The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report India SEWA 2025 Digital Financial Inclusion of Informal Sector (P167886) India SEWA 2025 Digital Financial Inclusion of Informal Sector (P167886) SOUTH ASIA | India | Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice | Recipient Executed Activities | Investment Project Financing | FY 2019 | Seq No: 1 | ARCHIVED on 01-Dec-2019 | ISR38037 | Implementing Agencies: Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs, SELF EMPLYED WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 22-Mar-2019 Effectiveness Date: 15-May-2019 Original Closing Date: 30-Apr-2023 Revised Closing Date: 30-Apr-2023 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The Project Development Objective (PDO) is fostering increased use of digital financial services by women engaged in informal activities in the target states. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO -- Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) -- Moderately Satisfactory Implementation Status and Key Decisions The Project became effective on May 15, 2019. The development objective of the project is to foster increased use of digital financial services by women engaged in informal activities in 29 districts across six Indian states, namely, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya and Assam. The project is implemented by Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) through its rural-focused institutions led by SEWA Manager's school. Project beneficiaries are SEWA members (women) from low-income and marginalized households and excluded communities in the target states. The project aims to target women who lack access and capacity to access digital/mobile technologies for financial transactions and need to be financially literate to keep pace with contemporary market requirements, improve their livelihoods, scale up businesses/microenterprises, and increase their incomes. The project also aims to support SEWA to digitize its service delivery to serve their members better and improve efficiency and productivity. The project will undertake these activities through three major components: (a) Needs assessment and technology mapping (assessing and mapping needs of informal sector women); (b) Strengthening SEWA's institutional capacity for DFS training and service delivery (developing learning modules and creating a pool of master trainers); and (c) Catalyzing Fintech adoption by informal sector women (training members in using DFS and catalyzing DFS usage through relevant use-cases). The project is expected to impact at least 500,000 beneficiaries. The project collaborates with IFC's "Nirantar SEWA" initiative which is aimed at a holistic 360-degree transformation of SEWA towards sustainability. Since inception, the project has undertaken the following activities: Staffing, orientation and partnerships: SEWA has onboarded the project coordinator, project manager, procurement coordinator and the financial coordinator at the central level in the Project Management Unit. District level teams are already in place. Orientation activities are being undertaken at state and district levels. The Project Operation Manual has been prepared, and the implementation team has internalized the project objectives, components, activities, results framework and other aspects and deliverables of the project. District level teams in Gujarat and Rajasthan have been oriented through a series of meetings organized by the central team. SEWA's sister institutions and partners in other states have been oriented as 12/1/2019 Page 1 of 5 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report India SEWA 2025 Digital Financial Inclusion of Informal Sector (P167886) well, albeit at a broader level. Further orientation workshops in these states are being planned. A draft partnership agreement between SEWA and its sister institutions in other states to formalize work plans is being prepared and reviewed by legal teams. A short video outlining the project vision and objectives is being prepared by SEWA for circulation among its members and sharing through whatsapp groups. A formal ceremony to launch the project in the presence of dignitaries including representatives from the Embassy of Japan is expected to be organized by December, 2019. Monitoring and Evaluation: SEWA is in the process of onboarding an M&E coordinator to develop / strengthen internal M&E systems (reporting formats, workflows etc.) for effective data collection and reporting on project indicators. The project has experienced delays in commissioning the baseline study . This is likely to have an impact on downstream training activities because the baseline study is expected to provide critical input on members' digital / financial literacy levels, digital readiness, DFS needs and aspirations etc. which will shape training and capacity building parameters. Terms of Reference for the Baseline study have been prepared, and the process of identifying an agency to undertake the baseline survey has commenced in line with Bank's procurement norms. An agency is expected to be onboarded by the end of November, 2019. Procurement: SEWA has submitted the procurement plan for the first 18 months for goods and services. This has been approved by the task team. SEWA's project staff is familiar with the Bank's procurement processes. A refresher session for selected SEWA staff including the procurement coordinator will be facilitated by the task team's procurement specialist. Financial management: The project staff related to finance and accounts are in place and they are familiar with the bank FM systems. As per the disbursement guidelines, SEWA has submitted their 1st withdrawal for INR. 2,14,60,343.00 (2 quarters forecast). As per the grant agreement terms and conditions, SEWA has to submit their IUFR within 45 days from the end of each quarter to the Bank along with a reconciliation statement, with the parent bank and project specific bank account. SEWA cannot claim reimbursement from the World Bank for any advance made to sister organizations (implementation partners in other states). They can claim reimbursement only after submission of UC or SOE against the advances. Social Safeguards: The Indigenous People Policy Framework has been prepared and the districts are being identified as per the framework and mobilization of beneficiaries from these backward districts have started. They have already started identifying master trainers from these districts who are familiar with the local cultural context and the tribal language. Trainings are expected to start in December. Risks Overall Risk Rating Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Overall Moderate -- Substantial 5. Results Project Development Objective Indicators IN00728391 ►Percentage increase in women (in the target group) using digital financial products/services (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 50.00 Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 IN00728397 ►Number of digital products/services offered to women (in target group) for the first time (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 5.00 Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 12/1/2019 Page 2 of 5 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report India SEWA 2025 Digital Financial Inclusion of Informal Sector (P167886) IN00728393 ►Percentage increase in average number of digital financial transactions (in target group) per month (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 50.00 Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 Intermediate Results Indicators IN00728394 ►Number of women trained as master trainers in digital financial products/services (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 300.00 Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 IN00728392 ►Number of women engaged as BC agents (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 300.00 Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 IN00728395 ►Number of women trained in digital financial products/services (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 500,000.00 Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 IN00728396 ►Number of SEWA institutions / centers linked to digital finance marketplaces (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 5.00 Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 IN00728399 ►Percentage of SEWA members involved in savings / credit activities transacting through digital finance products/services (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 25.00 12/1/2019 Page 3 of 5 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report India SEWA 2025 Digital Financial Inclusion of Informal Sector (P167886) Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 IN00728400 ►Percentage of cash transactions in three SEWA social enterprises switched to digital payments (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 25.00 Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 IN00728398 ►Percentage of women beneficiaries who report satisfaction with the digitization of service delivery at SEWA (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 75.00 Date 15-Feb-2019 -- 05-Sep-2019 15-Mar-2023 Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P167886 TF-A9908 Effective USD 2.73 2.73 0.00 0.30 2.43 11% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P167886 TF-A9908 Effective 29-Apr-2019 15-May-2019 15-May-2019 30-Apr-2023 30-Apr-2023 Cumulative Disbursements 12/1/2019 Page 4 of 5 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report India SEWA 2025 Digital Financial Inclusion of Informal Sector (P167886) Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 12/1/2019 Page 5 of 5