The World Bank Report No: ISR13417 Implementation Status & Results Africa West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (P116273) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 5 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 22-Feb-2014 Program (P116273) Country: Africa Approval FY: 2011 Product Line: IBRD/IDA Region: AFRICA Lending Instrument: Adaptable Program Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Key Dates Board Approval Date 20-Jan-2011 Original Closing Date 30-Sep-2015 Planned Mid Term Review Date 09-Sep-2013 Last Archived ISR Date 01-Jun-2013 Effectiveness Date 29-Apr-2011 Revised Closing Date 30-Sep-2015 Actual Mid Term Review Date 16-Dec-2013 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) WARCIP seeks to increase the geographical reach of broadband networks and reducing the costs of communications services in West Africa. Under APL1-A, the objectives of the Projects,thus, are to increase the geographical reach of broadband networks and to reduce costs of communications services in the territory of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Sierra Leone: Supporting Connectivity 26.75 Sierra Leone: Creating an Enabling Environment for Connectivity 2.93 Sierra Leone: Project Implementation 1.32 Liberia: Supporting Connectivity 21.00 Public Disclosure Copy Liberia: Creating and Enabling Environment for Connectivity 3.32 Liberia: Project Implementation 1.28 Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13417 Implementation Status Overview This ISR reflects the results of a Mid-Term Review (MTR) supervision mission conducted in Liberia during December 16-20, 2013, and a virtual supervision conducted in Sierra Leone during November 5-8, 2013. A follow-up mission to Sierra Leone is scheduled for Q3 of FY14. Public Disclosure Copy A. Implementation Progress for WARCIP Liberia The implementation of the project is proceeding Satisfactorily. Based on the progress, the project is assessed to be on track to achieve the project development objective (PDO) by the end of the project. Disbursements stand at 88.35%. The project has achieved a major milestone of assisting Liberia to connect with the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), an undersea communications cable providing high-speed internet. Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL), a public-private partnership, has been established to oversee the day-to-day operations of the ACE landing site in Liberia. CCL's longer-term sustainability depends upon its ability to operate as a corporate entity, and generate sufficient revenue to fund its expenses. The mission discussed an updated approach to expedite the deliverables related to universal service, build a project management office (PMO) for MOPT to coordinate e- government development in Liberia, and provide capacity building to sector stakeholders. Several studies are ongoing to assist the government in tackling important issues of divesting the government's shares in CCL, developing a national backbone, and establishing a universal access fund. Project implementation unit (PIU) demonstrates strong operating performance, with good understanding of the project and positive working relationships. Financial management and procurement functions are being done satisfactorily. Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the implementing agency, shows strong leadership and commitment in overseeing the implementation of the project. B. Implementation Progress Status for WARCIP Sierra Leone Progress towards achieving the PDO is rated Moderately Unsatisfactory. Given the very high disbursement rate of about 91.81%, the recent developments in Sierra Leone are rather unfortunate, as until then, the agreement between Government and nine private operators to jointly own and manage the cable was unprecedented and very laudable. Significant evidence exists to suggest that Government has since decided to reverse policy decisions on liberalization of the international gateway and divestiture of SALCAB. These decisions are likely to have a negative impact on the Development Objective of the project which is to increase coverage and reduce the price of connectivity for the people of Sierra Leone. Locations Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Africa Not Entered Zwedru Africa Not Entered Tubmanburg Africa Not Entered Fish Town Africa Not Entered Sanniquellie Africa Not Entered Robertsport Public Disclosure Copy Africa Not Entered River Cess Africa Not Entered Kakata Africa Not Entered Harper Africa Not Entered Greenville Africa Not Entered Gbarnga Africa Not Entered Buchanan Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13417 Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Africa Not Entered Bopolu Public Disclosure Copy Africa Not Entered Bensonville Africa Not Entered Barclayville Africa Not Entered Freetown Africa Not Entered State House Africa Not Entered Ministry of Information and Communications Africa Not Entered Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development Africa Not Entered Ministry of Health and Sanitation Results Project Development Objective Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Volume of international traffic: International Text Value Communications (Internet, Telecoms, and Date Data) bandwidth per person Comments Liberia: Volume of international traffic-- Text Value 1 2.93 40 International Communications (Internet, Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 16-Dec-2013 31-Dec-2014 Telecoms, and Data) bandwidth per person Breakdown Comments Sierra Leone: Volume of international traffic-- Text Value 3 3 40 International Communications (Internet, Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 15-Feb-2013 31-Dec-2014 Telecoms, and Data) bandwidth per person Breakdown Comments For Sierra Leone: M&E Expert Public Disclosure