eSAR e-Development Thematic Group / Quickstart Presentation September 8th, 2005 Kareem Abdel Aziz - SASFP

Key messages ICT for development has become a core development topic There is clear and explicit client demand for ICT development assistance The World Bank Group is currently heavily involved in this area Current approach is uncoordinated and poorly managed. There is a need for a more coordinated and comprehensive strategic approach to this topic. eSAR

World Bank Group - ICT Strategy How did we get here? World Bank Group - ICT Strategy Prepared by GICT in 2003 2003 EAP SAR ECA AFR MENA LAC eSAR CORE TEAM SASFP GICT ISG SAR ICT TASK FORCE SASHD SARPS SARFM SASPR SASEI SASAR SASES WBI IFC INFODEV Summer 2004 Core Team Responsible for: Performing Background Research Developing Strategy Task Force Responsible for: Review and Feedback on Strategy Implementation of the Strategy eSAR

How was the Plan Developed? DEMAND Country Policy Statements (PRSP, NDP, ICT Strategies etc) ICT Related Initiatives SUPPLY Internal WB Capacity SAR’s Past Performance ICT in the CAS SAR ICT STRATEGY eSAR

What was done? eSAR Defined ICT for Development Developed an ICT for Development Framework Performed a country by country analysis to evaluate the following Overall economic objectives / context for each country Overall ICT for development objectives Summary of current ICT related initiatives Reviewed SAR project portfolio to determine the nature of SAR’s ICT related involvement. CAS/PRSP comparison for each country to identify gaps between national objectives and WB objectives. Bottom Line – A lot has been done. eSAR

What is ICT? eSAR ICT Bottom Line – ICT IS A MEANS TO AN END Public Sector Capacity Urban Development Agriculture & Rural Dev. Private / Financial Sector Human Development Limited Knowledge Sharing Poor Productivity Geographic Constraints Poor level of economic info. Increased Corruption Infrastructure Dev. CHALLENGES ECONOMIC SECTORS Knowledge Sharing Increased Productivity Overcoming Geography Higher Level of Economic Data Reduced Corruption OUTCOMES ICT Tax Modernization Land & Property Registration Agr. Commodity Trading Early Warning System Land Management Systems Virtual Cadastre IT Parks / SEZ E-Business IT Training Centers Environmental Health Patterns Telecom Infrastructure Internet Connectivity POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS Bottom Line – ICT IS A MEANS TO AN END eSAR

What is the ICT Development Framework? (2) Information Society – The IS allows for the use of information to achieve economic objectives. The Information Society is a platform to achieve the MDGs. (1) Ultimate Goal – The Millennium Development Goals should be the drivers behind the use of information communication technologies in our development work. Information Society MDGs (3) Institutional Capacity / Leadership – A pre-condition to implement and sustain any reform program. Leadership (5) ICT Applications / Programs - Various ICT applications In an information society. (4) Enabling Environment- These are the basic elements of an Information Society enabling environment. ICT Sector Development e-Government IT Literacy / Skilled Labor Sector Specific Applications Information Communication Infrastructure Knowledge Economy Development Legal & Regulatory Framework eSAR

What do our clients want? 8 out of 8 countries in the region have explicit ICT strategies. Many of the countries in the region have explicit references to the use of ICT in achieving goals set out in the PRSPs. Most of the countries in the region would like to replicate the South India model in developing Software and Services industry. All of the countries suffer from relatively poor enabling environment for the use of ICT. Bottom Line – ICT is important to our clients! eSAR

What have we been doing? eSAR As a region, more than 40% of our projects involve significant investments in ICT. 62% of our projects with ICT components involve various aspects of e-Government (involving 7 different sector units). 23% of our projects with ICT components involve other sector specific applications such as e-Education and e-Health. Bottom Line – As a region we are already involved in ICT for Development. eSAR

What is wrong with our approach? ICT components in Bank projects are growing in number and size, but they are not well coordinated and managed. The Bank as a whole faces significant under-capacity in the ICT area There is no clear institutional map of operational responsibilities which go beyond the traditional ICI agenda. Monitoring and evaluation of ICT work and initiatives are problematic Little research and development and dissemination of best practices is being done. Bottom Line – Improvements needed! eSAR

