11TH SUMMIT OF THE NORTHERN CORRIDOR INTEGRATION PROJECTS
SENIOR OFFICIALS’ REPORT
15thOCTOBER, 2015
NAIROBI,KENYA
PROJECT / DIRECTIVES / TIMELINES / STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION / CHALLENGES / RECOMMENDATIONS
CLUSTERS COORDINATED BY UGANDA
1. STANDARD GAUGE
RAILWAY /
- Partner States to finalise the bankable project proposals for SGR and submit to EXIM Bank of China.
Kenya
Feasibility Study for Nairobi- Malaba-Kisumu- SGR sections have been completed and approved by Kenya Railways (KR) Board and submitted to Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.The Nairobi –Naivasha section is being fast- tracked and Commercial Contract has been signed between KR and CCCC to facilitate funding mobilization.
Uganda
Uganda signed Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with CHEC for the Northern and Eastern routes (Phase 1) on 30thMarch 2015.
Bankable feasibility study by CHECfor the Eastern line i.e., Malaba-Kampala, has been submitted. Application for a loan from EXIM Bank for Phase I is being processed by Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MFPED).
Uganda signed an MoU with EPC Contractor (CCECC) for the Western and Southern routes on 5th June 2015. Feasibility study will becompleted by December 2015.
Rwanda
Consultations on the Western and Southern routes, with Uganda on the improvement and harmonization of the MoUs and the roadmap for project implementation will be held on 15th October 2015 before signing of the MoU for Kagitumba-Kigali section. (Timeline)
South Sudan South Sudan signedanMoU with an EPC contractor (CHEC) for Juba-Nimule section on 10th May, 2014.
The bankable feasibility study is expected by December 2015. / South Sudan has to rely on the completion of route alignment by Uganda before commencing on its route alignment and studies for Preliminary Designs. / The traditional method of consultancy and the EPC contractor model of undertaking feasibility studies on the project should continue hand-in-hand in Partner States that had initiated the two methods concurrently.
Partner States to expedite the signing of EPC contracts and completion of bankable project proposals by end of December 2015.
Expedite the visit to China by Ministers of Finance, Infrastructure, Transport and Foreign Affairs to seek funding for SGR.
Partner States to sign and conclude relevant MoUs beFinalise necessary documents-MoUs
- Ministers of Foreign Affairs to coordinate the joint visit to China according to the existing Protocols by December 2015.
- Kenya and South Sudan to complete ratification of the SGR Protocol before 31st July 2015.
Parliament ratified the Protocol in June 2015. The Protocol has been forwarded to theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to preparethe necessary instruments.
South Sudan:
The Protocol was ratified on 17th June, 2015.
Uganda:
Awaiting finalization of instruments of ratification. / Partner States to prepare and exchange the instruments of ratification through normal Diplomatic Channelsby the end of November 2015.
- Partner States to send ten (10) staff each for secondment to the Mombasa- Nairobi SGR.
Kenya circulated the work plan up to December 2017 to the Partner States.
Ten (10) Engineers were recruited and attached to the contractor in May 2015.
Rwanda
Rwanda trainees reported on 6th October 2015.
Uganda
The team to be seconded is arriving by end of October 2015.
South Sudan
First Group of staff to be seconded by end of October 2015.
- Partner States to implement the approved Policies that support the Railway Transport.
a)Sustainable Development.
b)Ownership and governance.
c)Operating models
d)Legal, Institutional and Regulatory Framework
e)Competitiveness
f)Project Delivery
a)Technical Committee to finalize the framework for monitoring of the policies. / Development of policies and a monitoring framework are ongoing. / Matrix of policies for Monitoring to be presented for adoption to the 12th Summit.
b)Ministers responsible for Transport to develop effective and attractive policies that will encourage Northern Corridor Private Sector investments. / Development of the policies and the framework for monitoring and evaluation is ongoing.
c)Partner States Ministers responsible for Transport and Ministers for Minesto simultaneously initiate the development of railway routes to the mines, with a view of increasing the market share of the rail. / Development of the policies and the framework for monitoring and evaluation are ongoing.
d) Ministers for Transport to develop and implement transport policies, which will increase the market share for the railway to a minimum of 30% traffic off the road. / Development of the policies and the framework is ongoing.
- Partner States to consider Electric Traction as the mainoption for operating the SGR as it provides long term benefits to the project.
Uganda has included Electric Traction in EPC contract with CHEC.
Rwanda
Electric Traction to be included in the EPC Contract.
South Sudan
Electric Traction to be included in the EPC Contract with CHEC. / Kenya to ensure electrification of the Mombasa-Nairobi section is done by the time the Partner States lines are operational.
- Partner States to consider limited investment in diesel operated locomotives for rescue and infrastructure maintenance.
2. ICT
INFRASTRUCTURE /
- Uganda to ensure that operators in their jurisdictions cap their regional call rates at US10 cents per minute as was agreed under the ONA framework.
- ICT Cluster to expedite operationalization of One Network Area (ONA) for SMS and Data, and provide timelines for operationalization of Mobile Financial Services.
b) Partner States to ensure that ONA for Data is operational and launched by the 11th Summit.
c) The Cluster on Finance to facilitate cross-border mobile money transfer services and ICT Cluster to offer supportive infrastructure. / Report to 11th Summit. / Uganda:
SMS: Vodafone Africell, Smart Telecom, Airtel have complied at US$ 6 cents.
UTL and MTN are non-compliant at US$ 18 cents and US$ 50 cents respectively.
Data:
Consultations with Stakeholders are ongoing.
Mobile Financial Services:
East African Communication Organisation (EACO) study on Operationalisation of Mobile Financial Services ongoing.
Rwanda:
SMS:
Completed: Rwanda Telecos have complied as follows: Tigo and MTN subscribers charged 6 US cents to any network in the region, Airtel subscribers are charged 5.3 US cents to any network in the region and Airtel to Airtel is charged 2.8 US cents.
Data:
Partner states are conducting country, stakeholders’ consultations.
Mobile Financial services:
Cross border Mobile payment has been enabled between MTN Rwanda and MTN Uganda as well as Safaricom-Kenya.
South Sudan:
SMS:
All operators are compliant within the caps.
Data:
ONA-Data
- The regulator is in consultations with stakeholders for implementation of the data component, awaiting the outcome of the meeting of regulators and Telecoms.
Not yet operational but the matter is being addressed
- Mobile Money Regulatory framework awaits approval of the Bank of South Sudan.
- Mobile Money Licensing framework awaits approval by National Communications Authority.
SMS: Telkom Kenya Limited (TKL), Safaricom Limited and Airtel Networks Kenya Limited have implemented the framework for SMS with effect from 1st July 2015, 31/07/2015 and 1stSeptember 2015, respectively.
Data: The Regulator (CA) has received a completed questionnaire on ONA for data services from the operators.
A meeting between Regulators in the region to discuss and develop the ONA for Data Services Framework is yet to be held.
Mobile Financial Services:
The Central Banks are spearheading the study to inform the provision of Mobile Financial Services in the region. / SMS:
Some Operators in the region have reported Technical challenges in peering and price discrimination between regional and external traffic.
Data:
Development of the framework is not complete by 15 November 2015.
Mobile Financial Service:
The regulatory frameworks in the region are inadequate for smooth mobile payment across borders. / Regulators to ensure full compliance of ONA for SMS by the 15th October, 2015 and report to the 12th Summit.
Uganda to convene a meeting of regulators and operators to develop a data roaming framework and to assess the impact of ONA for voice services in NCIP region, by 15th November 2015.
ICT Cluster to involve the Ministry of Finance/Treasury and Central Banks on the implementation of cross-border Mobile financial services by 31st December 2015 and report to the 12th Summit.
Uganda to convene a meeting for Partner States to agree on data rates.
A meeting between Central Banks, Financial Intelligence Agencies, Regulators and Ministries of ICT to be convened by Uganda Ministry of Finance by end of November 2015.
- Partner States to fast-track procurement of a traffic monitoring system to detect and prevent fraudulent calls (Grey Traffic).
b) South Sudan and Kenya to expedite the procurement process of the traffic monitoring system. / Report to 11th Summit. / Rwanda:
The International Gateway Traffic Verification System (IGTVS) is operational.
Uganda:
Consultations with key stakeholders have been concluded and procurement of the system has been initiated and is being fast- tracked.
South Sudan:
Implementation is in progress, to report by the 12th Summit.
Kenya:
Consultations are ongoing.A comprehensive report will be presented at the Regulators meeting in November 2015. / South Sudan:
The NCA budget is constrained and this has affected procurement and implementation of the traffic monitoring system. / Uganda to complete procurement and installation of the system by 1st December 2015.
South Sudan to expedite the procurement process of the traffic monitoring system and report progress at the 12th Summit.
Kenya to report on consultations with regulators on procurement of a traffic monitoring system to detect and prevent fraudulent calls(Grey Traffic)to the scheduled meeting of Regulators in November 2015.
Kenya to expedite procurement and report on the progress to the 12th Summit.
- Partner States to intensify the awareness campaign to include SMS, Data and Mobile Financial Services upon operationalization.
- Partner States to complete harmonization of the Legal and Regulatory Framework for effective SIM card registration that will link with National ID databases.
b)Attorneys General to provide legal opinions on the data sharing framework of National ID and SIM card data.
c)Uganda to complete SIM Card and National ID data integration by August, 2015.
d)Uganda to amend the Regulation of Interception of Communication Act 2010 by December 2015.
e)South Sudan to speed up the National ID registration process to prepare their ID databases for integration. / Report to the 11th Summit / Uganda:
The Legal and Regulatory Framework to link the SIM-card registration with National ID Data is as follows:
i)Registration of Persons Act , 2015 (RoPA);
ii)Regulation of Interception of Communications Act, 2010 (RICA); and
iii)Data Protection and Privacy Bill.
