INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET CONCEPT STAGE Public Disclosure Copy Report No.: ISDSC6094 Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 09-Oct-2013 Date ISDS Approved/Disclosed: 15-Nov-2013 I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country: Pacific Islands Project ID: P148238 Project Name: P4: Pacific Regional ICT Regulatory Development Project (P148238) Task Team Natasha Beschorner Leader: Estimated Estimated 24-Jul-2014 Appraisal Date: Board Date: Managing Unit: TWICT Lending Investment Project Financing Instrument: Sector(s): Telecommunications (100%) Theme(s): Regulation and competition policy (75%), Infrastructure services for private sector development (25%) Financing (In USD Million) Total Project Cost: 4.50 Total Bank Financing: 4.50 Public Disclosure Copy Financing Gap: 0.00 Financing Source Amount BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.00 IDA Grant 4.50 Total 4.50 Environmental C - Not Required Category: Is this a No Repeater project? B. Project Objectives A. Proposed Development Objective 10. The development objective of the Project is to strengthen the capacity of the Pacific ICT Regulatory Resource Centre (PIRRC) to deliver timely and relevant knowledge and technical expertise to Pacific regulatory institutions and enhance regional collaboration on regulatory issues. 11. The direct beneficiaries of the Project will be the PIRRC and its members, the regulatory agencies in the Pacific region with responsibility for the ICT sector. Indirect beneficiaries will include individuals, businesses (including telecommunications operators), government agencies and remote communities who will receive improved ICT services as a result of enhanced regulatory outcomes. Public Disclosure Copy C. Project Description The proposed Project is an IDA regional grant of US$4.5 million to the University of the South Pacific (USP) to manage a Pacific ICT Regulatory Resource Centre. USP is the region’s premier academic institution, established in 1968. During Project identification the World Bank confirmed that USP is a regional organization that meets the eligibility requirements to receive IDA grants and that funds could be provided directly to USP. The Project will support the transition from PIRRC as a Bank-executed TA activity to a Recipient-executed knowledge institution. The Project will finance (a) the operation and management of the PIRRC; (b) knowledge dissemination and coordination among regulators, including training and capacity-building activities, collecting, analyzing and improving access to industry statistics and data; and (c) the establishment and disbursement of an advisory services fund which will be used to help regulators access specialist assistance on issues with a regional dimension. National regulators will join PIRRC for modest annual membership fees. 1. Description Component 1. PIRRC Operations, Knowledge Management and Capacity-Building (US$2.5 million). This component will finance: (a) a Centre Director over a five year period. The Director will have deep sector/regulatory knowledge and be responsible for development and supervision of annual work plans, preparation of annual reports, providing a discussion forum for regulators, coordination with USP and the Steering Committee, stakeholder outreach, and managing the PIRRC technical and administrative staff/ consultants. The Director will also be responsible for leading regulatory knowledge management, managing the Advisory Services Fund and ensuring that its outputs are broadly disseminated and translated into best practice statements. (b) short-term technical specialists (economic, legal, engineering) to support the Center Director, especially in delivering core knowledge advisory services, training and development, including: preparation of "best practice" models; collecting, analyzing and publishing industry statistics and Public Disclosure Copy data (e.g., access and service level penetration, international connectivity, investment levels, industry revenues, standard license terms, spectrum management, broadband service levels, access prices, retail prices, quality of service). Component 2. Advisory Services Fund (US$1.5 million). This will provide financing for quick- response advice in the form of short-term consultancy or training to regulators on legal, economic, financial and technical issues in the ICT sector that have regional significance or offer a regional learning experience. The Fund will be available to support the provision of this on-demand assistance to any two or more regulators. It is envisaged that a small co-contribution (approximately 10 percent) may be required from regulators to increase the leverage of the fund and promote ownership of issues by regulators accessing the fund. The fund may not be used to help finance the procurement of technical assistance in relation to any litigation. Component 3. Project Administration (US$0.5 million). This component will finance staff to undertake day to day Project administration, including procurement, financial management, communications and outreach and audit. D. Project location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis (if known) The Project will be located at the offices of the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. E. Borrowers Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies The Recipient is a regional university. USP's Property and Facilities (P&F) Section manages and conducts the planning, development, and maintenance of the built environment of the campuses at Laucala (main, middle, lower & statham) and the Region by ensuring that the environments are Public Disclosure Copy conducive and complies with the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations of the University. F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists on the Team Juan Martinez (EASIS) II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY Safeguard Policies Triggered? Explanation (Optional) Environmental Assessment OP/ No There are no physical investments. All activities BP 4.01 relate to advisory services (consulting), training, and office administration. Natural Habitats OP/BP 4.04 No Forests OP/BP 4.36 No Pest Management OP 4.09 No Physical Cultural Resources OP/ No BP 4.11 Indigenous Peoples OP/BP 4.10 No The activities consist of technical assistance and training for telecommunications regulators throughout the Pacific region. Involuntary Resettlement OP/BP No There are no physical investments. All activities 4.12 relate to advisory services (consulting), training, and office administration. Public Disclosure Copy Safety of Dams OP/BP 4.37 No Projects on International No Waterways OP/BP 7.50 Projects in Disputed Areas OP/BP No 7.60 III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN A. Tentative target date for preparing the PAD Stage ISDS: 18-Mar-2014 B. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed. The specific studies and their timing1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS: Not applicable. IV. APPROVALS Task Team Leader: Name: Natasha Beschorner Approved By: 1 Reminder: The Bank's Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the InfoShop and (ii) in country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected persons. Regional Safeguards Name: Josefo Tuyor (RSA) Date: 14-Nov-2013 Coordinator: Sector Manager: Name: Randeep Sudan (SM) Date: 15-Nov-2013 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy