Institutionalize - fast-tracking - and flexibility. The technical assistance (TA) attached to the project allowed flexible responses to diverse capacity gaps, and fast-tracked procurement and disbursement, and the implementation of the safeguards policy. The flexibilities allowed under the emergency policy reduced procurement time and enabled efficient mobilization of resources. However, no comparable emergency procedures existed at line agencies, and reconciliation of accounts delayed the closure of the loan account because no additional capacity was provided to ADB to handle the additional disbursement load. A reconstruction program can be fast-tracked if procedures are put in place at the line agencies to reduce timelines for approvals, disbursements, and procurements for the specified duration of the program, and if capacity is developed in the line agencies and ADB to implement those procedures. Similarly, for ADB, flexible TA and procurement procedures have proven to be excellent tools for timely delivery of emergency projects.
Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project