Changing internal guidance and expectations created additional pressure in designing ADB’s COVID-19 response programs and this has to be managed more effectively in future similar situations. At the time this program was prepared, ADB policy and guidelines on the COVID-19 pandemic response option (CPRO) were still being developed, and managing changing internal guidance and expectations added a significant amount of pressure. Program preparation efficiency gains from the “One ADB” review mechanism were mainly from the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department’s debt sustainability analysis while other departments appeared to be stretched and were thus limited to providing comments and suggestions to strengthen program design. Against this backdrop, the program team looked beyond ADB for support in developing the program.
Health Expenditure and Livelihoods Support Program