The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA | Rwanda | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing (IPF) | FY 2022 | Seq No: 5 | Archived on 27-Apr-2024 | ISR60446 Implementing Agencies: Development Bank of Rwanda, Rwanda Information Society Authority 1. OBJECTIVE 1.1 Development Objective Original Development Objective (Approved as part of Approval package on 30-Nov-2021) To increase access to broadband and selected digital public services, and strengthen the digital innovation ecosystem Has the Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No 2. COMPONENTS Name Digital Access and Inclusion:(Cost 60,500,000.00) Digital Public Service Delivery:(Cost 100,000,000.00) Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship:(Cost 29,500,000.00) Project Management:(Cost 10,000,000.00) 3. OVERALL RATINGS Name Previous Current Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate 4. KEY ISSUES & STATUS Apr 27, 2024 Page 1 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) 4.1 Implementation Status and Key Decisions · · Component 1: Digital Access and Inclusion – The design of the device access fund is being finalized. Tenders for last-mile connectivity have been launched for school connectivity and international capacity, and further tenders to expend Government’s access to broadband are due to be launched in the months ahead. The Digital Ambassador’s Program (DAP) is now operating at close to full capacity, delivering basic digital skills training at cell-level. Technical assistance (TA) and equipment is also being procured to improve regulation of the broadband market in line with the new Broadband Policy. · Component 2: Digital Public Service Delivery – A new ID law was adopted in June 2023. TA, software, and hardware is being procured to upgrade the Single Digital ID System, on the back of the new law. Upgrades to the Irembo platform, along with support for e-health and e-business management information systems are also being procured, yielding new e-service. Cybersecurity and data protection activities, including training programs, risk assessment, and audits are being contracted, as well as upstream support for designing the Government Data Hub which is now due to be concluded. · Component 3: Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship – The design of early-stage financing mechanism for digital startups is being finalized. A pilot performance-based grants program for entrepreneurship support organizations has been launched. A first cohort has graduated from the Rwanda Coding Academy (RCA), on the back of project support, and government is expanding student loans financing for those pursuing advanced digital skills programs under the project. · Component 4: Program management – Project Implementation Units at the Rwanda Information Society Authority and Rwanda Development Bank are both operational and fully staffed. Government is scaling it’s support for e-waste management and screening project planned projects sites for environmental and social risks. 5. SYSTEMATIC OPERATIONS RISK-RATING TOOL Rating at Approval Last Approved Rating Risk Category Approval Package - ISR Seq. 04 - 19 Oct Proposed Rating 30 Nov 2021 2023 Political and Governance Low Low Low Macroeconomic Moderate Substantial Substantial Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate Moderate Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate Moderate Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Substantial Substantial Substantial Sustainability Fiduciary Moderate Moderate Moderate Environment and Social Moderate Moderate Moderate Apr 27, 2024 Page 2 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) Stakeholders Moderate Moderate Moderate Other Moderate Moderate Moderate Overall Moderate Moderate Moderate Apr 27, 2024 Page 3 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) 6. RESULTS 6.1 PDO Indicators by PDO Outcomes Increase Access to Broadband Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year 19.34 Jun/2021 35.76 15-Dec-2023 35.76 15-Dec-2023 31.00 Dec/2026 Comments on Figures based on 'the Statistics Report for Telecom, Media and Broadcasting Sector', as of the Broadband penetration rate achieving targets Fourth Quarter of the Year 2023 - Dec 2023. There has been a marked uptick in 4G services (mobile + fixed)  since the last ISR. (Percentage) Disaggregated data on female/male is not yet available, as dependent on operators reporting this data to the regulator, but steps are been taken by RURA to work with operators to begin collecting/producing this new indicator. Mobile broadband 19.20 35.31 35.31 30.00 penetration rate Comments on Supplemental indicator. Mobile broadband only includes 3G and 4G (EDGE and GPRS is not (Percentage) achieving targets included) 0.14 0.38 1.00 Fixed broadband Comments on Supplemental indicator. penetration rate achieving targets Fixed broadband subscriptions include those on digital subscriber lines (DSL), fiber-to-the (Percentage) home/building, satellite broadband, terrestrial fixed wireless broadband, and other fixed wired-broadband networks 0.00 0.00 0.00 40.00 Of which female Comments on Supplemental indicator. (Percentage) achieving targets Increase Access to select Digital Public Services Indicator Name Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Apr 27, 2024 Page 4 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year 0.00 Jun/2021 23 15-Apr-2024 23 15-Apr-2024 30.00 Dec/2026 Comments on Ongoing procurement of upgrades and transition to Irembo 3.0 and deployment of other MIS achieving targets linked to e-health and e-business activities are expected to yield 100+ fully transactional G2P, G2B and G2G e-services. Fully transactional G2P, G2B The