The Sub-Saharan Africa Universal Service Fund (USF) study finds that USFs in the region do not appear to be the most appropriate mechanism for providing universal access and service, and to furthering social and economic improvement in a proactive, cost-effective and transparent manner. Generally, the report found significant deficiencies in fund structure, management and operation throughout the SSA region. It concludes that consideration must be given to disbanding inactive funds and return the remaining monies to the operators who paid the levies in the first place and, where this is not feasible, gradually reduce the levy collected for either inactive or low activity funds and gradually phase out the funds.
