Country Director for Cote d’Ivoire Western and Central Africa Region 17-Aug-2023 Date: _____________ H. E. Adama COULIBALY Minister of Economy and Finance Ministry of Economy and Finance Abidjan Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Re: Preparation of Proposed Cote d'Ivoire Digital Acceleration Project (CIDAP) Preparation Advance No. V4930-001 Additional Instructions: Disbursement and Financial Information Letter Excellency: I refer to the Advance Agreement (“Agreement”) between the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire (“Recipient”) and the International Development Association (“Bank”) for facilitating the preparation of the above-referenced Project. The Standard Conditions, as defined in the Agreement, provide that the Recipient may from time-to-time request withdrawals of Advance amounts from the Advance Account in accordance with the Disbursement and Financial Information Letter, and such additional instructions as the Bank may specify from time to time by notice to the Recipient. The Standard Conditions also provide that the Disbursement and Financial Information Letter may set out financial reporting requirements specific to the Activities. This letter constitutes such Disbursement and Financial Information Letter (“DFIL”) and may be revised from time to time. I. Disbursement Arrangements, Withdrawal of funds from the Project Preparation Advance, and Reporting on the uses of funds from the Project Preparation Advance. (i) Disbursement Arrangements The table in Schedule 1 of this DFIL sets out the disbursement methods which may be used by the Recipient, information on registration of authorized signatories, processing of Withdrawal Applications (including the processing of advances from the Advance), instructions on supporting documentation, and reporting of advances. The Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing, dated February 2017 (“Disbursement Guidelines”), are available on the Bank’s secure website “Client Connection” at https://clientconnection.worldbank.org and its public website at https://www.worldbank.org. The Disbursement Guidelines are an integral part of the DFIL, and the manner in which the provisions in the Disbursement Guidelines apply to the Project Preparation Advance is specified below. (ii) Withdrawal Applications (Electronic Delivery) The Recipient will deliver Withdrawal Applications (with supporting documents, “Applications”) electronically through the Bank’s web-based portal “ClientConnection” at https://clientconnection.worldbank.org. This option will be effective after the officials designated in writing by the Recipient who are authorized to sign and deliver Applications have registered as users of “Client Connection.” The designated officials shall deliver Applications electronically by completing Form 2380, which is accessible through “Client Connection.” By signing the Authorized Signatory Letter, which can be delivered manually or electronically, the Recipient confirms that it is authorizing such persons to accept Secure Identification Credentials (SIDC) and to deliver the Applications and supporting documents to the Bank by these means. The Recipient may exercise the option of preparing and delivering Applications in paper form on exceptional cases (including those where the Recipient encounters legal limitations) and which were previously agreed with the Bank. By designating officials to use SIDC and deliver the Applications electronically, the Recipient confirms through the Authorized Signatory Letter its agreement to (a) abide by the Terms and Conditions of Use of Secure Identification Credentials in connection with the Use of Electronic Means to Process Applications and Supporting Documentation, available in the Bank's public website at https://www.worldbank.org and “Client Connection” at https://clientconnection.worldbank.org; and (b) to cause such officials to abide by those terms and conditions. II. Financial Reports and Audits  Financial Reports The Recipient must prepare and furnish to the Bank not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter interim unaudited financial reports (“IFRs”) for the Activities covering the quarter. Where a UN agency is contracted by the Recipient, the Recipient is responsible to ensure that the financial reporting requirements applicable to the UN Agency are stipulated in the agreement between the Recipient and the UN agency and met in a timely manner.  Audits (a) If, on or before the Refinancing Date, a Refinancing Agreement has been executed by all of its parties, the Recipient shall have the Financial Statements included in the first audit of financial statements required under the Refinancing Agreement. (b) If, by the Refinancing Date, no Refinancing Agreement has been executed by all of its parties, such audit of the Financial Statements shall cover the period of the Advance, commencing with the fiscal year in which the first withdrawal under the Advance was made. The audited Financial Statements for such period must be furnished to the Bank not later than six (6) months after the end of the Recipient’s fiscal year in which the Refinancing Date occurs. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of above, the Bank may request an audit of the Financial Statements prior to the Refinancing Date, covering such period as is indicated in its request. The audited Financial Statements for such period shall be furnished to the Bank not later than six (6) months after the end of such period. III. Other Important Information For additional information on disbursement arrangements, please refer to the Loan Handbook available on the Bank’s public website at https://www.worldbank.org and “Client Connection” at https://clientconnection.worldbank.org the Bank recommends that you register as a user of “Client Connection.” From this website, you will be able to prepare and deliver Authorized Signatory Letters and Withdrawal Applications, monitor the near real-time status of the Advance and retrieve related policy, financial, and procurement information. For more information about the website and registration arrangements, or if you have any queries in relation to the above, please contact the Bank by email at askloans@worldbank.org using the above reference. Yours sincerely, ______________________________ Antonius Verheijen Acting Country Director for Cote d’Ivoire Western and Central Africa Region Attachments 1. Statement of Expenditure (SOE) With copies: Ministry of Economy and Finance BP V 163 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire adcoulibaly01@gmail.com [email address] Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire amadou.coulibaly@presidence.ci Schedule 1 : Disbursement Provisions Basic Information Project Country Republic of Cote d’Ivoire Article 3.03 to the Advance Refinancing Date Preparation Recipient Republic of Cote d’Ivoire Agreement. V4930-001 Advance Name of the Project Cote d'Ivoire Digital Acceleration Disbursement The disbursement deadline date is number Preparation Advance Project Deadline Date the same as the refinancing date. Disbursement Methods and Supporting Documentation Disbursement Methods Methods Supporting Documentation Section 2 (**) Subsections 4.3 and 4.4 (**) Direct Payment Yes Copy of records (e.g., invoices and receipts) Reimbursement Yes Statement of Expenditure (SOE)in the format provided in Attachment 1 of the DFIL Advance (into a Designated Yes Statement of Expenditure (SOE) in the format provided in Attachment 1 of the DFIL Account) Special Commitments No Designated Account (Sections 5 and 6 **) Type Segregated Ceiling Fixed Financial Institution - BCEAO Cote d’Ivoire Currency F CFA Name Frequency of Reporting 500 000 000 Monthly Amount Subsection 6.3 (**) Minimum Value of Applications (subsection 3.5) The minimum value of applications for Reimbursement and Direct Payment is USD 50,000 equivalent. Authorized Signatures (Subsection 3.1 and 3.2 **) and Withdrawal and Documentation Applications (Subsection 3.3 and 3.4 **) (i) Authorized Signatures (subsection 3.1). Applications for this Financing (ii) Applications (subsections 3.2 - 3.3). All Withdrawal Applications and will be signed by the official(s) designated in the Standing Authorization their supporting documentation shall be electronically submitted via the Letter and authorized to sign Withdrawal Applications, including by Association’s web-based Portal “Client Connection”. electronic means, for all Cote d’Ivoire projects Additional Information Other Attachment 1 – Statement of Expenditures