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Pacific Regional Telecommunications & ICT Resource Centre—Progress Update
Natasha Beschorner, The World Bank
ITU-EC Coordination Meeting, Nadi, November 2009
Summary
• Background and Motivation• Resource Centre Objectives and Functions• Implementation Plan• Budget and Funding • Next Steps and Feedback
Background: Regional Demand• WB requested to prepare Options Study on a
possible regional regulatory facility• Study prepared August-October 2008, completed
December 2008• Recommendations presented to ICT Ministerial
Meeting, February 2009• Establishment of Facility supported in Meeting’s
communiqué and at regulators’ meeting, April 2009• Working name: Pacific Regional Regulatory Resource
Centre
Objectives and Functions• Leverage national resources by pooling scarce skills
in an autonomous regional facility• Functions:– Collect telecoms/ICT data and publish annual regional
survey;– Provide information packages on key policy and regulatory
themes;– Provide advisory services to policymakers and regulators;– Issue statements of best practice sector policy and laws
and regulatory instruments (licenses; interconnection principles, etc)
– Provide support for training and capacity building;– Collect and maintain rosters of expertise from other
sources.
Benefits• Efficient use of scarce human and financial resources • Development of a knowledge and experience base in
the Pacific itself• Encouraging regular exchanges between regulators
and dissemination of good regional experiences• Link-up with other sources of advice/assistance
(ITU/APT/PITA, EAPIRF, ACMA)• Complementing the regional industry association
Recommendations of Options Report• Establish the Resource Centre with a physical location
and staff on site• Functions to be as listed above• Initial staffing levels small (3-4 persons), but flexibility
to add staff as demand proven• Facility manager with management and operational
responsibilities• An advisory board of qualified nominees of Pacific
countries to consider annual budget, business and financing plan
Organizational Model: Options• Two potential models: membership organization, or non-
member organization. • Membership organization: countries wishing to benefit from
the services of the Centre become core members and pay annual membership fees.– This model would require that Pacific island countries make a collective
decision to establish the Centre and to serve as primary funders, particularly during an establishment phase.
• Non-member organization established by one or more development partners to provide services on a limited cost-recovery basis to Pacific island countries. – In this model, development partners would have significant influence
over the governance and operations of the Centre through periodic financing rounds.
• Either funding model can incorporate user charges, to be phased in as the centre becomes fully operational.
Work Program Year 1• Develop website architecture and launch;• Develop of industry data collection standards & provide guidance
and training for regulators, and officials where regulatory bodies have not yet been established
• Establish cooperation arrangements with ITU, APT, PIFS, SPC, PITA, EAPIRF, others
• Develop a risk management policy• Establish the roster of experts and arbitrators and
commencement of monitoring of outcomes of assignments;• Design operating procedures for provision of advisory services;• Appoint members of the advisory board;• Develop the year 2 business plan for consultation with the
advisory board and presentation to development partners
Work Program Year 2 (1/2)• Publish the first annual survey of telecommunications
and ICT markets in Pacific Island countries;• Through the website, provide information to regulators
and officials on regional policy and regulatory experiences, including analysis of lessons of general application;
• Providing advice to regulators and officials in response to requests for assistance. – Scope of advice will include design and implementation of
sector policy; development of sound legislation and regulatory instruments; development and operation of regulatory agenciesl and conduct of regulatory activities.
Work Program Year 2 (2/2)• Develop statements on best practice policy and regulatory
implementation, telecommunications legislation and models for regulatory instruments
• Develop a clearing-house methodology to facilitate potential staff exchanges between regulatory agencies in Pacific island countries and similar agencies in Australia, New Zealand and outside the region
• Develop the year 3 business plan for consultation with the advisory board and presentation to development partners
Feedback from Stakeholders• Resource Centre should be hosted within the Pacific
Region • PIFS offered to colocate with ITU-EC Centre • Broad agreement on objectives and functions• Initial set-up as non-membership organization, with
development partner funding; consideration to be given to fees for service at later stage
• Coordination with capacity-building initiatives essential, especially ITU-EC program
Implementation Plan
Main ElementsPre-Establishment• Institutional/hosting arrangements• Resource Centre management and staffing• Budget for establishment and operations• Sources of funding
Post-Establishment• Detailed work plan for Resource Centre• Technical assistance program: advisory needs/program,
roster of expertise, management and financing arrangements
Resource Centre Management• Management: an advisory board of 3-4 nominees of
Pacific island countries (elected if necessary) and chaired by one of its members to be established – Responsibility for approval of the annual budget, the
business plan and the financing plan.• Staffing: three full time persons at time of start-up.– Manager: a senior telecommunications regulatory
specialist– Research assistant and administrative assistant. The
Centre manager should have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the facility, including the preparation of annual and multi-year business plans
– 1-2 additional professional positions
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Establishment Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Staff appointments
Commence recruitment process
Centre Manager/Admin Support recruited
Research assistant recruited
Professional recruited
Professional recruited
Offices
Open establishment office -
Set up financial accounts, budget approvals and signing authorities
Develop annual budget and work program
Website
Concept development
Launch website
Advisory board
Nominations for members
Appointment of members
Board meeting
Establishment Activities—by Quarter
Substantive Activities-by Quarter Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Substantive activities Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Develop industry data collection standards
Annual regional survey
Establish cooperation arrangements
Develop and implement risk management policy
Establish roster of experts/arbitrators
Establish clearing-house for staff exchanges with regulatory agencies
Advisory services
Develop procedures
Provide advisory services
Statements on policy and regulation
Develop procedures
Consult with advisory board and issue statements
Budget and Funding
Resource Centre Budget (1)• Pre-establishment cost estimates for Year 1– Office fit-out & lease set-up: US$67,000– Staff recruitment costs US$21,000– Contingency (10%)US$ 9,000– US$ 97,000
• Assumptions:– Office space of 60 square metres. Rents and outgoings at
market rates for medium grade space.– Recurring costs adjust at 5% per annum.– Office fit-out costs of $1,000 per square metre.– Recruitment costs for Centre Manager at 12% of annual
salary package.
Resource Centre Budget (2) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 TOTAL
Personnel costs 234,000 509,000 533,000 522,000 548,000 2,346,000
Office operating costs 50,000 53,000 55,000 57,000 60,000 275,000
Furniture & fittings (leased) 8,000 8000 8,000 9,000 9,000 42,000
Travel 50,000 65,000 72,000 79,000 87,000 353,000
Professional services 100,000 105,000 116,000 127,000 140,000 588,000
Contingency (10%) 50,000 68,000 72,000 68,000 72,000 330,000
Total operating costs 492,000 808,000 856,000 862,000 916,000 3,934,000
Funding and Partnerships• Funding– World Bank will provide US$1.5 million seed
funding through the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF); funds already secured
– Other bilateral/multilateral support to be discussed
– Industry/government contributions—timing??• Partnership with ITU program and regional
organizations e.g APT, PITA, PIFS, SPC, UN ESCAP
Proposed Next Steps• Regional ICT task force to agree on constitution• Priorities: institution, detailed financing plan, core staff recruitment
• Institution– PIFS confirmation (mode/format to be discussed)
• Financing– World Bank has committed resources– Additional financing contributions to be sought from development
partners, others– Comprehensive financing plan to be completed by February 2010
• Recruitment of core staff– Manager and administrative support– Other professional staff
