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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Let us capture the opportunity
eSAR
Let us capture the opportunity