RESULTS ACCELERATION PROGRAM FOR INCLUSIVE DIGITALIZATION IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE - PHASE 1

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In support of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire’s strategic priorities and long-term vision, the proposed Results Acceleration Project For Inclusive Digitalization In Cote d'Ivoire (RAPID-CI), under a Multi-Phased Approach (MPA), represents a 10-year programmatic engagement (US$300 million of IDA, with an additional US$30 million coming from Private Capital Mobilization (PCM)) to concomitantly drive digital inclusion by addressing gaps in affordable broadband connectivity for public facilities, and digitalizing the delivery of key public services. The operation is aligned with the World Bank Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY23-27 for Cote d’Ivoire, and contributes to the WBG Accelerating Digitalization Global Challenge Program (GCP) and to the WBG Jobs agenda. Under the High-Level Objective (HLO) 1 “Improved Human Capital”, the project will provide investments in digital services to enhance government effectiveness in providing public services and enhancing the quality and availability of open data to enhance transparency, as well as in enhancing the digital skills of beneficiaries. Under HLO 2 “Reduced Spatial Disparities and Strengthened Resilience”, the project will focus on supporting the extension of digital connectivity, enhancing government efficiency through the digitalization of public services for individuals and businesses, and more effectively reaching the urban and rural populations. Finally, under HLO 3 “Jobs Created Through Private Sector Led Growth”, the project will support the World Bank's jobs agenda by enhancing legal and institutional frameworks and training the labor force to meet employers’ demand for digital skills, expand broadband connectivity to integrate remote regions into broader labor markets, and digitalize public services that will streamline processes, reduce transaction costs, and improve access to essential services, thus supporting labor participation and enabling businesses to thrive. First, the project aims to address gaps in laws, regulations, and public sector abilities to support digital initiatives and data-driven innovation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI). It seeks to create a better environment for digital transactions, market regulation, and private sector growth. By promoting interoperability, improving data governance, and speeding AI adoption, the project aims to boost the public administration’s productivity, service delivery, and decision-making. Additionally, it addresses the shortage of skilled digital workers by expanding education in advanced digital fields, such as AI engineering, especially for youth and women, thereby driving innovation and productivity. This will improve digital skills in Phase 1 and will pave the way for a stronger digital labor market in Phase 2 by building an expanded and highly qualified workforce. Second, the project will expand connectivity in key public facilities within priority social sectors, such as health, education, and civil registration, thereby reducing the persistent digital gender gaps. Third, the project will digitalize public services in key sectors and establish connected physical access points to bring public services closer to communities, thus enhancing the adoption of government digital services. The project is a transformational World Bank engagement that leverages integrated approach with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank financed projects and other development partner projects in Cote d'Ivoire (European Union, African Development Bank, United Nations Agencies, KfW-GIZ, etc.) to connect to broadband close to 1,200 unconnected public institutions, creating positive externalities for private sector companies to connect households in the vicinity. The framework supported by the MPA comprises two phases, spanning the period 2025 to 2035 : (i) Phase 1 (2025-2030) will focus on laying the digital fundamentals, investing in connectivity and digital services, and supporting reforms to achieve impact at scale; and (ii) Phase 2 (2028 – 2035) will scale up and expand Phase 1 investments and reforms in new sectors and others 20 remaining regions of the country. Phase 1 concerned by this new operation, will be structured around the following components and sub components: Component 1 : Strengthening Digital Fundamentals. Sub-component 1.1: Legal and Institutional Foundations for the Digitalization of Public Services; Sub-Component 1.2: Development of Intermediate and Advanced Digital Skills. Component 2: Expanding Climate-Resilient Broadband Connectivity. Sub-component 2.1 : Extension of Broadband Connectivity to Targeted Public Institutions; Sub-component 2.2 : Protection and Resilience of Critical Infrastructure. Component 3: Delivery of Digital Public Services. Sub-component 3.1 : Digitalization of Public Services in Key Sectors ; Sub-component 3.2 : Access to and Inclusion in Digital Public Services . Component 4: Project Management. The project will finance the rehabilitation, completion and construction of buildings, deployment of fiber-optics, mobile and satellite connectivity solutions, the decommissioning and dismantling of 552 abandoned telecommunications towers/sites. The main Technical Assistances (TA) to be funded under the project will focus on building capacities for enhancing government service delivery channels (in-person and virtual); technical studies; specialized training, and awareness workshops and seminars in rural areas to promote digital literacy. TA will also support the development of a new National Digital Development Strategy and feasibility studies for the extension and rehabilitation of the École Superieure Africaine des TIC (ESATIC) and the École Multinationale Superieure des Postes (EMSP). The project is intended to benefit the entire population of Cote d’Ivoire – especially youth, women, and people with disabilities, as well as public institutions, including schools, universities, health centers, judicial courts, townhalls, and social centers– by improving the affordability, availability, quality of digital service delivery, and digital skills. Around 640,000 people are expected to use new or enhanced internet as a result of project activities.