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Lesson
Project monitoring needs to continue until the preparation of the project completion report (PCR). From loan closure in August 2020 to project completion in February 2022, APDCL implemented the project using its own resources. A streamlined process for monitoring and reporting was not followed during this period. While there were no adverse incidents or complaints reported during this period, it would be in the best interest of the project, the borrowing governments, and ADB to continue keeping a close watch on the project and its operation until at least PCR preparation.

Project Number: 47101-003
Project Name: Assam Power Sector Investment Program - Tranche 2
Report Date:
Lesson
A needs assessment carried out as part of the project design contributes to the project scope being defined more accurately and project allocations being optimized for project or other development expenditure. Some of this project’s main activities were dropped or carried out at reduced scope because of changes in the situation or reassessments undertaken during implementation. For example, the centralized billing system initially included in the project scope was canceled as it would instead be implemented by APDCL.

Project Number: 47101-003
Project Name: Assam Power Sector Investment Program - Tranche 2
Report Date:
Lesson
A detailed market assessment is necessary to come up with reliable cost estimates. The actual costs deviated significantly from the original estimates, aggregating to only $29.35 million or 49% of the $60 million total estimated cost. This was mainly because of the nearly 30% drop in the actual cost of equipment realized through the international competitive bidding process, the reduction in the number of distribution transformers installed, and the reduction in the scope of underground cable installation actually undertaken.

Project Number: 47101-003
Project Name: Assam Power Sector Investment Program - Tranche 2
Report Date:
Lesson
A thorough feasibility study of all the key the aspects of a project is critical to identifying constraints and avoiding delays and mid-project changes. The change in location of the 33/11-kilovolt substation resulted in substantial delays in starting the component. The change was necessary because the government land originally identified became unavailable for use by the project. Similarly, the conversion of overhead lines to underground cables had to be undertaken on a pilot basis as the required right-of-way clearances to lay the cables were not issued.

Project Number: 47101-003
Project Name: Assam Power Sector Investment Program - Tranche 2
Report Date:
Lesson
In preparing the design and monitoring framework, careful consideration should be given to the relevance of the performance Indicators against the output and outcome targets. Greater cohesion between Indicators and targets will lead to a proper evaluation of project achievements. The effectiveness of the capacity building could have been identified through appropriate Indicators to allow closer monitoring and timely intervention by ADB

Project Number: 47101-002
Project Name: Assam Power Sector Investment Program - Tranche 1
Report Date:
Lesson
Executing agencies (EAs) should engage qualified safeguards specialists to support safeguards implementation, supervision, monitoring, and reporting. The project EA, Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL), managed the environmental safeguards requirements without the planned consultant. However, engaging an expert to support APGCL in handling pollution control aspects and strengthening internal staff capacity would have been desirable to ensure that issues were detected and reported properly.

Project Number: 47101-002
Project Name: Assam Power Sector Investment Program - Tranche 1
Report Date:
Lesson
Compliance with financial covenants on institutional reforms and asset valuation and reconciliation, need a high level of commitment, capacity, and resources from the executing agency. Further, substantial changes in state-owned enterprises take time to get implemented in full. Despite efforts made by executing agency, the Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL), lack of capacity and resources resulted in some of loan covenants to be achieved only partially.

Project Number: 47101-002
Project Name: Assam Power Sector Investment Program - Tranche 1
Report Date:
Lesson
To avoid unnecessary financing commitments and fund allocations, it is important to undertake a detailed needs assessment of all planned components. The project cost was 31% lower than estimated because of lower bid prices received under the international competitive bidding, the transfer of part of the project scope to another tranche project, and non-implementation of some project activities. ADB financing was 22% lower than its $50 million loan commitment.

Project Number: 47101-002
Project Name: Assam Power Sector Investment Program - Tranche 1
Report Date:
Lesson
Cultural norms regarding women’s roles in the society and community should be more carefully addressed. Community involvement in implementation—especially women’s engagement—could have been further enhanced through (i) continuous engagement with the shoreline communities, (ii) targeted interventions and mobilization of specialized resources in the PMU, and (iii) consultant team guidance. In this program, the documentation of the communities’ engagement activities was weak; a better mechanism employed to report women’s participation in project activities would have been more productive.

Project Number: 40156-013, 40156-033
Project Name: Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Program - Tranche 2 and MFF
Report Date:
Lesson
Consider alternative and locally appropriate strategies for community involvement. Community involvement in project implementation was minimal due to the lengthy registration procedures for shoreline management organization (SMOs). The planned roles for community members in SMOs should have been tailored to community members’ capacity and experience.The capacity of stakeholders to understand the complex coastal process and the coast’s dynamic nature could have been more carefully considered in planning community roles.

Project Number: 40156-013, 40156-033
Project Name: Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Program - Tranche 2 and MFF
Report Date:
Lesson
Extensive stakeholder consultations help enhance project designs and project readiness. Due to disparaties between actual and appraisal conditions, design changes were required during implementation. These changes prompted revisions in bill of quantities and procurement of materials as well as in technical approaches. The revisions required lengthy approval processes, resulting in reduced scope and cancellation of some subprojects. Replacement subprojects likewise caused delays and even ended Maharashtra state’s participation in project 2.

Project Number: 40156-013, 40156-033
Project Name: Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Program - Tranche 2 and MFF
Report Date:
Lesson
It would be beneficial for projects to undertake comprehensive field investigations and site assessments during the detailed design stage. Monsoon and weather conditions and project readiness for physical works should be considered in drawing up implementation schedules—for both onshore and offshore projects.

Project Number: 40156-013, 40156-033
Project Name: Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Program - Tranche 2 and MFF
Report Date:
Lesson
Detailed project preparation and feasibility studies carried out and included in the periodic financing request strengthen project readiness in procurement and safeguards implementation. This could entail conducting comprehensive field investigations and site assessments conducted during the detailed project reporting stage. Monsoon and weather conditions and project readiness for physical works should be considered in drawing up implementation schedules—for both onshore and offshore projects.

Project Number: 40156-013, 40156-033
Project Name: Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Program - Tranche 2 and MFF
Report Date:
Lesson
Sustained capacity building and participation are important to strengthening the knowledge and awareness of various stakeholders on their roles in coastal protection and in prioritizing investments.

Project Number: 40156-013, 40156-033
Project Name: Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Program - Tranche 2 and MFF
Report Date:
Lesson
It is critical to analyze multisector issues to workably integrate conservation, livability, protection, and conservation into the design of environmental projects.

Project Number: 40156-013, 40156-033
Project Name: Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Program - Tranche 2 and MFF
Report Date: