Institutional

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.

Strong coordination and regular meetings between the executing agencies and ADB teams, backed by governments' strong commitment to reforms are crucial to the success of reform programs. This program was an effective countercyclical crisis response tool that helped Uzbekistan respond to an external economic shock. Strong coordination and regular meetings between the government counterparts and ADB teams were key to implementing the program outputs.

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.

There are several line ministries involved in property tax management, i.e., national and local tax administration, land management, and judicial agencies. Upfront participation of and effective communications with these stakeholders, alongside increased ownership of TA outputs, are critical to ensure project success and sustainability. The involvement of resident missions by conducting stakeholder analysis and ensuring ownership of government stakeholders is critical in this regard.

Close communication and timely adjustments in implementation arrangements help minimize the impact of disruptions and ensure TA completion within the original or revised timeframes.

Regular meetings with ADB (management, project officers, staff, and consultants) are necessary and an effective way to ensure TA implementation remains on track and all activities are well managed. The engagement of experienced experts who are familiar with ADB protocols and procedures, as well as those of counterparts, is important to successful TA implementation. Getting on board a project coordinator strengthens TA coordination, communication, monitoring, and reporting.

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.

It is important for projects engaging many consultants to have a clear record of what was delivered and why the scope of contracts was changed or reduced. The firm’s final report should summarize the key deliverables and their usage. It is also important to undertake a structured turnover process especially to submit TA documentation sharing insights, best practices, and lessons from the TA experience.

Strong commitment of executing and implementing agencies is instrumental to project success. The project target impact was fully aligned with the government’s high priority for sustainable socioeconomic development. The provincial and local governments listed this project under their priority project pipeline and practical projects for civilian affairs. The provincial and project county and city governments provided full support to the project (policy, technical, financial, institutional, social, environmental, etc.) from preparation through post-implementation.

Effective institutional arrangements and adequate project management capacity are crucial to project success. At the onset, effective institutional mechanisms and linkages were established to ensure efficient project management andimplementation. Extensive, expanded, and continuingCapacity development through hands-on training, advocacy, and dissemination of knowledge products provided a cohesive approach to ensure that innovative technological solutions to groundwater degradation were effectively addressed and absorbed by stakeholders.