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Lesson
Proactive consultations and policy dialogue with development partners enable the identification and avoidance of potential duplications in technical assistance and other projects. The project team designed the TA based on a request from the Ministry of National Economy to support the government’s effort in fighting COVID-19 impacts. However, the project team observed potential duplications between the scope of the Solidarity Fund for Kazakhstan (SFK) and support measures taken by the government and development partners.

Project Number: 54265-001
Project Name: COVID-19 Solidarity Fund for Kazakhstan
Report Date:
Lesson
Close executing agency (EA) involvement is essential throughout the implementation phase. But this was lacking in this project, which saw the provincial people's committees, the project EAs, having limited involvement in project implementation. This strengthen the case for stronger central coordination by a line ministry to facilitate timely decision-making and approvals, provide closer supervision, ensure more consistent monitoring and reporting, and promote lessons sharing to improve performance.

Project Number: 41456-043
Project Name: Water Sector Investment Program - Tranche 3
Report Date:
Lesson
Strong central coordination is necessary to ensure consistent monitoring and reporting and more effective lessons-sharing among multiple implementing agencies. The Ministry of Planning and Investment was designated as the coordinating agency for the entire MFF-financed investment program, while project 3 activities—procurement and recruitment, construction supervision, financial management, safeguards compliance, monitoring, and reporting—were implemented by the participating water supply coompanies (WSCs).

Project Number: 41456-043
Project Name: Water Sector Investment Program - Tranche 3
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
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
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
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
Unforeseen events could significantly impact project implementation.

Project Number: 43316-012
Project Name: Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
It is all right to have a project that focuses on a limited number of TVET institutions, but the project should describe their interlinkages with tother TVET institutions, including the private TVET institutions. Despite the project’s category C for indigenous peoples safeguards, ethnic minority participation rates increased significantly by 132%. The project should have described how this was achieved given the project’s strategic agenda to support inclusive growth and social development.

Project Number: 45511-006
Project Name: Hunan Technical and Vocational Education and Training Demonstration 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
Adequate project readiness and accurate designs are critical for large infrastructure projects. Lack of these could cause delays, i.e., this project encountered a delay of over 2 years in finalizing the detailed design for the major civil works contracts and delays in procurement. Furthermore, inclusion of additional scope of works and delays in land acquisition and resettlement plans, and COVID-19 impacts hindered timely implementation.

Project Number: 40540-014, 40540-017
Project Name: South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Road Connectivity Project
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Lesson
A close coordination and efficient communication mechanism among agencies and project units that are part of the implementing structure is crucial for the timely identification of issues and resolutions. Adjustments in the detailed designs usually happen since issues or new findings arise at the actual sites. To resolve them on time, these issues need to be discussed by all agencies and units involved in the project. For instance, the introduction of the separation wall under this project was a new concept and could have been relayed to all relevant agencies and units in a timely manner.

Project Number: 36111-013
Project Name: Kulhudhuffushi Harbor Expansion Project
Report Date:
Lesson
The choice of executing agency (EA) is critical to project success. The Minifstry of Finance, the project EA, provided strong leadership and was able to engage the private sector efficiently. Its broad, multisector overview of the economy helped ensure relevant outcomes from the project, and its central ministerial position facilitated effective coordination across multiple ministries.

Project Number: 42466-015
Project Name: Skills for Employment Investment Program - Tranche 1
Report Date:
Lesson
An appropriate Implementation arrangement is key to delivering a successful project. The project could have had greater impact if it had the Nanning Education Bureau as implementing agency (IA). Project deliverables could have been more institutionalized and led to the deepening of the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) reform in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The Nanning Development and Reform Commission played an overall coordination role but lacked direct supervision authority over the two TVET schools.

Project Number: 46047-002
Project Name: Guangxi Nanning Vocational Education Development Project
Report Date: