The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Technology for Youth and Jobs (P172571) Technology for Youth and Jobs (P172571) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA | West Bank and Gaza | Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice | Special Financing | Investment Project Financing | FY 2020 | Seq No: 2 | ARCHIVED on 26-Jun-2021 | ISR46731 | Implementing Agencies: The Palestine Liberation Organization (for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority), Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology via a private sector implementing agency Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 12-Jun-2020 Effectiveness Date: 06-Oct-2020 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 25-Oct-2022 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: Original Closing Date: 30-Oct-2025 Revised Closing Date: 30-Oct-2025 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) To increase economic opportunities for IT service firms in the West Bank and Gaza. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Improving IT service capabilities:(Cost $6.50 M) Improving the IT services ecosystem:(Cost $4.75 M) Improving market access, and increasing demand and investments:(Cost $1.50 M) Project management and Implementation Support:(Cost $2.25 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Substantial Substantial Implementation Status and Key Decisions The Technology for Youth and Jobs (“TechStart”) project in the amount of US$15 million was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on June 12, 2020 and it was declared effective on October 6, 2020, and has since disbursed $0.87 million. The Project Implementation Agency (PIA), DAI Global UK, has been staffed with key members (Project Director, FM and Procurement Specialists, M&E Specialist, Safeguards Specialist, and Communication Specialist, and Gaza Operational Support Officer). The Component 1 and Component 2 Leads have also been recruited by March 2021. The Bank team followed up with the PIA staff to ensure a faster mobilization, on-board the staff and provide guidance on next procedural steps. The Project Operation Manual (POM) was updated and approved, the Annual Working Plan and Budget for all components were also developed. Grants manuals/Activity 1.1 and 1.4 Design Manuals were developed, and these activities will be launched in July 2021. Public consultations were conducted for the detailed activity design manuals under Component 1, and the views and suggestions of IT companies have been documented and relevant notes were reflected in the design documents. 6/26/2021 Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Technology for Youth and Jobs (P172571) In addition, TechStart developed jointly with IPSD project the Covid-19 Rapid Response Working Capital Grants Program and the support will be launched by the end of June 2021. Moreover, the recent May 2021 conflict in Gaza will require resources to be re-allocated for the support of beneficiaries firms and startups impacted by the conflict. A joint IPSD and TechStart Gaza Recovery Program has been developed and it will be launched by the end of June 2021. The program will support the recovery of IT services companies, startups and innovative SMEs that suffered total or partial damages because of the May 2021 Gaza conflict. The M&E plan has been drafted and shared with the WB M&E Specialist as part of the M&E Handbook. The plan presents a monitoring schedule for each component, detailing frequencies, tools, timing, and relevant indicators into which the intervention feeds. The project adopted, updated and implemented the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP). The updates mainly covered project components, beneficiaries, stakeholders, implementation of engagement activities, strategies to incorporate the views of vulnerable groups, grievance redress mechanism (GRM), information disclosure strategy, timelines and budgets. On March 10, 2021 a virtual consultation meeting was conducted with representatives of project beneficiaries to consider their views in project design, in addition to presenting the E&S impacts. A detailedGRM manual that includes guidelines on filing and handling complaints at the project’s level was developed, including provisions related to GBV/ SEA/SH with a separate log coding. A communications specialist was hired for TechStart to ensure clear and positive communications about project activities. Since inception, the communication specialist has worked on multiple tasks to develop a comprehensive, detailed communications strategy that governs the project needs to be marketed locally and internationally. The strategy outlines objectives of communications efforts, messages, audience, mechanisms, channels and activities related to facilitating dissemination of information. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance High High High Macroeconomic High High High Sector Strategies and Policies Substantial Substantial Substantial Technical Design of Project or Program Substantial Substantial Substantial Institutional Capacity for Implementation and High Substantial Substantial Sustainability Fiduciary Substantial Substantial Substantial Environment and Social Moderate Moderate Moderate Stakeholders High Substantial Substantial Other -- Substantial Substantial Overall High Substantial Substantial Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes To increase economic opportunities for IT service firms in the West Bank and Gaza IN00993639 ►Value of new contracts signed between local IT service firms benefiting from project activities and international buyers (Amount(USD), Custom) 6/26/2021 Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Technology for Youth and Jobs (P172571) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 30,000,000.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 Value of new contracts signed between local IT service firms (those firms benefiting from project activities) Comments: and international buyers IN00993640 ►International buyers signing new contracts with local IT service firms benefiting from project activities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 International buyers signing new contracts with local IT service firms (those firms benefiting from project Comments: activities) IN00993696 ►Additional private investment made by firms benefiting from project activities towards technology and skill upgrading (Amount(USD), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 5,000,000.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 The additional private investment is the financial resources invested by firms that are (i) receiving grants for technology and skills upgrading and / or (ii) benefiting from on-the-job training stipends offered by the project. Private sector investment is in further highly skilled labor hiring and managerial capabilities Comments: enhancement to be able to get further opportunities from international outsourcing companies. Also this will capture private sector investments in R&D hubs to serve businesses needs required to satisfy international outsourcing companies' requirements. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Improving IT services capabilities IN00993697 ►Individuals benefiting from project training activities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 750.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 Comments: Individuals here are IT graduates who are benefiting from the project's training activities IN00993702 Out of which are female (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 375.00 6/26/2021 Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Technology for Youth and Jobs (P172571) Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 IN00993703 ►Individuals benefiting from project training activities who reported employment (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 675.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 The individuals are IT graduates benefiting from the project's training activities who are reporting Comments: employment which could be freelancing or could be in a local or international IT service firm. IN00993705 Out of which are female (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 340.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 IN00993707 ►Individuals benefiting from project activities reporting satisfied or very satisfied with support received (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 75.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 The individuals are IT graduates who benefited from project activities and reported a rating of satisfied or Comments: very satisfied with project support received--note that this only takes into account those individuals who completed the beneficiary feedback survey. Improving the IT services ecosystem IN00993698 ►Local firms benefiting from project activities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 200.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 The local firms are benefiting from project activities including (i) skills upgrading support, (ii) managerial Comments: support, (iii) R&D centers, (iv) IT business infrastructure, and / or (v) matching-making activities (under Component 3). IN00993700 ►Local firms benefiting from project activities who are reporting new contracts (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 35.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 6/26/2021 Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Technology for Youth and Jobs (P172571) Local firms are those benefiting from (i) skills upgrading support, (ii) managerial support, (iii) R&D centers, Comments: (iv) IT business infrastructure, and / or (v) match-making activities (under Component 3)--that are reporting new contracts with local or international buyers. IN00993704 ►Additional high-skilled IT services jobs created by local firms benefiting from project activities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,000.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 These are the additional number of full-time high-skilled IT services jobs created by local firms that are Comments: benefiting from project activities. Examples of these jobs include AI, data science, robotics, cloud computing, software development. IN00993706 Out of which are for females (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 IN00993708 ►Local firms benefiting from project activities that adopted female employment solutions (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 This indicator includes the total number of female employment solutions adopted across all firms benefiting from project activities. Female employment solutions might include childcare options, flexible work, transportation support or other possible mechanisms that would make positions more female- Comments: friendly. Local firms here are those firms who are benefiting from project activities including (i) skills upgrading support, (ii) managerial support, (iii) R&D centers, (iv) IT business infrastructure, and / or (v) match-making activities (under Component 3). IN00993709 ►New firms established by project seed grants (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 New firms could include IT firms, HR firms, R&D centers, training providers, or new branches of existing Comments: firms that are established by individuals who received project seed grants. IN00993710 Out of which are new female-led firms (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 6/26/2021 Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Technology for Youth and Jobs (P172571) Improving market access, and increasing demand and investments IN00993699 ►Firms reporting satisfied or very satisfied with support received (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 75.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 This measures the percentage of local firms (those firms who have benefited from project activities including (i) skills upgrading support, (ii) managerial support, (iii) R&D centers, (iv) IT business Comments: infrastructure, and / or (v) match-making activities--under Component 3) who have reported being satisfied or very satisfied with support received--note that this only takes into account those firms who completed the beneficiary feedback survey. IN00993701 ►Foreign direct investment generated by the project (Amount(USD), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,000,000.00 Date 29-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2020 08-Jun-2021 30-Oct-2025 Foreign direct investment (FDI) includes any asset owned by a foreign investor, acquired to manage a company. It includes equity capital, reinvested earnings, and intra-company loans or debt transactions (short-or long-term borrowing and lending of funds between parent and affiliate enterprises). In addition, FDI may comprise non-equity forms of investment which give investors an effective voice in the Comments: management. These include, inter alia, subcontracting, management contracts, turnkey arrangements, franchising, licensing and product-sharing. Both FDI flows generated by new investors, and FDI from existing investors (reinvestment) are included. Note that the investments of Palestinian ID holders residing abroad would be counted as FDI. Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P172571 TF-B2944 Effective USD 15.00 15.00 0.00 0.87 14.13 5.8% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P172571 TF-B2944 Effective 12-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 06-Oct-2020 30-Oct-2025 30-Oct-2025 Cumulative Disbursements 6/26/2021 Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Technology for Youth and Jobs (P172571) PBC Disbursement Achievement Disbursed amount in Disbursement % PBC ID PBC Type Description Coc PBC Amount Status Coc for PBC Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 6/26/2021 Page 7 of 7