Changes in scope and subsequent revision of the DMF with board approval are critical in ensuring that the project’s intended outcome can be achieved. Adjusting the DMF and its indicators should be made as soon as the need becomes apparent, ideally during the early stage of implementation or at the mid-term review. In particular, a mid-term review provides an opportune time to conduct an in-depth assessment of whether a project is likely to achieve its outcome and outputs, and whether the output and outcome targets remain pertinent for the project context and development objective. While changes in scope and revisions of the DMF are a normal part of good project implementation, project teams must also bear the burden of being stewards of ADB's Project Administration Instruction 5.02, by determining what constitutes a major or minor change. While changes to outputs are considered minor, a major change is one that “materially alters or fundamentally affects the approved scope and project outcome.” The outputs in this instance might have remained the same, yet the reduction in targets by magnitudes suggest that this project might have benefited from a closer examination of this distinction.
Guiyang Integrated Water Resources Management (Sector) Project