To ensure GOL develops a sustainable mechanism to maintain the system, Digital Liberia has recommended and motivated to the GOL to include Assets Management in the GOL Public Financial Management Strategy (2018-2021) as a key element of the comprehensive financial management system. FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS FOR ICT Binding financial constraints impact on all GOL plans to improve performance through the use of ICTs. The ICT Policy designates the CIO as a senior post in MACs, reporting to the Minister. No additional resources are provided to fund these proposed senior staff, providing little incentive to attract and retain the necessary skills. Similarly, the e-Liberia/PMO office mandate to provide a pool of effective technical expertise to GOL MACs to assist with improving the ICTs performance remains unfulfilled. For the third year, no additional funding was made available to the ICT sector and support for the CIO cadre, training, internet and software licenses for critical systems remained unavailable. Digital Liberia has supported GOL efforts to address resource challenges by providing technical assistance to recommend improvements. Technical and organizational reforms in the National budget preparation and allocation were identified as necessary to better understand and support ICT-related budgeting and expenditure. The first step towards the implementation of these reforms is reflected in the GOL 2018/19 budget, with disaggregation of Internet expenditure from Voice expenditure in the Chart of Accounts. However, only 30% of MACs included internet in their FY19/20 budget. Digital Liberia has supported MOPT to identify and improve sources of funding for ICT, including options such as ring-fencing a set-aside from revenues generated by the ICT sector, benefitting from the operation of the Universal Services Fund, and motivating for a reinvestment into the sector of revenues generated, either through divestiture or leasing of capacity, from GOLs considerable stake in the CCL. ICT LEADERSHIP Sustained leadership is important at all levels of the e-government and MOPT has been unable to exert its authority in the ICT sector, in part due to resourcing issues mentioned above. Enhanced inter-agency collaboration at the senior level through the ICT Governing Board and the formulation of an ICT Donor Working Group will help address this ongoing challenge. GOVERNMENT SALARY HARMONIZATION The GOL decision to harmonize salaries through the reduction of salaries by as much as 60%, for many civil and public servants, along with other payroll challenges has impacted their ability to retain and incentivize the technical and operational staff. Many staff had their salaries reduced and were not paid for several months. The result has been a trickle-down effect on the operations, effectiveness and sustainability of service delivery and operations across Government. SECTION 4. SUMMARY OF RESULTS Exhibit 3 illustrates progress against MEL targets over the life of the Digital Liberia project. DIGITAL LIBERIA FINAL REPORT | 27