The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA | Eastern and Southern Africa | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing (IPF) | FY 2024 | Seq No: 3 | Archived on 28-Mar-2025 | ISR03292 Implementing Agencies: Ministère de la Communications,Communication, chargé des Postes et des Télécommunications (Djibouti), Ministry of Innovation and Technology (Ethiopia) 1. OBJECTIVE 1.1 Development Objective Original Development Objective (Approved as part of Approval package on 01-Dec-2023) advance digital market integration in the Eastern Africa region by increasing affordable access to regional broadband connectivity, strengthening the enabling environment and policy convergence for cross-border digital trade and data flows, and developing digital skills. Has the Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No 2. COMPONENTS Name Component 1. Connectivity Market Development and Integration :(Cost 132,000,000.00) Component 2. Data Market Development and Integration:(Cost 7,700,000.00) Component 3. Online Market Development and Integration :(Cost 13,800,000.00) Component 4. Project Management and Implementation Support :(Cost 6,500,000.00) Component 5: Contingent Emergency Response:(Cost 0.00) 3. OVERALL RATINGS Name Previous Current Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Substantial Substantial Mar 28, 2025 Page 1 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) 4. KEY ISSUES & STATUS 4.1 Implementation Status and Key Decisions The second in the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Series of Projects (EARDIP-SOP-2) is generally progressing well, as shown by the most recent implementation support missions, conducted in Ethiopia, from Jan 20-February 6, 2025, and in Djibouti from February 3-13, 2025. Ethiopia Disbursement is generally progressing well and the first contracts have been awarded. Disbursement currently stands at 12 percent following the approval of the most recent interim financial reports. Three contracts have been signed and a total of 24 procurement selections, amounting for over 30 percent of project funds, are at different stages of approval. Two of the results indicators have already been achieved, for the reduction in montthly price of 2GB of data below 2 percent of GNI per capita and the elaboration of a WTO offer. The Ethiopia PIU team has benefitted from a study visit to Korea, funded by a KGGTF grant, and has also received training in Safeguards and Procurement. Djibouti Disbursement has been progressing well, and the rate stands at 5 percent but is expected to increase to 16 percent following the signing of the contract for the upgrade of cross-border links in March 2025. A total of 15 contracts (US$3.824m) are in different stages of procurement, with 8 (US$534k) already under implementation, and 5 (US$970k) pending imminent implementation. 5. SYSTEMATIC OPERATIONS RISK-RATING TOOL Rating at Approval Last Approved Rating Risk Category Approval Package - ISR Seq. 02 - 25 Sep Proposed Rating 01 Dec 2023 2024 Political and Governance Substantial Substantial Substantial Macroeconomic Substantial Substantial Moderate 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 Mar 28, 2025 Page 2 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) Fiduciary Substantial Substantial Substantial Environment and Social Substantial Substantial Substantial Stakeholders High High High Other Substantial Substantial Substantial Overall Substantial Substantial Substantial Mar 28, 2025 Page 3 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) 6. RESULTS 6.1 PDO Indicators by PDO Outcomes Increasing affordable access to regional broadband connectivity Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year 0 Dec/2022 6,309,489 31-Dec-2024 10,000,000 Dec/2028 People using broadband Comments on GSMA - Unique mobile subscribers internet (new use) (Number achieving targets 2022: 47759302 of people) CRI 2024: 54068791 People using broadband 19,103,720 Dec/2022 21,627,516 31-Dec-2024 23,103,720 Dec/2028 internet (inferred use) Comments on 40% of Unique mobile subscribers (Number of people) CRI achieving targets People using broadband 0 Dec/2022 32,441,274 31-Dec-2024 34,655,581 Dec/2028 internet (enhanced use) Comments on 60% of Unique mobile subscribers (Number of people) CRI achieving targets Mobile broadband data 3.44 Jun/2022 0.80 30-Sep-2023 1.80 31-Dec-2023 2.00 Dec/2028 (Monthly, 2GB) as a Comments on Latest data from cable.co.uk for Sept 2023 indicates an average price per GB of mobile data percentage of gross national achieving targets of US$0.68. This is expressed as a percentage of GNI per capita, which was US$85 per month income per capita - Ethiopia in 2022 (World Bank, Atlas Method). (Percentage) People provided with new or 0 Dec/2022 0 31-Jan-2024 0 31-Dec-2024 10,000,000 Dec/2028 enhanced access to Comments on Indicator to be dropped and replaced with CRI broadband internet -Ethiopia achieving targets (Number) 6.20 Jun/2022 0.46 30-Sep-2023 0.89 30-Sep-2024 4.00 Jun/2028 Mar 28, 2025 Page 4 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) Mobile broadband data Comments on This data point is based on data from cable.co.uk which shows a price per Gb of monthly (Monthly, 2GB) as a achieving targets data of US#1.26 and a 2022 GNI per capita of US$275 per month. percentage of gross national income per capita - Djibouti (Percentage) People provided with new or 0 Dec/2022 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Jun-2024 10,020,000 Dec/2028 enhanced access to Comments on dropped and replaced with CRI broadband internet achieving targets (Number) People provided with new or 0 Dec/2022 0 31-Jan-2024 0 31-Jan-2024 20,000 Dec/2028 enhanced access to Comments on dropped and replaced with CRI broadband internet- Djibouti achieving targets (Number) Strengthening the enabling environment for cross-border data flows, and digital skills development Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Volume of international data 3.70 Dec/2022 3.70 31-Dec-2022 6.23 31-Dec-2023 15.00 Dec/2028 traffic (Used international Comments on This indicator show the level of used (ie in service) international international bandwidth in bandwidth in kbit/s/per achieving targets the country at the end of the year, divided by the number of inhabitants in that year. It is inhabitant) -Ethiopia sourced from TeleGeography and measured in kbit/s. (Number) Volume of international data 1,900 Dec/2022 1,900 31-Dec-2022 2,745.30 31-Dec-2023 5,000 Dec/2028 traffic (Used international Comments on This indicator show the level of used (ie in service) international international bandwidth in bandwidth in kbit/s/per achieving targets the country at the end of the year divided by the number of inhabitants in that year. It is inhabitant) -Djibouti sourced from TeleGeography and measured in kbit/s. (Number) Beneficiaries with new or 0 Jun/2023 0 31-Jan-2024 64 31-Dec-2024 10,000 Jun/2028 improved income Comments on TOTs under the EthERNet/MoE recruited and trained 64 trainers from 50 public universities opportunities as a result of achieving targets and TVET institutions. Mar 28, 2025 Page 5 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) digital skills training - Ethiopia (Number) Beneficiaries with new or 0 Jun/2023 0 31-Jan-2024 0 31-Dec-2024 1,000 Dec/2028 improved income Comments on This indicator counts the number of beneficiaries, primarily students, who benefitted from opportunities as a result of achieving targets advanced digital skills training, under the project, in Djibouti digital skills training - Djibouti (Number) 6.2 Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Component 1. Connectivity Market Development and Integration Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year 94 Dec/2022 94 31-Dec-2022 96 31-Dec-2024 98 Dec/2028 Population covered by at Comments on This indicator measures the percentage of the population of Ethiopia covered with at least a least a 3G mobile network - achieving targets 3G mobile broadband signal, and including those also with 4G or 5G cellular coverage. Data Ethiopia (Percentage) is sourced from GSMA. 77 Dec/2022 77 31-Dec-2022 98 31-Dec-2024 98 Dec/2028 Population covered by at Comments on This indicator measures the percentage of the population of Djibouti covered with at least a least a 3G mobile network - achieving targets 3G mobile broadband signal, and including those also with 4G or 5G cellular coverage. Data Djibouti (Percentage) is sourced from GSMA. Additional fiber optic cable 0 Jun/2023 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Dec-2024 1,500 Dec/2028 deployed - Ethiopia Comments on This indicator measures the number of kilometers of additional fiber optic cable deployed (Kilometers) achieving targets under the project, in Ethiopia. Additional fiber optic cable 0 Jun/2023 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Jun-2024 300 Dec/2028 deployed- Djibouti Comments on This indicator measures the number of kilometers of additional fiber optic cable deployed (Kilometers) achieving targets under the project, in Djibouti. Mar 28, 2025 Page 6 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) Cross-border MoUs signed to 0 Jun/2023 0 31-Jan-2024 0 31-Dec-2024 2 Dec/2028 facilitate Comments on This indicator measures the number of Memoranda of Understanding ()MoUs) signed cooperation/collaboration achieving targets between countries to establish guidelines for interconnection at fiber border crossings. It is towards establishing tagged for PCE as it will open up new business opportunities arrangements for shared use of fiber connectivity between countries (Number) Public Institutions benefitting 0 Jun/2023 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Dec-2024 50 Dec/2028 from new or improved Comments on This indicator measures the number of public institutions (e.g., (connected govt. offices, internet access under the achieving targets refugee camps, universities, TVETs etc.) benefitting from new or improved internet access project - Ethiopia (Number) under the project, in Ethiopia. This is PCM tagged as it creates business opportunities. Public Institutions benefitting 0 Jun/2023 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Jun-2024 10 Dec/2028 from new or improved Comments on This indicator measures the number of public institutions (e.g., (connected govt. offices, internet access under the achieving targets refugee camps, universities, TVETs etc.) benefitting from new or improved internet access project - Djibouti (Number) under the project, in Djibouti. This is PCM-tagged as it creates business opportunities 0 Jun/2023 0 31-Jan-2024 0 31-Dec-2024 30,000,000 Dec/2028 Private sector investment Comments on This indicator provides an estimate of the capital mobilized from industry players (typically mobilized under the project achieving targets mobile network operators and ISPs) as matching investment in infrastructure deployment (in US$) (Amount(USD)) that benefits from project