Digitally Connected and Resilient Samoa Project (WB-P180807)

Countries
  • Samoa
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Financial Institutions
  • World Bank (WB)
International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.
Project Status
Approved
Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.
Bank Risk Rating
B
Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."
Voting Date
Oct 18, 2024
Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.
Borrower
Government of Samoa - Office of the Regulator / Ministry of Communications & Information Technology
A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.
Sectors
  • Communications
The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.
Investment Type(s)
Grant
The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.
Investment Amount (USD)
$ 20.05 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Project Cost (USD)
$ 35.00 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Bank Documents
Primary Source

Original disclosure @ WB website

Updated in EWS Mar 6, 2025

Disclosed by Bank Dec 22, 2023

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Project Description
If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to the Bank’s website, the objective of this project is to increase resilient, and inclusive use, of broadband internet and enhancing delivery of digitally enabled services.

The project comprises of three components.

The first component, digital connectivity and digital government infrastructure will support the development of climate and disaster-resilient national digital connectivity and digital government infrastructure in Upolu and Savai’i. It consists of following sub-components: (i) National fiber network to improve service delivery; (ii) enhancement of the capacity, coverage, security, and resilience of the government’s intranet; and (iii) upgrade and establishment of secure and resilient government data center and support for the rollout of broadband pilot(s).

The second component, strengthening and enhancing the enabling environment for the digital transformation will provide support for the design and implementation of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) arrangements under component 1, strengthen the Recipient’s enabling environment for digital government and the digital economy, and provide ongoing support to traditional regulatory priorities for the telecommunications sector, particularly to promote investment, technological innovation and evolution, and the long-term interests of users of digital services. It consists of following sub-components: (i) transactional, policy and regulatory support for PPP and feasibility assessment; (ii) regulatory support, policy and legal framework for digital government and economy; and (iii) enhancement of cybersecurity.

The third component, project implementation support will finance technical and operational assistance for project management and implementation.

Early Warning System Project Analysis
For a project with severe or irreversible impacts to local community and natural resources, the Early Warning System Team may conduct a thorough analysis regarding its potential impacts to human and environmental rights.

Environmental and social risks associated with the project are considered moderate. The project consists of two typologies: digital infrastructure and technical assistance (TA) activities for two main islands of Upolo and Savai’i. The digital infrastructure component involves the installation of connectivity infrastructure, such as fiber connections, software, and hardware, as well as the rollout of broadband pilot(s) to enhance capacity and throughput. Increased connectivity can result in increased risks for the community including cyber attacks (i.e. phishing, ransomware), cyber bulling and exposure to illicit material and exploitation of youths (particularly females).

There are also risks relating to unequal access to benefits which the project will mitigate by supporting last mile fiber to premises connectivity for unserved and underserved communities as well as pilot initiatives for public sites such as medical facilities, schools and government offices.

Potential environmental and occupational health and safety (OHS) risks are associated with encountering unknown cables and services and improper disposal of waste materials.

Investment Description
Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

A proposed grant in the amount of SDR 14.9 million (US$20.05 million equivalent).


Contact Information
This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

World Bank

Shivnesh Roynendra Prasad
Digital Development Specialist

Ji Eun Choi
Senior Digital Development Specialist

Borrower/Client/Recipient

INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA
Sao'leititi Maeva Betham-Vaai
CEO
Maeva.BethamVaai@mof.gov.ws

Implementing Agencies

Ministry of Communications & Information Technology
Lefaoalii Unutoa Auelua-Fonoti
Chief Executive Officer
u.auelua-fonoti@mcit.gov.ws

Office of the Regulator
Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell
CEO and Regulator
regulator@regulator.gov.ws

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

To submit an information request for project information, you will have to create an account to access the Access to Information request form. You can learn more about this process at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/access-to-information/request-submission

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint

How it works

How it works