Roles and responsibilities

Proactive consultations and policy dialogue with development partners enable the identification and avoidance of potential duplications in technical assistance and other projects. The project team designed the TA based on a request from the Ministry of National Economy to support the government’s effort in fighting COVID-19 impacts. However, the project team observed potential duplications between the scope of the Solidarity Fund for Kazakhstan (SFK) and support measures taken by the government and development partners.

Strong central coordination is necessary to ensure consistent monitoring and reporting and more effective lessons-sharing among multiple implementing agencies. The Ministry of Planning and Investment was designated as the coordinating agency for the entire MFF-financed investment program, while project 3 activities—procurement and recruitment, construction supervision, financial management, safeguards compliance, monitoring, and reporting—were implemented by the participating water supply coompanies (WSCs).

Close executing agency (EA) involvement is essential throughout the implementation phase. But this was lacking in this project, which saw the provincial people's committees, the project EAs, having limited involvement in project implementation. This strengthen the case for stronger central coordination by a line ministry to facilitate timely decision-making and approvals, provide closer supervision, ensure more consistent monitoring and reporting, and promote lessons sharing to improve performance.

ADB’s participation in a country-driven program, by bringing knowledge and experience in addition to financing, catalyzes interest and cofinancing from other development agencies. This program was a critical element for enhancing the entire ecosystem of housing financing and mortgage market, helping lay thegroundwork for diversified funding and private sector involvement.

It is all right to have a project that focuses on a limited number of TVET institutions, but the project should describe their interlinkages with tother TVET institutions, including the private TVET institutions. Despite the project’s category C for indigenous peoples safeguards, ethnic minority participation rates increased significantly by 132%. The project should have described how this was achieved given the project’s strategic agenda to support inclusive growth and social development.

When debt servicing and repayment burden is placed on TVET institutions, as was the case under this project, the TVET insitutions should have a greater role in the project design and determining their liability

A close coordination and efficient communication mechanism among agencies and project units that are part of the implementing structure is crucial for the timely identification of issues and resolutions. Adjustments in the detailed designs usually happen since issues or new findings arise at the actual sites. To resolve them on time, these issues need to be discussed by all agencies and units involved in the project. For instance, the introduction of the separation wall under this project was a new concept and could have been relayed to all relevant agencies and units in a timely manner.

An appropriate Implementation arrangement is key to delivering a successful project. The project could have had greater impact if it had the Nanning Education Bureau as implementing agency (IA). Project deliverables could have been more institutionalized and led to the deepening of the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) reform in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The Nanning Development and Reform Commission played an overall coordination role but lacked direct supervision authority over the two TVET schools.

Hydropower plant (HPP) projects are complex engineering projects requiring comprehensive feasibility studies, strict Implementation in line with study findings and recommendations, and continued engagement by the project management office and implementing agencies to actively assess and flag any issues after Completion and throughout the warranty period. This was brought to focus by the Waranghoi HPP experience that required prompt action to mitigate overtopping of an intake facility in November 2022.

Delegation to resident missions needs to carefully consider project complexity and expertise in the resident mission and ensure a smooth handover from processing to Implementation by having the project officer during processing remain as project officer during Implementation, until at least the award of the first major procurement package. During Implementation, the Sector Group needs to retain ongoing quality assurance responsibility and conduct annual audits. Continuity and adequate oversight on the project management unit also needs to be ensured throughout project Implementation.