Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA)

active

IDEA is a regional Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA) for Eastern and Southern Africa, which consists of operations in several phases, including FCV and LDC countries at different stages of development and regional entities in Eastern and Southern Africa. The IDEA MPA has four pillars: Pillar 1: Affordable broadband and secure data hosting capabilities. This component will focus on expanding essential, high-quality, resilient and affordable broadband infrastructure, and services, supporting the development of cloud and data hosting markets and enabling investments in modern data hosting facilities to unlock the development potential of digital data, which are the foundations for individuals, firms, and governments to use digital technologies productively. Pillar 2: Interoperable and secure data platforms. This component will focus on deploying interoperable Digital Public Infrastructure to enhance efficiency in both public and private sectors and developing the cross-cutting enablers and safeguards needed for the trusted and secure use of digital technologies at the national level and for the flow of cross-border digital services across the region. Pillar 3: High-impact digital services and productive digital usage. This component focuses on advancing high-impact, digitally enabled services to help enhance economic and social activities with increased reach, improved efficiency, strengthened value proposition (including climate benefits, transparency, and accountability etc.), and increase digital skills and competencies to increase productive usage of these services. Pillar 4: Project Management and Capacity Building. This component will support the critical building blocks for strong implementation and coordination of the program at regional and national levels, with creaton of and capacity building for regional and national project coordination units, M&E improvements, knowledge generation and TA related to E&S risk management, and other operating expenses, equipment. Phase 1 of the IDEA MPA will include four operations, including a US$10m regional IDA grant to COMESA to set-up the IDEA MPA’s regional program coordination unit (PCU) and oversee the implementation of the MPA throughout the eight years of project implementation. Phase 1 of the IDEA MPA also includes financing to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to the Republic of Angola, and to the Republic of Malawi. The Project Development Objective (PDO) for the COMESA operation is to enhance enabling environment for increasing access to and inclusive usage of the Internet and digitally enabled services in Eastern and Southern Africa. This operation will monitor progress toward the overall Program Development Objective (PrDO) indicators. Project Components under the operation with COMESA include: Component 1: Regional Harmonization and Planning Platform (US$5.474 million). This component aims to enhance the enabling environment for regional digital market development and integration and create a platform to inform and mobilize investments for regional digital infrastructure. Activities under this component include the following: • Sub-component 1.1. Regional TA and trainings. Developing regionally harmonized regulatory and policy frameworks, guidelines, and standards to promote digital access and usage and private sector mobilization for digital infrastructure development and digitally enabled services, applying inclusive and climate-smart approaches. It will finance technical and legal consultancies, training, and capacity building, including (a) the preparation of a regional Digital Inclusion Action Plan and associated draft regulations and policies covering areas such as digital safeguards, digital literacy, DFS, and so on; (b) TA to enhance the implementation of a regional roaming framework and the development of a regional model to enhance spectrum management; (c) the development of policy and regulatory guidelines and standards to enable and promote the safe use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, including for climate adaptation and mitigation; (d) legal and technical assistance and capacity building to support the implementation of the regional e-commerce framework, including strengthening digital safeguards and piloting mechanisms for cross-border flow of data; (e) the development of policy, regulatory frameworks, and guidelines at the regional level to enable and promote PCM for digital infrastructure with recommendations for possible financing facilities and instruments to expand digital infrastructure at the regional level, which can be capitalized in future phases of this MPA.• Sub-component 1.2 Planning platform and models: (a) supporting integrated infrastructure planning to cover digital infrastructure and demand for internet connectivity through TA and the development of geospatial mapping tools and (b) supporting the development of least-cost options and innovative financing models to extend internet access to cross-border areas and priority public entities, such as schools and health clinics, with energy access and climate implications in mind, which can be implemented in subsequent phases and leverage applicable financing schemes under the ASCENT Program. Component 2: Regional Knowledge and Capacity Building (US$1.402 million). This component aims to support holistic knowledge transfer throughout the program cycle, to build capacity and support institutional strengthening for participating countries and countries joining in future phases in a sustainable manner and increase the efficiency and impact of the program activities by leveraging regional synergies between countries. Activities under this component include the following: • Sub-component 2.1. Toolkits: (a) the development of practical tools to support member states and other countries participating in the IDEA MPA in project preparation and implementation readiness, including the development of templates, draft terms of reference (TOR), and project management tools for procurement, FM, budgeting, environmental and social risk and impact management, and grievance redressal mechanism and (b) the establishment of a regional M&E platform, leveraging innovative data collection and evidence generation at the regional level. • Sub-component 2.2. Capacity building, knowledge sharing, and trainings for participating countries and COMESA member states covering (a) policy recommendations to enhance institutional coordination and arrangements for the implementation of cross-cutting digital projects, and (b) procurement, FM, environmental and social frameworks, and (c) data collection and analysis, and M&E. It will also support wide knowledge sharing and awareness raising about the Program with communication and results stories, leveraging the 50 Million Women African Speak platform under COMESA, particularly to ensure gender inclusion, and the COMESA Business Council, to support private sector engagement. Component 3: Regional Project Coordination and Management (US$3.124 million). This component will set up IDEA’s regional PCU to (a) coordinate with participating countries, including those that are not members of COMESA; (b) validate and report on the Program's Results Framework; and (c) oversee the implementation of the regional grant to COMESA, including fiduciary, environmental and social, and other functions.