Irembo project team hired has already helped make improvement to 2 Irembo 2.0 and G2G e-services that are services. Set-up of the U-SACCO helpdesk has added 2 new services, and quality assurance introduced, upgraded, or provided of the banking automation process has supported the upgrade of a further 19 enabled (Number) services. Ongoing work to deploy the building permit management system is expected to yield 11 new services by Dec 2024. Similarly, deployment of the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system upgrade and Hospital Management Information System (MIS) for district hospitals, referral hospital and health centers due to be contract in April 2024, will yield 18 new services by April 2025. Strengthen the Digital Innovation Ecosystem Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Digital startups supported 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 30-Sep-2023 140.00 Dec/2026 creating and/or leveraging a Comments on Results will only be registered following the launch of further activities under sub-component digital technology solution achieving targets 3.1, including the early stage financing facility and improved ecosystem support services for (Number) digital start-ups. 0.00 0.00 30.00 Comments on Supplemental indicator. Of which female- achieving targets owned (Percentage) This indicator will apply the IFC’s definition of women-owned enterprises, which includes firms where (i) a woman/women has/have a 51 percent or more ownership stake, or greater than or equal to 20 percent; (ii) 1 or more woman/women is/re the CEO/COO (President/Vice President); or (iii) 30 percent or more of the board of directors are women. Apr 27, 2024 Page 5 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) 6.2 Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Digital Access and Inclusion Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Beneficiaries that receive 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 15-Mar-2024 0.00 15-Mar-2024 250,000.00 Dec/2026 support under the smart Comments on Design of smart device financing scheme is being finalized - the Device Access Fund is likely to device financing scheme achieving targets be launched in the next 3 months, following which results can be registered. (Number) 0.00 0.00 50.00 Of which female beneficiaries Comments on Supplemental indicator. (Percentage) achieving targets 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.00 Of which beneficiaries Comments on Supplemental indicator. in rural areas achieving targets This will be based on the definition applied by the Integrated household Living Conditions (Percentage) Survey-EICV in respect to rural households. 0.00 Dec/2021 839946 15-Mar-2024 839946 15-Mar-2024 3,000,000.00 Dec/2026 Comments on Between January – June 2023, an initial batch of 136,528 people have been trained in digital People trained in digital achieving targets literacy under the Digital Ambassadors Program; Between June-December 2023 a further literacy (Number) 447,468 people were trained (of which 234,702 women). As of end of March 2024, the cumulative figure is 839,694 (or which 431,283 women). 0.00 51 51 40.00 Of which female Comments on Supplemental Indicator. (Percentage) achieving targets Training participants who are female. Additional internet access 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 31-Mar-2023 2,500.00 Dec/2026 Apr 27, 2024 Page 6 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) points established Comments on Acquisition of additional bandwidth capacity for the Rwanda’s research and educational (connected govt. offices, achieving targets network, through Ubuntunet, has allowed for upgraded connections at 654 sites (639 schools schools, hospital and and 15 universities), distributed via the smart education network, with 290 sites located in marketplaces etc.) rural areas. 240 new secondary schools have been connected with 4G, as part of the school (Number) connectivity pilot, a majority of which (232) are located in rural areas. RISA is fast-tracking broadband investments for 412 heath facilities to enable the e-health flagship. These facilities are due to be connected at the end of April 2024. Meanwhile, Government has launched a large tender for acquiring international bandwidth in bulk for the Government Network, and is due to launch a second tender for domestic distribution to identified sites to be connected. 0.00 58.40 58.40 75.00 Of which located in Comments on Supplemental indicator. rural areas achieving targets This will be based on the definition applied by the Integrated household Living Conditions (Percentage) Survey-EICV in respect to rural versus urban areas. Digital Public Service Delivery Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Population enrolled and 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 15-Mar-2024 0.00 15-Mar-2024 75.00 Dec/2026 issued a new digital ID Comments on The disbursement condition linked to ID system investments was lifted in July, on the back of credential (either a physical achieving targets the new ID law promulgated in June 2023. The upgraded ID system is currently being card or a virtual equivalent) procured. (Percentage) 0.00 0.00 40.00 Of which female Comments on Supplement indicator. This indicator refers to the share of the total number of new (Percentage) achieving targets registrations recorded, including both adults and children. 