A key lesson from this project comes from ADB's underestimation of the potential effects of the weakness of implementation capacity in Tuvalu. Professional services are limited domestically and the logistic problems are significant. A realistic and comprehensive assessment of capacity should have been conducted during project preparation. Transfer of skills alone may not be sufficient to overcome this problem because of the difficulty in identifying qualified counterparts and the fact that those who qualify may often not be in a position to commit all of their time to the project. In such cases, project activities need to be outsourced. This approach requires close oversight and monitoring. Close involvement of ADB staff in project implementation is also essential and the resources for this need to be provided.
Maritime Training Project