A review of the legal framework to address the gaps in the above laws is ongoing.
The integration of the National ID and SIM-card registration data will be ready by December, 2015.
Rwanda:
Has completed linking the SIM-card registration with National ID Database.
Awaiting Attorney General’s advice on data sharing framework of National ID and SIM card data.
South Sudan:
The Civil Registry Bill is in Parliament.
MoU for sharing the database will be signed by the 30thNovember 2015.
Kenya:
Awaiting Attorney General’s advice on data sharing framework of National ID and SIM card data. / Uganda & South Sudan:
Lack of a comprehensive law governing the verification of SIM card registration data. / a)Partner States to expedite harmonization of Legal and Regulatory Framework.
b)Uganda to host the meeting on Sharing of National ID data by 30th October, 2015.
c)Legal experts including Officials from Attorney General’s offices from Partner States to meet, review and harmonize the Regional Data Sharing Framework.
d)South Sudan to host a technical meeting of SIM Card and National ID integration by 13th November 2015.
- South Sudan to expedite registration of all SIM cards by 30th September 2015.
- Kenya to host a workshop on harmonization of the Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for SIM card registration.
- Uganda to lead a Joint Technical Team to assess the readiness of National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI).
Joint survey to be carried out between Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan by end November 2015.
- Partner States to fast-track implementation of e-Services Strategy including new priority services i.e. Regional e-Soko Systems, Regional e-Learning Platform, Northern Corridor Portal and e-Health and support Integrated e-Customs Single Window, e-Immigration and National ID Integration.
b)Partner States to implement e-Border and e-Visa system in the FY 2015-2016 at National level. / Report to 11th Summit. / A regional technical meeting took place on 1st and 2nd October 2015 in Kampala and developed an e-Tourism Project concept document.
The Private Sector through the proposed Northern Corridor Technology Alliance(NTCA) has identified specific e-Services Projects to implement.
The proposed NCTA has requested NCIP Partner States to provide the Projects requirements.
Partner States have agreed to carry out consultative meeting with stakeholders ahead of the planned regional meeting on the identified e-services projects. / Partner States to develop legal instruments with NCTA (Private Sector).
Partner States to host regional meeting for the identified priority e-services to finalize the concept,implementation plan and funding strategy before the 12thSummit.
Kenya to host the meeting on e-tourism by 30th November 2015.
Rwanda to host the e-Soko meeting before the 12th Summit.
- ICT Cluster to finalize concept for Centers of Excellence (CoEs) and discuss the concept with the Human Resource Capacity Building (HRCB) Cluster.
This has being done and information about the COEs is now uploaded on NCIP website.
- Kenya and Uganda to expedite the Fiber Optic Network connections.
Implementation of Phase II of the NBI project was completed and is ready for interconnection as soon as the infrastructure from Kenya connects at Busia Border point.
Kenya:
Progress has been made and the interconnection at Busia border point will be ready by 31stDecember 2015.
- Uganda and South Sudan to expedite Legal Framework that will incorporate fiber optic access in all areas of the NCIP.
Development of the Legal Framework has been initiated and stakeholder consultations are ongoing.
Benchmarking within the region is completed.
South Sudan:
A Ministerial Order to implement the Summit Directive has been issued.
- Partner States to ensure that there is a common pavilion for Northern Corridor Partner States during the next ITU Telecom World meeting in Hungary from 12th – 15th October 2015.
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda will participate.
South Sudanunable to attend.
- Joint Technical Team of the ICT Cluster that will provide continuity, review and research into the emerging areas of cooperation relating to Last Mile Network to meet by end July to agree on TORs.
- Partner States to continue fast-tracking the implementation of the National Post Code and Geographical Addressing Systems.
The roll out of the National Post Code and Geographical Addressing Systems is ongoing in Kigali and other major cities.
Uganda:
The Policy for National Rollout is being developed and will be completed by December 2015.
South Sudan:
The process of identifying Stakeholders is on-going.
Kenya:
Kenyahas reported plans to develop a detailed roll out strategy in collaboration with Counties and other stakeholders. / Funding for the national roll-out. / Uganda and South Sudan to complete the development of the Geographical Addressing System Policy and Strategyand report to the 12th Summit
Kenya to develop a rollout strategy in collaboration with County Governments and other stakeholders.
Partner States to set up a regional technical team to develop project specification requirement documents that allow the involvement of the Private Sector in the roll out of National Post Code and Geographical Addressing Systems before the 12th Summit.
- Partner States to develop measures to curb incidences of damaging the Northern Corridor Fibre Optic Infrastructure.
This is being addressed in the Uganda Communications Act, 2013.
Kenya:
Stakeholders’ consultations are complete and the Critical Infrastructure Bill is now in the final stage of enactment.