0.00 0.00 50.00 Children enrolled Comments on Supplement indicator. This indicator refers to the share of the total number of all children, (Percentage) achieving targets who are between 5-16 years of age, currently residing in Rwanda, who have been enrolled in the new SDID. Apr 27, 2024 Page 7 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) Cybersecurity standards, No Dec/2021 No 15-Mar-2024 No 15-Mar-2024 Yes Dec/2026 compliance and audit Comments on Selection for related technical assistance for the NCSA is being finalized, which will develop framework published achieving targets related frameworks. (Yes/No) 0.00 Dec/2021 98 15-Mar-2024 98 15-Mar-2024 600.00 Dec/2026 Comments on 20 public sector officials from across government have undertaken CISSP certificate Public sector officials trained achieving targets cybersecurity training through the AfricaFIRST program, funded under the project. A further in digital skills (Number) 57 IT officials began training in the reporting period January – June 2023. 21 staff have been trained in new IT systems and processes as part of the U-SACCO automation process. Citizen engagement 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 15-Mar-2024 0.00 15-Mar-2024 75.00 Dec/2026 indicator: People accessing Comments on Users will begin to be surveyed now that new e-services have been launched. Data yet to be new e-services supported achieving targets collected in respect to this indicator. through the project and reporting satisfaction (Percentage) 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.00 Of which female Comments on Supplemental Indicator. (Percentage) achieving targets 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 30-Sep-2023 100.00 Dec/2026 Data Controllers and Comments on Techincal assistance is being contracted that will develop the specification for a digitalized Processors that are listed in achieving targets DPO Register. Data Controllers and Processors are currently registered in a simplified digital the DPO Register (Number) format, with total figures not yet reported. Datasets publicly available 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 15-Mar-2024 0.00 15-Mar-2024 400.00 Dec/2026 for download in the Comments on Delivery of techincal assistance to support the design of the Data Hub is now being finalized, Government Data Hub achieving targets allowing the procurement of downstream implementation to begin. (Number) Percentage of successful 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 30-Sep-2023 0.00 30-Sep-2023 75.00 Dec/2026 Apr 27, 2024 Page 8 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) identity verification and Comments on The disbursement condition linked to ID system investments was lifted in July, on the back of digital authentication achieving targets the new ID law promulgated in June 2023. The upgraded ID system is currently being services provided in the procured. context of service delivery to population 5 years and above (Percentage) Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year 0.00 Dec/2021 6 15-Mar-2024 6 15-Mar-2024 300.00 Dec/2026 Comments on Results will only be registered following the launch of further activities under sub-component Startups supported through achieving targets 3.1, including the early stage financing facility and improved ecosystem support services for the project (Number) digital start-ups. Pilot deployment of performance-based grants for ecosystem support organizations should allow the project to register results in the next 6 months. Six start-ups benefitted from attending an overseas industry investor conference in October 2023. Graduates from specialized 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 30-Sep-2023 75.00 Dec/2026 digital skills training Comments on Rwanda Coding Academy (RCA) has doubled its annual enrolment of students from 60 to 120, employed or in education achieving targets thanks to the support being provided by the project. A first cohort has graduated, with 40 within 12 months after enrolled in higher education. That status of the 20 other graduates is being confirmed. completion (Percentage) 0.00 0.00 35.00 Of which female Comments on Supplemental Indicator. (Percentage) achieving targets Share of graduates that are female. Citizen engagement 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 15-Mar-2024 0.00 15-Mar-2024 75.00 Dec/2026 indicator: Startups reporting Comments on Results will only be registered following the launch of performance-based grants for improved satisfaction with incubation achieving targets ecosystem support services for digital start-ups, expected in the next 6 months. and acceleration services received (Percentage) Project Management Apr 27, 2024 Page 9 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Citizen engagement 0.00 Dec/2021 0.00 15-Mar-2024 0.00 15-Mar-2024 75.00 Dec/2026 indicator:Grievances Comments on No grievances registered. registered that receive an achieving targets adequate response within 30 days (Percentage) Apr 27, 2024 Page 10 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) 7. DATA ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 7.1 Cumulative Disbursements 7.2 Disbursements (by loan) Loan/Credit/TF Status Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed COFN-C2100 Effective 100.00 100.00 0.00 12.37 81.25 12.37% IDA-70000 Effective 100.00 100.00 0.00 12.96 80.40 12.96% 7.3 Key Dates (by loan) Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Signing Effectiveness Orig. Closing Rev. Closing IDA-70000 Effective 30-Nov-2021 07-Dec-2021 24-Mar-2022 31-Dec-2026 31-Dec-2026 Apr 27, 2024 Page 11 of 12 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Digital Acceleration Project (P173373) 8. KEY DATES Key Events Planned Actual Approval 30-Nov-2021 30-Nov-2021 Effectiveness 09-Mar-2021 09-Mar-2021 Mid-Term Review No. 01 02-Sep-2024 Operation Closing/Cancellation 31-Dec-2026 9. RESTRUCTURING HISTORY 10. ASSOCIATED OPERATION(S) There are no associated operations Apr 27, 2024 Page 12 of 12