The retention of implementing agency and staff until project completion enables timely and smooth implementation of project through continuous staff expertise support and institutional knowledge. If a change of implementing agency is necessary, transition needs to be during a non-critical project implementation period. In this project, the change in implementing agency happened during the critical period when land acquisition, resettlement negotiations, and relocations of underground oil pipeline. The ongoing subprojects were in Anning and allowed closer supervision, but since they were within the LMG, the change suffered from the loss of staff expertise and institutional knowledge resulting in the delay in CER benefits, which were only received in 2019 and 2020. Any implementation change needs to be supported by competent agencies with adequate capacity in project management and with support of the resident mission.
Lanzhou Sustainable Urban Transport Project