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Lesson
Strong project design, including carefully thought-out subproject selection criteria and adequate financial assessments can help reduce the need for scope changes and mitigate the risk of implementation delays. At approval, this project included seven subprojects in five provinces. Four of the seven subprojects were dropped in 2016 and 2017 because of changes in the companies’ investment priorities, changes in management due to the equitization process, and/or insufficient financial capacity.

Project Number: 41456-043
Project Name: Water Sector Investment Program - Tranche 3
Report Date:
Lesson
In turbulent times, projects must formulate comprehensive contingency plans for major emergencies such as (i) strengthening risk management with flexible plans to address unpredictability, (ii) developing adaptable resource plans, (iii) enhancing supply chain transparency to mitigate delays, (iv) improving remote team collaboration, and (v) leveraging digital technology to monitor projects during emergencies. This project was affected by the pandemic and required a loan extension until 30 June 2022, necessitating a corresponding extension of the implementation period.

Project Number: 45022-002
Project Name: Jiangxi Ji'an Sustainable Urban Transport Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Designation of an alternate TA team leader despite resource constraints is necesssary to ensure seamless project continuity and institutional knowledge transfer. It will also mitigate potential disruptions caused by staff turnover.

Project Number: 54344-001
Project Name: Supporting the Establishment of a CAREC Regional Infrastructure Projects Enabling Facility
Report Date:
Lesson
Geopolitical shifts, market dynamics, and government decisions could impact project continuity. This was shown by the TA which highlighted challenges in ensuring the continuation of projects beyond the TA phase.

Project Number: 44184-012
Project Name: Afghanistan and Turkmenistan: Regional Power Interconnection Project
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Lesson
Designation of existing consultants to higher positions and responsibility levels may be explored to fill vacancies during implementation. There were two changes to the team leader position. The first was due to the resignation of the specialist because of an unexpected urgent assignment from his hiring university. The consultant recruited as the replacement team leader was not capable of performing the role. Instead of going through contract termination and recruitment process again, the TA team appointed the national simulation specialist, who had demonstrated strong leadership.

Project Number: 54037-001
Project Name: Innovation-Driven Green Economic Diversification for Resource-Exhausted Cities in Heilongjiang
Report Date:
Lesson
Based on the experience from this TA, comprehensive contingency plans need to be in place to address potential disruptions or changes in future energy projects. These plans should account for geopolitical, economic, and environmental factors. Moreover, it is important to encourage diversification of energy sources to reduce reliance on a single resource. Exploring renewable energy options, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, to enhance the resilience of energy projects and prioritizing sustainability in all energy projects are particularly important in this regard.

Project Number: 44184-012
Project Name: Afghanistan and Turkmenistan: Regional Power Interconnection Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Frequent review missions are crucial to overcoming implementation challenges. The TA was administered by staff located in head office with good support from the Pakistan Resident Mission. However, ADB staff assignment changed during the TA implementation period; and the limitations and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic induced challenges to consultant management and client interaction. Frequent review missions significantly helped address these challenges.

Project Number: 51249-003
Project Name: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Water Resources Development Project
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Lesson
ADB needs to be persistent in organizing outreach endeavors to update SASEC countries’ officials, ministries of power, sector regulators, planning agencies, and other stakeholders about significant trends in regional cooperation. It can build upon and maximize the results of this TA which has played a crucial role in enabling SASEC members to develop a conducive environment for investment decisions and project design in cross border electricity trade and regional gas cooperation.

Project Number: 52070-001
Project Name: South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Regional Energy Cooperation
Report Date:
Lesson
Responding to the government’s changing needs and external factors could cause delays in the delivery of expected TA outputs particularly capacity building activities. Furthermore, organizational restructuring of revenue agencies, as well as frequent turnover of counterpart staff meant that capacity building was constantly in repeat mode. Addressing these issues could lead to efficiency gains and could help the government reach key performance targets quicker.

Project Number: 53105-001
Project Name: Strengthening Tax Policy and Administration Capacity
Report Date:
Lesson
Lack of adjustments in the design and monitoring framework (DMF), despite changes in TA priority and activities, could cause changes in counterparty priorities, expectations, and levels of commitment to a tax reform project. This TA's priority and activities were adjusted in response to the changed needs and business circumstances of the State Tax Service and the Ministry of Finance. However, no corresponding changes were made to the DMF, prompting changes to counterparty attitude and response to the tax reform project.

Project Number: 53105-001
Project Name: Strengthening Tax Policy and Administration Capacity
Report Date:
Lesson
Construction timelines in climate-affected areas need to be reliably assessed to minimize completion delays. The construction timelines for Karamyk BCP, located at altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level, were tight. The contractor faced various issues due to the harsh weather, electricity supply interruptions, and delays with the supply of materials and equipment. Combined with the contractor’s relatively low financial capacity, this resulted in a 4-year construction period versus the originally planned 15-month implementation timeline.

Project Number: 46124-001
Project Name: Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Regional Improvement of Border Services Project
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Lesson
Inadequate assessment of deficiencies in technical and financial capacities to operate, maintain, and manage sanitary landfills could have detrimental impacts. The project completion mission noted deficiencies in the management of the landfill. In the absence of an effective management system, the new landfill currently operates as an uncontrolled dumping site. There is a need for proper handover procedures and transfer of management from the project to the local authorities.

Project Number: 43316-012
Project Name: Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project
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Lesson
Insufficient project funds and funding for operation and maintenance (O&M) threaten the sustainability of project benefits and outcomes.There are challenges in maintaining and operating the project facilities following project completion because of uncertain annual budget allocations from the government. The revision of project agency roles and responsibilities due to the upgrade of Pakse from a district to a city has led to a shortfall of budget, particularly for landfill operations. The uncompleted riverbank protection work, have made project sustainability less than likely.

Project Number: 43316-012
Project Name: Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Project readiness and advance contractung and retroactive financing facilitate successful and timely project completion. Project readiness—in terms of technical, financial, and safeguards readiness—was effectively undertaken, thereby facilitating smooth project implementation. The use of advance contracting and retroactive financing likewise helped enable the completion of all project activities by the original loan closing date.

Project Number: 47047-002
Project Name: Shandong Groundwater Protection Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Accurate cost estimates, including for contingencies, and effective utilization of loan savings are critical to the attainment of intended project results and timely financial closing. The actual contract price was lower than the amount estimated because of the inaccuracy of the engineering cost estimate and contingency estimates. Cost savings, however, were effectively utilized through minor changes in the project, further enhancing the achievement of project outcomes and outputs. Eligible expenses should be clarified early on, so as not to delay the project financial closing.

Project Number: 47047-002
Project Name: Shandong Groundwater Protection Project
Report Date: