Search

Displaying 1 - 14 of 14

Lesson
Building systems and organizational capacity is critical to the success of social assistance programs. Moving beyond a pilot to a national CCTprogram requires establishing project management structures, robust systems for information management, accountability mechanisms, and significant human resources. Despite impressive growth, the Philippines' CCT program faced challenges as it expanded nationally.

Project Number: 43407-013
Project Name: Social Protection Support Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Additional ADB support for safeguard implementation should be anticipated for future projects in which the executing and imoplagencies have no prior experience in ESMS. ADB environmental safeguard support was comprehensive for project preparation but less so for project implementation. This was due to a range of factors, which contributed to reduced guidance for the review of subproject safeguard categorization, draft safeguard documents, and support for the implementing agencies.

Project Number: 47046-002
Project Name: Gansu Featured Agriculture and Financial Services System Development Project
Report Date:
Lesson
It would be best for ADB to review all subprojects classified as category B for the environment in all future financial intermediation loans. The ESMS criteria defining the number and types of subprojects to be reviewed by ADB resulted in the submission of only 11 sample subprojects and one IEE to ADB for review. The criteria were originally designed to balance the need for an adequate ADB review and guidance with the practical need to avoid reviewing a very large number of subprojects.

Project Number: 47046-002
Project Name: Gansu Featured Agriculture and Financial Services System Development Project
Report Date:
Lesson
It is important for future projects to exhaust options to finance a certified institute to prepare IEEs. The project management office's initiative to use a project implementation consultant to prepare the IEEs for category B subprojects was a pragmatic solution to fulfill ESMS requirements and reduce the financial burden on subborrowers. Nonetheless, this approach may have contributed to the suboptimal quality of the IEEs and added to the consultant’s intended key roles, i.e., project oversight, training, monitoring, and reporting.

Project Number: 47046-002
Project Name: Gansu Featured Agriculture and Financial Services System Development Project
Report Date:
Lesson
ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) fits well with the RBL modality with comprehensive due diligence review conducted at appraisal and adequate action items integrated into a program action plan and implemented accordingly. The external resettlement Monitoring and evaluation arrangement proved essential to ensure implementation of the proposed actions and to assess the income and livelihood restoration of affected people.

Project Number: 48101-003
Project Name: Guizhou Vocational Education Development Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Support from experts in safeguards, financial management, procurement, and other aspects was necessary to implement this first RBL in the country. Although the overall fiduciary system of the program was sound, some schools had weak capacity and needed extra support during program implementation.

Project Number: 48101-003
Project Name: Guizhou Vocational Education Development Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Small-scale infrastructure can have an added value. The construction of livestock shelters and wells increased agricultural production and reduced livestock losses for many households. The results of this activity inspired other BNGs to build disaster-resilient infrastructure using their own resources. During the project completion review fieldwork missions, local residents expressed gratitude and gave positive feedback on the benefits they received.

Project Number: 48236-001
Project Name: Strengthening Community Resilience to Dzud and Forest and Steppe Fires Project 
Report Date:
Lesson
To improve the project’s environmental performance, the design should ensure (a) early mobilization of environment specialists and consultants; and (b) clarity on safeguards requirements among the project staff, consultants, and contractors from commencement to closure. Some subproject works commenced without the required ADB-cleared initial environmental examination (IEE) reports, in response to which, a corrective action plan was agreed between ADB and the executing agency.

Project Number: 46166-001
Project Name: Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya
Report Date:
Lesson
New technologies can enhance safeguards. The adoption of new technologies such as metallic return conductors, gas-insulated substations, and high-voltage direct current transmission systems has minimized the project’s environmental and social impacts. Specifically, it has reduced the project’s land requirements, with completed infrastructure expected to contribute positively to the welfare of communities in the beneficiary states.

Project Number: 44426-014
Project Name: National Grid Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Independent technical studies are useful in addressing project-related grievances. The executing agency, in collaboration with ADB, determined that specific studies, including noise and vibration studies, had to be completed before proposing solutions to address the concerns of the complainants. While the proposed RAP was not accepted by the complainants, the technical studies proved useful in establishing the deficiencies of the IEE and could be built upon in addressing issues of similar nature.

Project Number: 42414-043
Project Name: Sustainable Urban Transport Investment Program - Tranche 3
Report Date:
Lesson
Careful selection of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to be engaged in projects will be beneficial particularly for the poor and vulnerable. Implementation of gender equality and social activities was closely linked to NGO performance quality, which varied significantly among the 3 NGOs engaged by the project. The NGO in Biratnagar demonstrates what can be achieved by a well-performing NGO.

Project Number: 36188-023
Project Name: Secondary Towns Integrated Urban Environmental Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Projects should provide room for any kind of response from affected people, businesses, and other entities. The risk of delayed LAR was envisaged at project preparation, and mitigation measures were developed and implemented. Still, unexpected requests or demands were raised by project-affected people and businesses, leading to 51 complaints filed on issues such as compensation standards, physical quantity of demolition, and compensation amount.

Project Number: 45506-002
Project Name: Gansu Jiuquan Integrated Urban Environment Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
A well-defined implementation arrangement, backed by strong leadership and commitment, and highly competent project staff are crucial to project success. The project’s implementation arrangement was well laid out and all relevant entities fulfilled their responsibilities throughout the project. A project management office (PMO) was set up while the project was still being conceptualized, engaging staff with a high degree of competence and professional knowledge. The PMO director stayed with the project from beginning to end, ensuring strong and efficient support and coordination.

Project Number: 45506-002
Project Name: Gansu Jiuquan Integrated Urban Environment Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
In this instance, the executing agency was competent and major issues did not arise. With a less experienced executing agency, the geographic and sectoral scope and range might have proved too challenging without the front-loading of due diligence and screening that a sector project provides.

Project Number: 43049-013
Project Name: Comprehensive Agricultural Development Project
Report Date: