The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) SOUTH ASIA | Bangladesh | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing (IPF) | FY 2020 | Seq No: 9 | Archived on 06-Feb-2025 | ISR02687 Implementing Agencies: Bangladesh Computer Council 1. OBJECTIVE 1.1 Development Objective Original Development Objective (Approved as part of Approval package on 19-Jun-2020) To improve the efficiency and cybersecurity of digital government, and increase digitally enabled employment and raise revenues of IT industry firms supported by the Project. Has the Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No 2. COMPONENTS Name Component 1: Enabling Environment for Digital Government and Digital Economy:(Cost 63,110,000.00) Component 2: Transforming Digital Government:(Cost 76,890,000.00) Component 3: Developing Digital Enablers:(Cost 61,210,000.00) Component 4: Project Management Support:(Cost 33,790,000.00) 3. OVERALL RATINGS Name Previous Current Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Risk Rating Substantial Substantial 4. KEY ISSUES & STATUS Feb 06, 2025 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) 4.1 Implementation Status and Key Decisions The Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project is transforming Bangladesh’s digital landscape, backed by a total commitment of US $63.46 million. This initiative integrates IT workforce development, policy innovation, digital infrastructure enhancement, and research promotion to build a robust digital ecosystem for the country. From its effectiveness date of February 13, 2022 until now, the project has contributed in advancing the IT industry by training over 5,200 participants, of whom more than 27% are women, in sought-after skills such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). Through its Hire and Train Program, the EDGE Project has achieved an impressive 80% job placement rate for its 2024 graduates. This success stems from strong collaborations with academia, industry, and government. In parallel, 1,557 government officials and 697 chief and mid-level executives have been trained in digital economy programs, enhancing their capacity to navigate and lead in the evolving digital landscape. Partnerships with 32 public universities have further expanded the reach of digital technology courses, preparing a skilled workforce for future demands. The project also supports critical policy development, facilitating the draft Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) following international best practice of the role that such a law would play as part of the “trust” framework to enable the digital economy of Bangladesh. . On the infrastructure front, the EDGE Project has signed contracts for 13 essential service and goods packages, laying the foundation for a comprehensive digital infrastructure. Key developments include the establishment of government email services, enhanced National Digital Architecture and Enterprise Architecture Bus services, unified communication tools, a national job portal, and cloud infrastructure. These initiatives aim to create seamless and efficient platforms that support governance and economic activities. The project is equally committed to fostering research and innovation. Collaborating with 9 public universities, it has set up Research and Innovation Centers (RICs) and received over 1,500 proposals from academics, experts, and industry professionals, with 79 proposals shortlisted for grants. Furthering its vision, the EDGE Project is working to establish a Digital Leadership Academy and the Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in the ICT Tower, which will enhance the digital competency of government officials. Plans to build a nano lab for microchip design highlight the project’s emphasis on cutting-edge technological advancements. Through these comprehensive efforts, the EDGE Project is not only advancing digital skills and infrastructure but also laying the groundwork for sustainable innovation and economic growth in Bangladesh’s digital future. 5. SYSTEMATIC OPERATIONS RISK-RATING TOOL Rating at Approval Last Approved Rating Risk Category Approval Package - ISR Seq. 08 - 11 Jul Proposed Rating 19 Jun 2020 2024 Political and Governance Substantial Substantial High Macroeconomic Moderate Moderate Moderate Sector Strategies and Policies High Substantial Substantial Technical Design of Project or Program Substantial Substantial Substantial Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Substantial Substantial Substantial Sustainability Feb 06, 2025 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) Fiduciary Substantial Substantial Substantial Environment and Social Low Low Low Stakeholders Substantial Substantial Substantial Overall High Substantial Substantial Feb 06, 2025 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) 6. RESULTS 6.1 PDO Indicators by PDO Outcomes To improve the efficiency and cybersecurity of digital government investments Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Cost-efficiency savings on use 0.00 Feb/2022 0 25-Jun-2024 0 10-Jan-2025 100,000,000.00 Sep/2025 of Integrated Digital Platform by GOB agencies (Amount(USD)) GOB officials trained to 0.00 Feb/2022 790 25-Jun-2024 790 10-Jan-2025 5,000.00 Jun/2025 improve efficiency and cybersecurity of the Digital Government (Number) Increase digitally enabled employment and raise revenue of IT industry firms Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Millions of new or better jobs 0.00 Feb/2022 8,834 25-Jun-2024 8,834 10-Jan-2025 1,000,000.00 Jun/2025 (Number) 0.00 25.08 25.08 30.00 Of which for women Comments on Supplementary indicator for female beneficiaries (Percentage) achieving targets Revenue of IT industry firms 0.00 Feb/2022 28,980,900 25-Jun-2024 28,980,900 10-Jan-2025 100,000,000.00 Jun/2025 supported by the Project activities (Amount(USD)) Feb 06, 2025 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) 6.2 Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Component 1: Enabling Environment for Digital Government and Digital Economy Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Digital development-related 0.00 Feb/2022 2.00 25-Jun-2024 2.00 10-Jan-2025 5.00 Jun/2025 guidelines, policies and/or regulations drafted and submitted to the relevant higher authorities (Number) Of which have gender- 0.00 2.00 2.00 3.00 informed additions Comments on To include gender considerations into the policies or regulations reviewed proposed (Number) achieving targets Establishment of Digital 0.00 Feb/2022 0.00 25-Jun-2024 0.00 10-Jan-2025 1.00 Jun/2025 Leadership Academy (Number) Relevant Government 0.00 Feb/2022 1,061 25-Jun-2024 1,061 10-Jan-2025 10,000.00 Jun/2025 officials undertaken one or more digital government skills courses (Number) 0.00 18.48 18.48 25.00 Of which female Comments on Supplementary indicator for female beneficiaries. Not all skills courses are relevant for all Government officials achieving targets female civil servants; as it depends on each course’s relevance for Class 1 to 4 civil servants (Percentage) in GOB’s public administration structure Component 2: Transforming Digital Government Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Feb 06, 2025 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) Increase in digital integration 0.00 Feb/2022 0 25-Jun-2024 0 10-Jan-2025 20.00 Jun/2025 across GOB agencies through the use of the IDP (Percentage) Citizens engaged with cyber 0.00 Feb/2022 0.00 25-Jun-2024 0.00 10-Jan-2025 1,000,000.00 Jun/2025 security campaigns and equipped with cyber security tools, techniques and content (Number) Public servants’ official email 0.00 Feb/2022 149,000 25-Jun-2024 149,000 10-Jan-2025 150,000.00 Jun/2025 accounts protected by encryption (Number) Use of Bangladesh National 5.00 Feb/2022 5.70 25-Jun-2024 5.70 10-Jan-2025 35.00 Jun/2025 Digital Architecture by GOB agencies (Percentage) Component 3: Developing Digital Enablers Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Bangladeshi youth trained in 0.00 Feb/2022 7,148 25-Jun-2024 7,148 10-Jan-2025 70,000.00 Jun/2025 digital and/or emerging technologies (Number) Of which are female 0.00 2,111 2,111 17,400.00 youth (30%) Comments on Supplementary indicator for female beneficiaries (Number) achieving targets Trainees satisfied with the 0.00 Feb/2022 90.78 25-Jun-2024 90.78 10-Jan-2025 80.00 Jun/2025 training provided by BCC (Percentage) Training, Research and 0.00 Feb/2022 0.00 25-Jun-2024 0.00 10-Jan-2025 20.00 Jun/2025 Innovation Centers (RICs) established (Number) Feb 06, 2025 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) Digital economy activities 0.00 Feb/2022 5 25-Jun-2024 0 10-Jan-2025 3.00 Jun/2025 (training, research and innovation topics, business development support, etc.) that incorporated beneficiary feedback into its selection and design (Number) Feb 06, 2025 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) 7. DATA ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 7.1 Cumulative Disbursements 7.2 Disbursements (by loan) Loan/Credit/TF Status Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed IDA-66750 Effective 295.00 224.16 60.15 47.72 180.22 20.94% 7.3 Key Dates (by loan) Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Signing Effectiveness Orig. Closing Rev. Closing IDA-66750 Effective 19-Jun-2020 09-Jan-2022 13-Feb-2022 30-Sep-2025 30-Sep-2025 8. KEY DATES Feb 06, 2025 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report BD: Enhancing Digital Government & Economy Project (P161086) Key Events Planned Actual Approval 19-Jun-2020 19-Jun-2020 Effectiveness 13-Feb-2022 13-Feb-2022 Mid-Term Review No. 01 16-Oct-2024 Operation Closing/Cancellation 30-Sep-2025 9. RESTRUCTURING HISTORY Restructuring Level 2 Approved on 03-Apr-2024 10. ASSOCIATED OPERATION(S) There are no associated operations Feb 06, 2025 Page 9 of 9