One of the significant lessons from the project is the positive impact of early fielding of PIA (project implementation assistance) consultants. During project preparation, the capacity of the executing agency, MOW (Ministry of Works), was assessed as insufficient, particularly for detailed design, construction supervision, and overall project planning, monitoring, and reporting. The project design therefore provided for PIA consultants to assist and support MOW. Recognizing the importance of the PIA team and its own unfamiliarity with ADB procedures for selecting consultants, MOW requested advance action and ADB's assistance for the recruitment. This is believed to have significantly reduced the risk of delays in recruiting the PIA consultants - which typically would result in slow project start-up and late implementation - and allowed for fielding of consultants within weeks of grant effectiveness. The project was implemented largely on time and on budget.
Integrated Urban Development Sector Project