funds. ICT strategy, guidelines No Jun/2023 No 30-Jun-2024 No 30-Dec-2024 Yes Dec/2028 developed that include Comments on This indicator shows whether Ethiopia has developed an ICT strategy that includes targets targets for gender and achieving targets for gender and greening digital infrastructure greening digital infrastructure - Ethiopia (Yes/No) ICT strategy, guidelines No Jun/2023 No 30-Jun-2024 No 30-Jun-2024 Yes Dec/2028 developed that include Comments on This indicator shows whether Djibouti has developed an ICT strategy that includes targets for targets for gender and achieving targets gender and greening digital infrastructure greening digital Mar 28, 2025 Page 7 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) infrastructure - Djibouti (Yes/No) Component 2. Data Market Development and Integration Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year No Jun/2023 No 30-Jun-2024 No 31-Dec-2024 Yes Dec/2028 Guidelines on regional data Comments on This indicator relates to the development, at the regional level (eg by IGAD or EAC) of hosting needs and achieving targets guidelines on regional data hosting needs, including the possible creation of a regional IXP, requirements developed content distribution network or data center. Thi is PCE tagged as it creates new business (Yes/No) opportunities. National Cybersecurity No Jun/2023 No 30-Jun-2024 No 30-Dec-2024 Yes Dec/2028 Strategy and implementation Comments on This indicator relates to the development of a national cybersecurity strategy for Ethiopia, plan developed - Ethiopia achieving targets with support from project funds. (Yes/No) Sectoral cybersecurity No Jun/2023 No 30-Jun-2024 No 30-Dec-2024 Yes Dec/2028 incident response capabilities Comments on This indicator relates to the creation of CIRTs at the sectoral level in Ethiopia, for instance for established and enhanced - achieving targets finance, critical infrastructure etc. Ethiopia (Yes/No) Component 3. Online Market Development and Integration Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Ethiopia has developed an No Jun/2023 No 30-Jun-2024 YES 28-Feb-2025 Yes Dec/2028 offer on digital services Comments on This indicator relates to Ethiopia's participation in the World Trade Organisation, specifically under the General achieving targets to assist the Government in developing an offer under the GATS Agreement on Trade in Services, at the WTO (Yes/No) No Jun/2023 No 30-Jun-2024 No 30-Jun-2024 Yes Dec/2028 Mar 28, 2025 Page 8 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) Djibouti has established a Comments on This indicator relates to the development of an NREN for Djibouti, as evidenced, for instance, National Research and achieving targets by establishing a secretariat function and Board of Governance. Education Network (NREN) (Yes/No) Additional Educational 0 Jun/2023 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Dec-2024 50 Dec/2028 Institutions connected to Comments on This indicator relates to connecting additional educational institutions (e.g., schools, high-speed internet - achieving targets universities, TVETs, teacher training colleges etc) to high-speed internet, and benefitting Ethiopia (Number) from pre-paid internet access through the Ethiopian REN, EthERNet. Universities and TVETs 0 Jun/2023 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Jun-2024 5 Dec/2028 connected to high-speed Comments on As Djibouti is establishing a new NREN, this indicator will measure the number of internet, and the regional achieving targets educational institutions (schools, TVETs, universities, teacher training colleages etc) education alliance network - connected to high-speed internet for the first time Djibouti (Number) Component 4. Project Management and Implementation Support Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Citizen engagement: 0 Jun/2023 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Dec-2024 60 Dec/2028 Grievances registered that Comments on This indicator relates to the grievance redress mechanism and performance of the PIU in receive an adequate achieving targets responding to complaints, in Ethiopia. response within 30 days - Ethiopia (Percentage) Citizen engagement: 0 Jun/2023 0 31-Jan-2024 0 31-Jan-2024 60 Dec/2028 Grievances registered that Comments on This indicator relates to the grievance redress mechanism and performance of the PIU in receive an adequate achieving targets responding to complaints, in Djibouti. response within 30 days - Djibouti (Percentage) Mar 28, 2025 Page 9 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) 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-E2560 Effective 110.00 111.41 0.00 14.33 96.98 12.87% IDA-74350 Effective 20.00 20.42 0.00 1.00 19.42 4.90% 7.3 Key Dates (by loan) Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Signing Effectiveness Orig. Closing Rev. Closing IDA-74350 Effective 01-Dec-2023 09-Dec-2023 17-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2028 31-Dec-2028 Mar 28, 2025 Page 10 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project SOP-II (P180931) IDA-E2560 Effective 01-Dec-2023 12-Dec-2023 15-Feb-2024 07-Jan-2029 07-Jan-2029 8. KEY DATES Key Events Planned Actual Approval 01-Dec-2023 01-Dec-2023 Effectiveness 15-Feb-2024 15-Feb-2024 Mid-Term Review No. 01 14-Sep-2026 Operation Closing/Cancellation 07-Jan-2029 9. RESTRUCTURING HISTORY 10. ASSOCIATED OPERATION(S) P176181 - Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project Mar 28, 2025 Page 11 of 11