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Lesson
The project's geographical coverage posed a major challenge to monitor subproject implementation in 12 project towns located all over the country from the northern tip (Phongsali) to the south (Samakkhixai). Particularly during rainy season, it was time-consuming for project coordination unit (PCU) staff and consultants to travel to the project towns, as well as for personnel from UDAAs and project implementation units (PIUs) to attend meetings and workshops.

Project Number: 31352-013
Project Name: Small Towns Development Sector Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Focus in scope is important. The extended time period, the considerable amounts of counterpart and staff time, and the breadth of technical assistance (TA) support involved in program implementation (6 years and about $6 million in loan and grant-based TA resources) clearly indicate the scope and complexity of the program. Significant additional support was also provided under rural finance-related projects to address Agriculture Promotion Bank (APB) and microfinance-related measures.

Project Number: 33359-013
Project Name: Banking Sector Reform Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Funding should be commensurate to the size and scope of the program to align incentives. The total amount of funding under the program was $15 million (spread over three tranches), yet the release of funds was contingent on compliance with some 42 conditions, some of which carried costs significantly greater than the program amount (e.g., recapitalization of the SOCBs). Interest payments alone on the recapitalization bonds were estimated at $18-$20 million over the originally anticipated program period of 3 years.

Project Number: 33359-013
Project Name: Banking Sector Reform Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Adequate donor coordination was important to implement a complex crosscutting program in a small country with many donor agencies. Donor coordination in the formulation and implementation of the ESP was adequate. The design of the World Bank's LENS project was well-synchronized with the ESP. The phasing-out of Sida assistance appears to have been well-timed with the phasing-in of development assistance from the Finnish Government. Donor coordination is important to ensure synchronization of activities and avoid duplication of effort.

Project Number: 34543-014
Project Name: Environment and Social Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Need for better stakeholder analysis and involvement for complex programs. The RRP could have provided a better stakeholder analysis of the central government agencies and their evolving roles in the management of environmental and social safeguards. It omitted analysis of the mandate and remit of the Ministry of Finance and the key role that it would need to play in establishing sustainable financing mechanisms, including on the revenue collection aspects. The RRP should have flagged this as a substantial risk.

Project Number: 34543-017
Project Name: Environment and Social Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Capacity development is a long-term process encompassing multiple levels and institutional aspects. The RRP correctly identified poor institutional capacity in Lao PDR as another risk to the implementation of the ESP. Capacity development refers to many aspects other than training or skills improvement and is a long-term process, in which all stakeholders should participate.

Project Number: 34543-016
Project Name: Environment and Social Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Program design encompassing a good technical analytical basis was useful. The technical analytical basis for the formulation of the ESP was very sound. There were a large number of detailed studies and reports financed by ADB, the government, and other donors that the ESP could build on. This was particularly true in terms of environment-related information, data base and analytical work. Complex programs, such as the ESP, should be preceded by good analytical work in order to inform the program design, particularly the conditions to be included in the policy matrix.

Project Number: 34543-013
Project Name: Environment and Social Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Considering the full range of opportunities for enhancing the human resource base would produce a more sustainable outcome. The RRP correctly identified the weak human resource base of Lao PDR as a risk to the implementation of the ESP. These weaknesses remain with no immediate or short-term solution.

Project Number: 34543-015
Project Name: Environment and Social Program
Report Date:
Lesson
No new lessons

Project Number: 30451-013
Project Name: Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project
Report Date: