Completion Report

Project Number: 47158-001

Technical Assistance Number: 8398
January 2016

Myanmar: Design of e-Governance Master Plan and

Review of Information and Communication
Technology Capacity in Academic Institutions

This document is being disclosed to the public in accordance with ADB’s Public
Communications Policy 2011.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any
designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the
Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status
of any territory or area.
TA 8398-MYA: Design of e-Governance Master Plan and Review of Amount Approved: $1,500,000
Information and Communication Technology Capacity in Academic
Institutions

Revised Amount: NA

Executing Agency: Ministry of Source of Funding: Amount Undisbursed: Amount Utilized:

Communications and TASF-V - $500,000; Republic $128,500.02 $1,371,499.98
Information Technology of Korea e-Asia and
Knowledge Partnership Fund -
$500,000; and the People’s
Republic of China Regional
Cooperation and Poverty
Reduction Fund - $500,000
TA Approval TA Signing Fielding of First TA Completion Date
Date: Date: Consultant{s}: Original: 31 Aug 2014 Actual: 05 Oct 2015
4 Jul 2013 16 Aug 2013 07 Mar 2014 Account Closing Date
Original: 31 Aug 2014 Actual: 28-Dec-2015
Description To improve efficiency, transparency, and wider reach of public service delivery, the Government of the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar seeks to streamline business processes by undertaking administrative reform
initiatives. Developing e-Governance is a government priority. The government also proposed to review and
strengthen Information Communications and Technology (ICT) capacity in institutions of higher learning to help
ensure a sustainable supply of skilled human resources to support the e-Governance program.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in March 2013 met with the government and designed the technical assistance
(TA) for the preparation of an e-Governance master plan and review of ICT programs and facilities in four universities
identified by the government. The TA also included implementation of a demonstration project in a new technology
area in one of the four universities. The purpose of the demonstration project is to introduce an innovative technology
component that will help to wider adoption of this new technology in the delivery of development solutions in multiple
sectors such as education, agriculture, finance, and health.

Expected Impact, Outcome, and Outputs. The impact of the TA was to enhance service delivery capacity and
management of public services in the country. Its outcome was expected to be the adoption of an integrated approach
to implementing government applications and online services. The TA reports were reviewed by two external experts,
implementation agencies, and co-financing agencies. The reviewers expressed their complete satisfaction with the
results of the TA deliverables. The intervention delivered the following outputs as planned:

 Output 1: e-Governance master plan and action items designed. The master plan detailed 99 e-Governance
initiatives, costing an estimated $1.4 billion. This surpassed the output target of 10 e-Governance action
items conceived during the design stage.

 Output 2: Sustainability action plan for ICT capacity enhancements developed at the identified universities.
The ICT academic programs and ICT facilities were reviewed at Mandalay Technological University,
University of Computer Studies, Mandalay, University of Technology, Yatanarbon Cyber City, and Yangon
Technological University (YTU). The review recommended 17 initiatives to be implemented by the Ministry of
Science and Technology (MOST). This surpassed the output target of 10 action items conceived during the
design stage.

 Output 3: Demonstration initiatives and knowledge transfer developed at an identified university. A speech
recognition and speech biometric facility, along with mobile and web application, were implemented at YTU
in accordance with the output target set during the TA’s design stage. Additionally, training was imparted to
nominees from the ICT Industry Association in Myanmar.

All three outputs were delivered to the satisfaction of the implementing agencies, namely, the Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) for output 1, MOST for output 2, and YTU for output 3. All the
deliverables were accepted by the respective government agencies.

Delivery of Inputs and Conduct of Activities Three minor changes in scope and implementation arrangements
were processed during the project’s implementation: (i) extension of completion date (twice); and (ii) changing the
selection method of output 3 from individual consultants to quality and cost-based selection.

The TA comprised of three outputs, namely, (i) design of e-Governance master plan, (ii) review of ICT capacity in four
universities, and (iii) demonstration project in a new technology area. Three firms were used to deliver the outputs.
The selection method used to recruit the firms was quality-and cost-based selection. The selection and engagement
of consulting services were carried out in accordance with the ADB guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as
amended from time to time). The TA delivered the outputs with 126.43 person-months of effort. Output 3 of the TA
was originally designed to be executed using 7 person months of international consultancy effort and 16 person
months of national consultancy. The change in selection method for output 3 led to the utilization of 54.43 person
months during the life of the TA. The change in sourcing was needed because is order to implement the innovative
solution, a suite of technical expertise in hardware, software was required.

Output 1 was developed and delivered by undertaking consultations with identified ministries, development partners,
one think tank, and an industry association in Myanmar. Findings and recommendations of output 1 were
disseminated in workshops. Output 2 was developed and delivered through collaboration with the four universities,
gathering data through surveys, questionnaires, and disseminated through workshops as well as using collaborative
communication tools. Quality of the deliverables was enforced by means of having the reports peer reviewed by
external entities on a pro bono basis. The e-Governance master plan was peer reviewed by an ICT lead specialist
from the World Bank. The review of ICT capacity of the universities was peer reviewed by an academic from Griffith
University, Australia. Output 3 was developed and implemented at YTU. Required hardware, software, and ancillary
equipment, such as rack, cables, and UPS, were procured, configured, and handed over to the university after training
on use and maintenance of the system. The implementing agencies provided timely support, inputs, and facilitated the
project activities efficiently.

Evaluation of Outputs and Achievement of Outcome. The outcome of the initiative is adoption of an integrated
approach in implementing government applications and online services to achieve enhanced capacity for public
service delivery. The master plan, in accordance with the outcome statement, has proposed a sustainable approach
to rollout e-government services.

The e-Governance master plan has identified 99 action items spread across the functional domains of infrastructure
(4 recommendations), applications (35 recommendations), organization (17 recommendations), skills development
(10 recommendations), ICT policies (14 recommendations) and standards (19 recommendations). The government is
considering submitting the plan for cabinet approval. Further, MCIT has begun preparations to implement five major
initiatives amongst the identified 99 initiatives, namely, the National Portal (application domain), Data Center
(infrastructure domain), Cyber Security (standards domain), cross leveraging of Optical Fiber installations
(Infrastructure domain) of the Ministry of Electric Power, and e-Governance Organization propositions (organization
domain). The output was delivered by June 2015.

Output 2 recommendations were discussed with academics of the universities and officials from MOST. The
stakeholders expressed their complete satisfaction and agreed with the 17 recommendations. These
recommendations were spread across the following categories: building capability and infrastructure (4
recommendations), empowering the universities (1 recommendation), developing credentials (6 recommendations),
industry orientations (3 recommendations), and to be leaners focus—refers to enabling students through the use of
effective technology to acquire valuable ICT skills and knowledge to be workforce ready (3 recommendations). Output
2 was delivered in June 2015.

Output 3 delivered an innovative technology capability in speech recognition and speech biometric technology. The
technological capabilities were explained as well as imparted additional trainings on the technical components of the
system to the nominated representatives of the Myanmar Computer Federation, a prominent consortium of IT industry
association in Myanmar. This is in addition to the training imparted to nominated YTU representatives. The system’s
operation and maintenance will be provided by the YTU ICT department and student volunteers. The suppliers of
hardware and software will provide remote trouble shooting. The life of the system is expected to be depreciated over
three years. Output 3 was delivered in September 2015.

Output 3 component of the TA has introduced an innovative technology capability through the demonstration project
in YTU. The technology has the potential to deliver e-governance capabilities in agriculture, health, and finance, in
addition to education, where the system was implemented.

The consultants and resource persons performed the tasks efficiently and on time with quality. The Myanmar
Resident Mission facilitated the implementation of the TA efficiently. The implementing agencies, namely, MCIT,
MOST, and YTU provided adequate support and facilitation to deliver the outputs efficiently. The adequacy of TA at
formulation stage is rated as successful.

Overall Assessment and Rating. The outcome of this initiative is highly successful. The TA delivered outputs to the
satisfaction and appreciation of clients and other stakeholders such the co-financing agencies. The e-Governance
master plan proposed 99 initiatives spread across 33 ministries. The initiatives were arrived at collaboratively through
discussions with various ministries and other stakeholders. Output 2 was delivered in close collaboration with the four
universities and MOST. The recommendations are spread across Infrastructure, empowerment to universities and
strengthening of associations with ICT industry. The speech biometric technology project is in line with the YTU’s
research focus. Additionally, the knowledge of tools and techniques in this niche area of human-machine interface
discipline has potential applications in other sectors of the economy. The master plan also identified factors such as (i)
operations and maintenance, (ii) skills development, and (iii) organizational structure to sustain the e-governance
program.

Major Lessons. ICT is cross-cutting in nature. It is a sector in itself, and an enabler/catalyst in other sectors.
Undertaking planned and coordinated implementation of ICT and e-Governance program across all ministries in
Myanmar will lead to enablement of efficient access and wider reach of public service delivery. The master plan
proposes the design of common requirements and enforcement of standards and policies of e-Governance by a
central agency, while leaving the flexibility to design and develop e-Governance programs in a decentralized manner
with individual ministries.

The ICT universities play a key role in providing skilled human resource to the labor force. Therefore, in e-Governance
planning, it is important to look into the capabilities of institutions of higher learning and plan skill building in an
integrated fashion.

Demonstration projects contextualized to country conditions serve as an important vehicle for introducing concepts,
knowledge creation, and innovations in development interventions. It is necessary to ensure the involvement of the
entire ecosystem (public sector, private sector, and academe) to gain traction and up-scale/replicate the
demonstrated capabilities.

It is vital for any master plan to address total cost of ownership and maintenance. It is also important to consider the
fast technological obsolescence nature of ICT instruments and plan adequately for methodical exit or rejuvenation
approaches.

The e-Governance domain requires public sector attention—particularly in the areas such as addressing last mile
connectivity and reach of electronic delivery of public services, telecom regulatory matters, connectivity and
automation of government functions.

Finally, a national e-Governance plan requires adequate financial resources. In this context, the financial support by
ADB, as well as the co-financing support from Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund and
People’s Republic of China Regional Cooperation and Poverty Reduction Fund, provided adequate and timely
support. This TA’s funders generated goodwill and appreciation among the executing and implementing agencies of
Myanmar.

Recommendations and Follow-up Actions. It is recommended to follow-up the progress of the activities identified
in this TA report with the government to explore possibilities of supporting selected initiatives, subject to ADB’s
country sector focus as identified in the Country Partnership Strategy and Country Operations Business Plan.
Interventions in this sphere require public investment, public private partnership, capacity development, advocacy,
and intra- and inter-governmental coordination, in order to generate sustainable solutions.

ADB=Asian Development Bank; ICT=information and communications technology; MCIT=Ministry of Communications

and Information Technology; MOST=Ministry of Science and Technology; TA=technical assistance; YTU=Yangon
Technological University

Prepared by: Arun Ramamurthy Designation and Division: Senior Public

Management Service Specialist (ICT & e-
Governance), SDGG