Copy is hired, and is preparing results data to be updated by next mission. Access to Internet Services (number of Number Value subscribers per 100 people) Date Comments Liberia: Access to Internet Services (number of Number Value 1.50 3.72 3.00 subscribers per 100 people) Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 16-Dec-2013 31-Dec-2014 Breakdown Comments Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13417 Sierra Leone: Access to Internet Services Number Value 0.28 1.80 2.00 (number of subscribers per 100 people) Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 15-Feb-2013 31-Dec-2014 Breakdown Comments For Sierra Leone: M&E Expert Public Disclosure Copy is hired, and is preparing results data to be updated by next mission. Access to Telephone Services (fixed mainlines Number Value plus cellular phones per 100 people) Date Comments Liberia: Access to Telephone Services (fixed Number Value 24.00 58.83 47.00 mainlines plus cellular phones per 100 people) Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 16-Dec-2013 31-Dec-2014 Breakdown Comments Sierra Leone: Access to Telephone Services Number Value 25.00 50.60 43.00 (fixed mainlines plus cellular phones per 100 Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 15-Feb-2013 31-Dec-2014 people) Breakdown Comments For Sierra Leone: M&E Expert is hired, and is preparing results data to be updated by next mission. Average monthly price of wholesale Text Value international E1 capacity link from capital city to Date Europe Comments Liberia: Average monthly price of wholesale Text Value $8000 $2000 less than $2000 international E1 capacity link from capital city to Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 16-Dec-2013 31-Dec-2014 Europe Breakdown Comments Sierra Leone: Average monthly price of Text Value $8000 $6000 $2000 wholesale international E1 capacity link from Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 15-Feb-2013 31-Dec-2014 capital city to Europe Breakdown Comments For Sierra Leone: M&E Expert is hired, and is preparing Public Disclosure Copy results data to be updated by next mission. Direct project beneficiaries Number Value Date Comments Liberia: Female beneficiaries Number Value 45.00 45.83 50.00 Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 16-Dec-2013 31-Dec-2014 Breakdown Comments Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13417 Sierra Leone: Female beneficiaries Number Value 43.00 48.00 Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 31-Dec-2014 Breakdown Comments For Sierra Leone: M&E Expert Public Disclosure Copy is hired, and is preparing results data to be updated by next mission. Liberia: Direct project beneficiaries Number Value 700000.00 907470.00 1400000.00 Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 16-Dec-2013 31-Dec-2014 Breakdown Comments Sierra Leone: Direct project beneficiaries Number Value 2000000.00 3200000.00 Sub Type Date 30-Nov-2010 31-Dec-2014 Breakdown Comments For Sierra Leone: M&E Expert is hired, and is preparing results data to be updated by next mission. Female beneficiaries Percentage Value Sub Type Supplemental Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Sierra Leone: Volume of available international Number Value 0.30 0.30 6.00 capacity: International Communications Date 30-Nov-2010 21-Nov-2012 31-Dec-2014 (Internet, Voice) bandwidth Comments Gbit/s For Sierra Leone: M&E Expert Gbit/s is hired, and is preparing results data to be updated by next mission. Retail Price of Internet Services (per Mbit/s per Amount(USD) Value 1500.00 1500.00 800.00 Month, in US$) Date 30-Nov-2010 21-Nov-2012 31-Dec-2014 Public Disclosure Copy Comments US$/month For Sierra Leone: M&E Expert US$/month is hired, and is preparing results data to be updated by next mission. Impact on Telecom sector of World Bank Number Value 0.00 0.00 3.00 Technical Assistance (composite score: 1- low Date 30-Nov-2010 20-Nov-2012 31-Dec-2014 impact to 5-high impact) Comments For Sierra Leone: M&E Expert is hired, and is preparing Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13417 results data to be updated by next mission. Liberia: Volume of available international Number Value 0.07 5.27 1.12 capacity: International Communications Public Disclosure Copy Date 30-Nov-2010 16-Dec-2013 31-Dec-2014 (Internet, Voice) bandwidth Comments G bits/s The results are for Liberia. G bits/s Retail Price of Internet Services (per Mbit/s per Amount(USD) Value 1200.00 1000.00 500.00 Month, in US$) Date 30-Nov-2010 16-Dec-2013 31-Dec-2014 Comments The results are for Liberia. less than US$500/month Impact on Telecom sector of World Bank Number Value 0.00 2.86 4.00 Technical Assistance (composite score: 1- low Date 16-Dec-2013 impact to 5-high impact) Comments The results are for Liberia. Data on Financial Performance (as of 10-Jan-2014) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P116273 IDA-48550 Effective 20-Jan-2011 08-Feb-2011 13-Jun-2011 30-Sep-2015 30-Sep-2015 P116273 IDA-48560 Effective 20-Jan-2011 14-Feb-2011 29-Apr-2011 30-Sep-2015 30-Sep-2015 Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P116273 IDA-48550 Effective XDR 16.30 16.30 0.00 14.40 1.90 88.00 P116273 IDA-48560 Effective XDR 19.80 19.80 0.00 18.28 1.52 92.00 Disbursement Graph Public Disclosure Copy Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR13417 Public Disclosure Copy Key Decisions Regarding Implementation For Liberia, all parties agreed to provide increased due diligence in the next few months and ensure no delays occur in procurement of key activities. For Sierra Leone, Government is expected to respond to World Bank request for plan and timeline for a resolution of divestiture and gateway liberalization issues by January 31, 2014. Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Projects There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Page 7 of 7