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Lesson
Changes in scope and consultants' contracts need to be anticipated in future TA, with sufficient contingencies provided. Despite the difficult circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, several workshops were conducted to present the interim and final deliverables. While these helped to foster stakeholder and ADB agreements, adherence to the originally agreed upon TA scope of the TA was challenging, as the executing agency refocused and added additional tasks to the TA.

Project Number: 54092-001
Project Name: Institutional Support to the National Quality Center for Road Assets
Report Date:
Lesson
In turbulent times, projects must formulate comprehensive contingency plans for major emergencies such as (i) strengthening risk management with flexible plans to address unpredictability, (ii) developing adaptable resource plans, (iii) enhancing supply chain transparency to mitigate delays, (iv) improving remote team collaboration, and (v) leveraging digital technology to monitor projects during emergencies. This project was affected by the pandemic and required a loan extension until 30 June 2022, necessitating a corresponding extension of the implementation period.

Project Number: 45022-002
Project Name: Jiangxi Ji'an Sustainable Urban Transport Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Additional budget and time could be instrumental in successful project implementation. The major factor for the successful outputs was the provision of additional budget and time for improving and completing the feasibility studies despite delays during TA implementation. Additional TA financing helped in improving the feasibility assessments which were deemed essential before committing the detail design resources.

Project Number: 51249-003
Project Name: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Water Resources Development Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Frequent review missions are crucial to overcoming implementation challenges. The TA was administered by staff located in head office with good support from the Pakistan Resident Mission. However, ADB staff assignment changed during the TA implementation period; and the limitations and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic induced challenges to consultant management and client interaction. Frequent review missions significantly helped address these challenges.

Project Number: 51249-003
Project Name: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Water Resources Development Project
Report Date:
Lesson
It is important for projects engaging many consultants to have a clear record of what was delivered and why the scope of contracts was changed or reduced. The firm’s final report should summarize the key deliverables and their usage. It is also important to undertake a structured turnover process especially to submit TA documentation sharing insights, best practices, and lessons from the TA experience.

Project Number: 52013-001
Project Name: Research University Sector Development Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Despite odds, it is not impossible for TA projects to collect the necessary information to prepare ensuing projects. The TA scope and implementation arrangements had been changed to adapt to the changing context arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, it was able to gather all the requisite information to prepare the ensuing project.

Project Number: 52013-001
Project Name: Research University Sector Development Program
Report Date:
Lesson
An exogenous shock such as the COVID-19 pandemic can significantly affect TA execution and associated plans and government priorities. When that happens, it will be useful to pause TA implementation, revisit the processing timeline, take sufficient time to observe and discuss with the executing agency, and make adjustment where possible. The TA was well aligned with strategy documents at national and ADB level.

Project Number: 52013-001
Project Name: Research University Sector Development Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Unforeseen events could significantly impact project implementation.

Project Number: 43316-012
Project Name: Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Accurate cost estimates, including for contingencies, and effective utilization of loan savings are critical to the attainment of intended project results and timely financial closing. The actual contract price was lower than the amount estimated because of the inaccuracy of the engineering cost estimate and contingency estimates. Cost savings, however, were effectively utilized through minor changes in the project, further enhancing the achievement of project outcomes and outputs. Eligible expenses should be clarified early on, so as not to delay the project financial closing.

Project Number: 47047-002
Project Name: Shandong Groundwater Protection Project
Report Date:
Lesson
The average size of 35 participants and duration of 2-3 days is appropriate while larger DMCs with large number of participants may have longer duration. With the momentum in 2023-2024 of the multilateral development banks forum for disbursement harmonization, cofinancing and related collaborations, and its impact on DMC capacity building and efficiency improvements, the scope of the TA needs to be expanded. Due to inflation, future TA size is expected to go beyond small-scale technical assistance of $225,000.

Project Number: 46534-004
Project Name: Disbursement Capacity Building for Developing Member Countries
Report Date:
Lesson
It is critical for project design to include key activities and budget for the executing agency and implementing agency to be accountable for realizing the targets indicated in the design and monitoring framework (DMF). In this case, the DMF indicator for “report identifying and addressing constraints on achieving gender balance in senior hospital management” was canceled due to the absence of activities and resources planned at the project design stage to identify and address the gender parity issues in senior hospital management.

Project Number: 41243-012
Project Name: Fourth Health Sector Development Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Detailed market analysis through strategic procurement planning and accurate cost estimates could prevent unexpectedly low bids, leading to significant project savings. Under this project, it is noted that low bids did not negatively affect the quality of construction.

Project Number: 45509-002
Project Name: Chongqing Urban-Rural Infrastructure Development Demonstration II Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Managing implementation during emergency situations requires a flexible and adaptive approach. Amod the COVID-19 pandemic, PMU and PIU systems were based on (i) adjusted work practices, (ii) limited staff movements and restrictions on international and national travel, (iii) changes in consultant resource use and approach, (iv) supplier delays and reduced contractor capacity, and (v) assessments of the impact on implementation timelines, and planning extensions, as required.

Project Number: 41403-013
Project Name: Urban Water Supply Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Thorough preparation of reliable and accurate cost estimates for each subproject is critical to help project implementation. Possible cost changes during implementation need to be kept within the acceptable threshold level and cost contingencies. Substantial cost overrun may lead to cancellation of critical project components.

Project Number: 42414-013, 42414-045
Project Name: Sustainable Urban Transport Investment Program (Tranche 5 and Multitranche Financing Facility)
Report Date:
Lesson
Resource constraints can impede the participation of smaller firms in ADB procurement as well as hinderCapacity development of counterpart agencies. Smaller firms struggled to respond appropriately in some bidding processes, which resulted in their being considered ineligible to participate. The project implementation unit experienced resource constraints, which hindered sustainedCapacity development throughout the project and the participation of outer islands officials in the training activities.

Project Number: 46351-002
Project Name: Climate Resilience Sector Project
Report Date: