1. Effective disbursement strategies are crucial for the success of Universal Access and Service (UAS) projects, ensuring that funds are allocated efficiently to bridge connectivity gaps.
2. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) outlines various methods for making and managing disbursements & monitoring in UAS initiatives.
UNDERSTANDING GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES
1. While often used interchangeably, grants and subsidies serve distinct purposes:
- Grants: These are funds provided for a specific purpose that typically do not require repayment.
- Subsidies: These are direct contributions or tax breaks offered by governments to offset business operating costs over time, encouraging investments in areas that might otherwise be unprofitable, such as underserved regions.
METHODS OF ISSUING GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES
1. Several approaches can be employed to distribute grants and subsidies:
2. Competitive Least Cost Subsidy: Operators bid competitively, with the focus on the quality of the proposal and the lowest subsidy required. The bid demanding the least subsidy while meeting technical standards is selected. This method is suitable for large-scale infrastructure projects involving significant capital expenditure.
3. Non-Commercial but Competitive Grants and Smart Subsidies: Funds set specific guidelines aligned with project targets. Characteristics include:
• One-time disbursement.
• Initiating projects aimed at achieving self-sufficiency or commercial viability.
• Encouraging cost savings and market expansion.
4. This approach is designed to support service provision in areas lacking investment and to promote cost-effective solutions.
5. End User Subsidy: Aimed at demand-side projects, this subsidy targets specific population groups, such as the elderly, individuals with disabilities, or educational institutions. Typically channeled through participating operators, end users undergo a vetting process to receive subsidized devices or services. Implementation can be complex without centralized databases for verification.
GRANT MANAGEMENT
1. Effective grant management involves:
• Setting strategic goals linked to UAS objectives.
• Evaluating relevant policies and regulations to define beneficiaries and project scopes.
• Awarding grants through transparent and accountable processes.
2. By adopting these disbursement strategies, UAS funds can enhance their impact, ensuring that resources are utilized effectively to extend connectivity to underserved areas.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
1. Effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are essential components of Universal Access and Service (UAS) projects, ensuring that initiatives achieve their intended goals and deliver sustainable benefits to communities.
1.At the onset of a project, implementation and monitoring involve collecting data to identify any deviations in execution, such as changes in technology, skills, or resources. This phase is crucial for making timely adjustments while resources are available. Progress is measured against predefined targets and indicators, focusing on:
2. Compliance:
Adherence to environmental, social, governance-related, or regulatory
requirements.
3. Impact:
Assessment of the desired development outcomes.
4. Additionality:
Evaluation of the added value provided by the project, particularly in blended
finance scenarios.
1. Continuous assessment entails regular evaluation of progress and impact against established targets throughout the project's lifecycle. Key questions addressed during this phase include:
2. What were
the intended project impacts?
3. What
progress has been made toward achieving these impacts?
4. Is there
evidence that the project is contributing to the desired impacts?
5. Are there
external factors influencing the project's outcomes?
6. Are
results aligned with budget and resource allocations?
7. Have any
unintended effects, positive or negative, arisen from the project?
8. This
ongoing evaluation allows for necessary adjustments to the project plan,
ensuring alignment with objectives.
FINAL EVALUATION
1. Upon project completion, a comprehensive evaluation
is conducted to:
• Conclude
the project formally.
• Review
outcomes to inform potential subsequent phases.
2. An early evaluation plan, guided by a detailed
project summary sheet, ensures transparency and accountability. Clearly defined
goals, outcomes, outputs, and indicators are essential for accurate measurement
and assessment.
REPORTING FINDINGS
1. After evaluations, preparing detailed reports in the
established format completes the review process and informs future project
cycles. Streamlining reporting requirements from the project's inception
minimizes administrative burdens and project management costs.
2. By adhering to this structured M&E approach, UAS
projects can effectively track progress, make informed adjustments, and achieve
sustainable impacts in extending connectivity to underserved areas.
Source:
https://www.itu.int/itu-d/reports/regulatory-market/2022/09/12/making-and-managing-disbursements/
https://www.itu.int/itu-d/reports/regulatory-market/2022/04/12/monitoring-and-evaluation/