What is the new approach? eSAR Standardized Assessment Tools (2) Information Society – The IS allows for the use of information to achieve economic objectives. The Information Society is a platform to achieve the MDGs. (1) Ultimate Goal – The Millennium Development Goals should be the drivers behind the use of information communication technologies in our development work. Information Society MDGs SASHD SASFP GICT Sectors WBI (3) Institutional Capacity / Leadership – A pre-condition to implement and sustain any reform program. Leadership (5) ICT Applications / Programs - Various ICT applications In an information society. (4) Enabling Environment- These are the basic elements of an Information Society enabling environment. ICT Sector Development e-Government IT Literacy / Skilled Labor Sector Specific Applications Info.Communication Infrastructure KE Development Legal & Reg.Framework eSAR will involve the development of standardized (yet customizable) assessment tools that can be offered to our client countries. The assessment tools will allow project teams to diagnose client’s needs based on best practices frameworks. Lead Units will be assigned to develop each of the proposed ICT Assessment Tools eSAR

What does this strategy achieve? Roles and responsibilities are defined Better internal capacity assessment and skills building Better program development and applied best practices Better monitoring and evaluation Reduced project preparation costs and improved quality Better opportunity for developing external partnerships Bottom Line – A formalized approach is a better approach eSAR

How will the tools be developed? “e” Assessment Tools Development IMPLICIT CLIENT DEMAND IMPLEMENTATION Research & Development of Best Practices (AAA) Diagnosis & Assessment (AAA) TA and / or Invest. Lending (LEN) Expressed in: Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers National Development Plans ICT Strategies Other Policy Statements Research on Best Practices Development of Diagnostic Tools Development of Monitoring & Evaluation Mechanisms *based on implicit client demand Standardized / Customizable Approach Standardized Monitoring & Evaluation Tools Formalized Training External Partnerships *requires explicit client demand eSAR

Are these areas important to our clients? Enabling Environment AF BA BH IN MA NE PA SR IT Literacy / Skilled Labor Yes Mentioned in Draft ICT Policy Mentioned in National Strategy & ICT Policy Mentioned in ICT Master Plan Mentioned in 10th Plan Mentioned in 6th NDP Mentioned in ICT Policy Mentioned in IT Policy & I-PRSP 2000 Mentioned in Telecom Policy Information & Communications Infrastructure Mentioned in SAF & Draft ICT Policy Mentioned in New Telecom Policy & 10th Plan Mentioned in 10th Plan, ICT Policy & Telecom Policy Legal & Regulatory Framework Mentioned in SAF, Draft ICT Policy & Telecom & Internet Policy Mentioned in New Telecom Policy 1999 Mentioned in 6th NDP & Telecom Policy eSAR

Are these areas important to our clients cont’d? Applications AF BA BH IN MA NE PA SR e-Government Yes Mentioned in Draft ICT Policy Mentioned in National Strategy & ICT Policy Mentioned in ICT Master Plan Mentioned in 10th Plan Mentioned in 6th NDP Mentioned in ICT Policy & Telecom Policy Mentioned in IT Policy & I-PRSP 2000 Mentioned in Telecom Policy ICT Sector Development No Mentioned in New Telecom Policy & 10th Plan Mentioned in 10th Plan, ICT Policy & Telecom Policy Sector Specific Applications Mentioned in Draft ICT Policy and Telecom & Internet Policy Mentioned in 6th NDP & Telecom Policy Mentioned in IT Policy Knowledge Economy Development Mentioned in Information and Communications Technology Policy for Afghanistan - Final Report Mentioned in ICT Policy WB involvement eSAR

eSAR What’s next? eSAR GICT Initiatives On-going GICT to continue to develop these areas. Phase III – FY 07/08 Bottom up review Formal review of SAR ICT portfolio for lessons learned. IT Literacy / Skilled Labor Info.Communication Infrastructure Legal & Reg.Framework SASHD SASFP GICT Sectors ICT Sector Development Sector Specific Applications KE Development e-Government Phase I – FY 05/06 eGovernment eGovernment workprogram piloted in Pakistan and Bangladesh. On-going eGov work in India and Sri Lanka. Phase II – FY 06/07 Sector Specific ICT Applications SAR sector units will be encouraged to develop sector specific ICT workprograms & training. eSAR

Potential Collaborations TTL Training & Capacity Building Exercises – EAP & AFR Cross regional program development for eGovernment - AFR Learning events for sector specific applications eg. HD, RD, PSD Encourage ICT focus by anchor units to ensure consistency and efficiency Encourage the development of partnerships with external agencies and corporations with experience in these areas Close collaboration with ISG and GICT as partnering units for the implementation of eSAR. eSAR

Let us capture the opportunity eSAR Let us capture the opportunity