Mauritania-Global Distance Learning Center

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1 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Project Name Region Sector Project ID Borrower(s) Implementing Agency Environment Category Report No. PID9893 Mauritania-Global Distance Learning Center Africa Regional Office Distance Education/Education Technology MRPE71881 Date PID Prepared May 7, 2001 GOVERNMENT OF MAURITANIA Projected Appraisal Date January 27, 2001 Projected Board Date July 26, 2001 Address MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT Address: BP 238 Nouakchott Contact Person: Mohamed Ould El Abed Tel: (222) Fax: (222) C 1. Country and Sector Background Conceptualization and execution of specific sector strategies at the Government level are, in part, limited by insufficient exposure to relevant international experience and policy trends. Key stakeholders are often unaware of how similar concerns are addressed in other countries. The proposed LIL is intended to bridge this knowledge gap in support of policy reform.a. The Distance Learning Center :Efforts to foster good governance and institutional reform are being made in Mauritania. However, important weaknesses remain, including in terms of capacity to plan at the center, implement decisions at the periphery, or enforce good governance principles such as transparency and accountability. Civil reform is a key element of the improved institutional framework, and, while distance learning alone will not resolve the shortcomings of public administration, it will nonetheless facilitate improved governance through knowledge transfer. It will expose national decision-makers to international best practice and enhance the skills of local decision-makers in the priority areas of economics, finance, accounting and management. The Government has already shown a huge interest in worldwide dissemination of knowledge through the Virtual University Program which is fully operational. A Ministry of New technologies has been established. In addition, through the IDA financed Education Project, the Worldlinks initiative is currently implemented and provides Internet access to selected schools. The recent liberalization of the Telecommunications sector and the willingness of the Government to facilitate a universal access to new technologies through the Telecoms TA Project, has generated the need for a DLC an important element of this framework.the private sector also lacks exposure to the latest developments in corporate finance and management. It lacks the supporting institutions and human resources that are critical to sound corporate governance. Distance learning course modules relayed from international institutions will strengthen corporate management while access to the latest technical information could possibly allow Mauritania private sector to effectively compete in the global world. B. The

2 Mauritania Development Gateway :The MRDG aims to develop Mauritania integrate into the global digital economy by: (i) creating a common information, communication, transaction and training space; (ii) Building, and upgrading local content and capacity; (iii) catalyzing emergence of national knowledge management systems; (iv) promoting the reputation of the country, as an attractive place for doing business; (v) promoting e-commerce, e-banking, e-government, e-training and e-communities; and (vi) increasing global competitiveness of the country through greater institutional transparency and lower transaction costs.the Mauritania Development Gateway will be built by and serve the Government of Mauritania, the international donor community, civil society, the private sector, and other key partners by providing information about, and facilitating links to, new ideas, funding, and commercial opportunities. The MRDG will strive to become a premier development Internet Portal: to ensure global information sharing the MRDG will share a universal structure, editorial policies, and technical platform with other country gateways and the Global Development Gateway. It will share a prosperous set of links with them to promote global information exchange of knowledge, ideas, expertise, and opportunities.the MRDG will also promote foreign investments, efficient privatization, small business, export, tourism, capital markets and institutional development, donor coordination, better governance, and transparency. It will empower various professional associations and industry clusters existing in Mauritania with the Internet instruments. A wide range of information, knowledge, and other resources will be available to users free of charge such as the Official Gazette on-line. The MRDG will provide paid services as well: value-added sources, advertising, and corporate or other sponsorships.to achieve all the targets mentioned above, the MRDG will include, but not be limited to, the following services: (i) on-line training modules via the Internet; (ii) research findings; (iii) best practices; (iv) case studies; (v) procurement services; (v) product reviews; (vi) information on development projects; (vii) News; (viii) jobs; and (ix) Directories. 2. Objectives The Project will test mechanisms of public and private sector partnership to promote better access to and dissemination of information relevant for country development and policy reforms. This Development Objective will be assessed through (i) Institutional Championship (ability for small entities to promote a better access to information); (ii) test of two specific telecom-based technologies and (iii) financial sustainability through a phased funding.in this context, the proposed Project will pilot two initiatives :A. The distance learning initiative will aim to (a) strengthen the environment for policy reforms and (b) build capacity in the public and private sectors by increasing local access to global knowledge and specialized information using internet-based technology.distance Learning will facilitate the increased dissemination of knowledge and cross-country experience in support of reform. Public and private sector decision-makers will access interactive multi-media training programs developed by the World Bank Institute, major universities, private corporations and technical organizations around the world. This exposure to global knowledge will enhance the capacity of Mauritanian decision-makers to conceptualize and implement reforms. This will, in turn, lead to improved governance, economic growth and poverty reduction.b. Although communications on the World Wide Web between - 2-

3 international organizations, governments, civil society, and private sector have improved greatly in recent years, their potential to support development remains largely untapped in many countries. Some of the remaining challenges are: (i) Uncoordinated and ineffective aid; (ii) Low access to reliable knowledge; (iii) Untapped opportunities for private sector development; (iv) Need for better networking among development organizations; and (v) Low usage of Internet for economic and social development.the Global Development Gateway (GDG) promotes the Internet as a central tool for development and poverty alleviation. The GDG aims to respond to the above challenges by creating a common development Internet Portal, which will help deploy the collective assets and capabilities of the development community in a more efficient and coordinated fashion.the MRDG (Mauritania Development Gateway) as one of the pilot projects within the Global Development Gateway in Africa, will help various development stakeholders to work towards their goals more efficiently.the MRDG is an Internet-based comprehensive development partnership, first of its kind in Mauritania, which will help various development stakeholders to work towards their goals more efficiently. The MRDG is a high-impact and low-cost cutting edge technology tool to facilitate solving various development problems by all working in one common environment and in one team. The followings are the key innovative features of the MRDG: (i) The MRDG is a country-level component of the Global Development Gateway; (ii) The MRDG can be further organized into Regional Development Gateways (e.g., Africa Development Gateway); the MRDG can be further divided into Sub-national (regional) Development Gateways (e.g., Gateway to Trarza or Gateway to Mauritanian Diaspora) or Municipal Gateways (e.g., Gateway to Nouadhibou).It is a country-led initiative to build or expand national links into the global development community by targeting Mauritania-specific needs and supporting the use of the Internet for e-business, communications, and knowledge sharing among the development stakeholders.it aims at helping Mauritania cross the digital divide and become fully integrated into the increasingly digitized international economy. More specifically, it would: (i) maximize opportunities and minimize risks of the global Internet revolution; (ii) facilitate e-commerce, e-banking, and e-government; (iii) mobilize development knowledge; (iv) improve communications within various social and economic communities; and (v) ultimately help to increase living standards, global competitiveness of the country through lower transaction costs and greater productivity and transparency. 3. Rationale for Bank's Involvement 4. Description The project comprises three main components: (i) construction and equipment of the Distance Learning Center; and (ii) support for DLC establishment and operation, and (iii) support of the Mauritania Development Gateway establishment and operation.component 1 consists of building facilities on the site of the Palais des CongrOs for the establishment of the DLC, to provide a videoconference room with a 30-person capacity, a computer room outfitted for 30 computer stations (hardware, software and Internet hook-up), a technical and administrative center, and installation and/or upgrading of electrical and telephone wiring. It also comprises equipment of the DLC including purchase and installation of a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) (satellite -3 -

4 communication terminal), video, telecommunications and microprocessor equipment, office and classroom furniture, and various other equipment for DLC operation and security.component 2 aims to assist the DLC begin operation and become financially viable. It includes:(a) financing of DLC operation costs on a decreasing basis over the first three years of operation; (b) purchase of a vehicle to facilitate transport and marketing of DLC services; and (c) technical assistance for the training of Center staff, periodic evaluation of Center operation and management effectiveness, and establishment of financial accounts and their annual audit.component 3 consists of installing the Mauritania Development Gateway (MRDG) facilities and assist MRDG begin operation. It includes:(a) purchase of the office equipment, installation and maintenance (servers, computers, scanners, printers, digital video, CD recorders, phones, faxes, etc. (b) assisting in platforms and graphics design, upgrades and customization; (c) assisting in the institutional set-up of the Gateway and its content's management; and (d) financing of MRDG operation costs on a decreasing basis over the first three years of operation; 1. DLC Retrofitting and Equipment a. Civil Works b. Network Access Equipment c. Videoconferencing Equipment d. Office Furniture/other equipment 2. Support for DLC Establishment and Operation a. Consultant Services/Training b. Operating Costs a. Equipment and maintenance b. Consultant Services c. Operating Costs 5. Financing Total ( US$m) Total Project Cost 5 6. Implementation In order to facilitate the project preparation and to benefit from their experience in procurement, the MEAD signed a "Convention de MaYtrise d'ouvrage Deleguee" with AMEXTIPE. This Convention has been financed through a Project Preparation Facility (PPF). It includes the civil works (construction of the DL Center and refitting of some facilities within the SSNT to host the MRDG), the purchase of all the equipment (telecom and informatic equipment, furniture, etc.), the financing of some studies (Manual of Procedures, selection of the Director and the Manager, market study, etc.).in order to ensure the compatibility of all the electronic equipment with the other Centers and the Bank satellite network, the telecom and informatic equipment (including the satellite earth station) has been purchased by the Bank (through the ISG division) on the behalf of the Borrower. To do so, the Borrower signed a Procurement Agreement with the Bank authorizing the Bank to purchase on the behalf of the Government of Mauritania. The equipment, purchased in August 2000, is already available and stored by ISG.Distance Learning Center components : These components will be implemented and managed by the DLC. So that distance learning activities can begin as soon as possible after project - 4 -

5 effectiveness.the project preparation included establishment of the DLC (legal procedures, formation of the DLC Board, recruitment of Director and staff) and preparation and equipment of the site (classrooms, videoconference room, computer room, administrative offices, etc. Project preparation activities have been handled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development with the assistance of AMEXTIPE, for works, equipment, and studies.upon taking office and before credit effectiveness, the Director will prepare a business plan based on a survey of training requests from the public and private sectors. The business plan, to be submitted for DLC Board and IDA review and approval, will include: market data, budget and sources of financing, training and other services to be provided (lectures, seminars, other), source and programming of training, rates for different types of training and financial projections in the form of a budget, operating account and marketing strategy. The business plan will be updated and submitted for IDA and DLC Board review and approval on an annual basis. To this effect, the implementing agency will continue to assess demand for training, identify and program appropriate training courses, market the services of the Center and increase its visibility in Mauritania and abroad.mauritania Development Gateway component : This component will be implemented by the MRDG. So that development gateway activities can begin as soon as possible after project effectiveness. The project preparation includes establishment of the MRDG (legal procedures, formation of the MRDG Steering Committee, recruitment of Manager and staff) and preparation and equipment of the site (WEB servers, Internet links, administrative offices, etc.) 7. Sustainability 8. Lessons learned from past operations in the country/sector 9. Program of Targeted Intervention (PTI) N 10. Environment Aspects (including any public consultation) Issues : Not applicable 11. Contact Point: Task Manager Jean Mazurelle The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington D.C For information on other project related documents contact: The InfoShop The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C Telephone: (202) Fax: (202) Web:

6 Note: This is information on an evolving project. Certain components may not be necessarily included in the final project. This PID was processed by the InfoShop during the week ending June 15,