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Lesson
Government schools need to be included in future similar projects. While government-aided private schools were included, it was not clear why government schools that required enhancement support the most were completely exempted from the project scope.

Project Number: 46166-001
Project Name: Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya
Report Date:
Lesson
Upfront capacity development support before sanctioning project finance will help expedite project implementation. At appraisal, weak capacity of the executing agency was identified as among the key risks to the project. Capacity development support was provided through an attached technical assistance, which was also instrumental in putting the project on track after a significant startup delay. On hindsight, the delays may have been minimized if capacity development support was provided prior to loan approval.

Project Number: 46166-001
Project Name: Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya
Report Date:
Lesson
A longer project implementation period is necessary in projects with geographically challenging state terrain. The completion of this project was extended twice, for a total of 18 months, basically because of startup delays. Despite the delays that amounted to 30% overrun, completing the project in 6.5 years is a remarkable achievement for a first-time executing agency and for the first multisector project in the human development sector in a geographically challenging terrain.

Project Number: 46166-001
Project Name: Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya
Report Date:
Lesson
The design of future irrigation rehabilitation projects can build on the project’s community empowerment model but also consider options for increasing beneficiary contributions for water use. The project increased community ownership and management of irrigation infrastructure through resourcing and strengthening the participation of women and their roles in the water user cooperative societies (WUCSs). Despite gains in irrigation fee collection, the WUCSs and infrastructure O&M requirements are not yet financially sustainable without significant government inputs.

Project Number: 43253-023
Project Name: Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program - Project 1
Report Date:
Lesson
Targets need to be specific and evidence-based and indicators well-defined and measurable to enable a reliable assessment of implementation progress and project accomplishments and performance at completion. This project suffered from weaknesses in indicators and the results chain. Examples were inadequate links between intended outputs and outcome, lack of specific targets (output 1 and outcome), and poorly defined target (output 3). One impact target was misplaced (project staffing) and another was deemed unachievable (number of WUCSs confirming receipt of water services).

Project Number: 43253-023
Project Name: Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program - Project 1
Report Date:
Lesson
While the timely and effective utilization of project savings can improve outcomes, it would be best to ensure reliable cost estimates at appraisal to avoid complications and mitigate implementation risks. Cost savings during implementation prompted two requests from POWERGRID, the borrower and executing agency of this project, to use available loan funds through minor scope changes. This enhanced project results and final outcome, particularly as ADB and POWERGRID were able to swiftly meet the requirements and provide timely support for the implementation of the scope changes.

Project Number: 44426-014
Project Name: National Grid Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Advance actions are important and effective in mitigating the risk of startup and implementation delays. As part of advance procurement, POWERGRID awarded the largest contract package under this project before loan effectiveness and the originally envisaged major contracts immediately after the loan became effective. It minimized land requirements by ensuring that the transmission lines mainly passed through government-owned land, wasteland, and agricultural and grazing lands and arranged for the timely issuance of forest clearances.

Project Number: 44426-014
Project Name: National Grid Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
The participation of a financial management specialist in review missions and site visits will help improve capacity and compliance with statutory and financial covenants. The project generally met ADB’s financial monitoring and reporting requirements. But it encountered delays in the submission of the audited project financial statement for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. These delays could have been avoided by having a financial management specialist participate in project review missions and site visits.

Project Number: 44426-014
Project Name: National Grid Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
New technologies can enhance safeguards. The adoption of new technologies such as metallic return conductors, gas-insulated substations, and high-voltage direct current transmission systems has minimized the project’s environmental and social impacts. Specifically, it has reduced the project’s land requirements, with completed infrastructure expected to contribute positively to the welfare of communities in the beneficiary states.

Project Number: 44426-014
Project Name: National Grid Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
It is important to include relevant indicators to meaningfully assess the project’s results. At the outcome level, an indicator of transmission capacity in megavolt amperes and actual energy transmitted in megawatt- hours would have been more appropriate. The selection of indicators must consider results that are attributable directly to the project. At the impact level, indicators such as household access to electricity are also relevant to measure the project’s impact on development.

Project Number: 45224-003
Project Name: Rajasthan Renewable Energy Transmission Investment Program (Tranche 1)
Report Date:
Lesson
It is important to effectively manage the timing of investment in transmission capacity particularly on energy generation investments that are undertaken to meet electricity demands. This will involve a careful sequencing of activities and investments. This requires having a longer-term perspective on the energy needs or gaps in the project area to facilitate better timing and project sequencing.

Project Number: 45224-003
Project Name: Rajasthan Renewable Energy Transmission Investment Program (Tranche 1)
Report Date:
Lesson
Preparing, reviewing, and monitoring project cost estimates contribute to a more efficient utilization of project funds. A more in-depth assessment and consideration of currency depreciation factors during project appraisal permits a more robust cost estimate. Under this project,a significant loan amount was cancelled due to the rupee depreciation. In-depth financial planning and cost projections, coupled with risk mitigation measures (e.g., developing back-up subprojects in an advanced state of readiness) allows for better utilization of loan savings.

Project Number: 40423-033
Project Name: Rural Connectivity Investment Program—Tranche 2
Report Date:
Lesson
Procurement planning and readiness are critical prerequisites in the administration of bids and contract packages. Ensuring sufficient capacity of executing and implementing agencies facilitates a smooth procurement process. Developing back-up subprojects is also beneficial especially for implementation under the MFF in anticipation of cancellation of some subprojects. Given that civil works contractors in the rural areas have limited capabilities and as subprojects vary in size, this would proactively build an inventory of prequalified contractors.

Project Number: 40423-033
Project Name: Rural Connectivity Investment Program—Tranche 2
Report Date:
Lesson
The success of the program indicates that working with state governments in India is an appropriate level for PBLs, which may not be achieved at the national-level when instituting similar reforms. Success at the state-level offers an opportunity for scaling-up or replicating the experience in other states with similar issues.

Project Number: 49209-001
Project Name: Second West Bengal Development Finance Program
Report Date:
Lesson
3. Achieving durable reforms in public finances require a sustained commitment over time, which involves a combination of policy and legislative reforms, institutional change and strengthening, and the introduction of new technologies. The decade-long partnership between the West Bengal state government and ADB indicates a time frame and a level of commitment required to achieve results.

Project Number: 49209-001
Project Name: Second West Bengal Development Finance Program
Report Date: