0.00 40.00 100.00 trained under the Project services Date 25-Apr-2011 14-Oct-2012 30-Jun-2016 Comments Number of Government agencies or programs Number Value 0.00 0.00 10.00 using m-apps for public service delivery or Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 program management Comments Soft launch of the mGov service delivery platform taking place in March 2014. Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13039 Impact of Technical Assistance Text Value 2003 Policy ATRA has begun Revised ICT Policy adopted implementing regulations, by Government draft of ICT policy and mGovernment strategy are Public Disclosure Copy being prepared Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Consultants being hired to Consultants have developed support Government develop new regulations for ATRA and policy. policy/strategy document drafts for MCIT Revised ICT Policy adopted bu the Text Value Draft policy is being prepared Government Sub Type Date 29-Nov-2012 Breakdown Comments Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Average retail price of Internet connectivity Text Value US$450 97 US$250 Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Per MCIT data Number of transactions conducted Number Value 0.00 0.00 150000.00 Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Number of sessions logged, Mobile service delivery cumulative platform not yet operational. Service Delivery Platform established Text Value No Yes Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Bidding Documents prepared Deployment underway, soft launch planned for March 2014 Internet users Number Value 15000.00 2400000.00 50000.00 Public Disclosure Copy Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Number of people who use Source: http://mcit.gov.af/ the Internet through any Content/images/Eng%20-% technology at least once a 20Internet%20Users.png month. Employment in IT firms located in the ICT Number Value 0.00 0.00 180.00 Village Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Number of people Development of the ICT village has not begun yet. Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13039 Participation in incubation activities Number Value 0.00 0.00 10.00 Date 25-Apr-2011 29-Nov-2013 30-Jun-2016 Comments Number of participants The incubator space is being Public Disclosure Copy developed, and the management firm is being selected. Data on Financial Performance (as of 02-Dec-2013) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P121755 IDA-H6650 Effective 26-Apr-2011 15-May-2011 14-Jun-2011 30-Jun-2016 30-Jun-2016 Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P121755 IDA-H6650 Effective XDR 31.80 31.80 0.00 11.83 19.97 37.00 Disbursement Graph Public Disclosure Copy Key Decisions Regarding Implementation 1. Deployment of the fiber optic backbone network is now underway in the North East and Central sections. Strengthened coordination with MoPW will help accelerate deployment in the Central section, where the volatile security situation also poses a challenge to deployment. Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13039 2. The first round of the Innovation Support Program has been completed and details of the awards process will be shared with the World Bank for review prior to announcement by January 31, 2014 4. The mGovernment Service Delivery Platform has been tested and a soft launch in March 2014 has been agreed. 5. The first round of training of students in IT skills ended with about 450 trainees completing the program; the selection for the training institutes to deliver the second round is now Public Disclosure Copy underway and will be completed by January 31, 2014. 6. The capacity building incentive program (under component 4) will be closed due to non-activity and funds will be directed towards training for MCIT staff, and to cover operating costs. Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Projects There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Page 7 of 7