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Lesson
Strong project design, including carefully thought-out subproject selection criteria and adequate financial assessments can help reduce the need for scope changes and mitigate the risk of implementation delays. At approval, this project included seven subprojects in five provinces. Four of the seven subprojects were dropped in 2016 and 2017 because of changes in the companies’ investment priorities, changes in management due to the equitization process, and/or insufficient financial capacity.

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
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Lesson
Careful political economy analysis can help identify potential legal or regulatory changes on the horizon that could impact planned interventions. In this case, changes in the regulatory framework related to hazardous waste management resulted in the cancelation of one output.

Project Number: 45009-002
Project Name: Fifth Health Sector Development Project
Report Date:
Lesson
ADB needs to be persistent in organizing outreach endeavors to update SASEC countries’ officials, ministries of power, sector regulators, planning agencies, and other stakeholders about significant trends in regional cooperation. It can build upon and maximize the results of this TA which has played a crucial role in enabling SASEC members to develop a conducive environment for investment decisions and project design in cross border electricity trade and regional gas cooperation.

Project Number: 52070-001
Project Name: South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Regional Energy Cooperation
Report Date:
Lesson
The development of a regulatory framework alongside the preparation of a project’s technical design could help enhance the autonomy and sustainability of water utilities. This, in turn, could lead to improved service delivery and better maintenance of project assets. Such a framework could include mechanisms for independent oversight and regulation of water utilities' operations and performance, as well as the provision of clear guidelines and policies for tariff setting and cost recovery, among other aspects.

Project Number: 41403-013
Project Name: Urban Water Supply Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Counterpart funding arrangemnets need to be ascertained if doable in the local context. The project required the government and local communities to contribute 10% to the cost of construction of infrastructure improvements to build community ownership of the project facilities. However, the capacity of the local government and communities to contribute was limited to 4.7% and 1.8%, respectively. Delayed allocation and availability of counterpart funds for resettlement compensation caused delays during implementation.

Project Number: 43316-012
Project Name: Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Inadequate assessment of deficiencies in technical and financial capacities to operate, maintain, and manage sanitary landfills could have detrimental impacts. The project completion mission noted deficiencies in the management of the landfill. In the absence of an effective management system, the new landfill currently operates as an uncontrolled dumping site. There is a need for proper handover procedures and transfer of management from the project to the local authorities.

Project Number: 43316-012
Project Name: Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Insufficient project funds and funding for operation and maintenance (O&M) threaten the sustainability of project benefits and outcomes.There are challenges in maintaining and operating the project facilities following project completion because of uncertain annual budget allocations from the government. The revision of project agency roles and responsibilities due to the upgrade of Pakse from a district to a city has led to a shortfall of budget, particularly for landfill operations. The uncompleted riverbank protection work, have made project sustainability less than likely.

Project Number: 43316-012
Project Name: Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
The engineering design of infrastructure investments need to be simple and adequately consider post-project financial and human resources capacity for and operation and maintenance. The rationale for this project's overall design was justifiable as it highlighted Pakse as an economic and commercial center of southern Lao PDR. The choice of investments reflected the immediate needs of Pakse. However, in terms of future maintenance, the design of the landfill was considered overly sophisticated for local authorities with limited financial and human resources.

Project Number: 43316-012
Project Name: Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Coherent support by all multilateral development banks, especially when being a first mover in a particular sector, is invaluable. The series of Power Sector Reform Roundtable co-organized by ADB, EBRD, and the World Bank starting in July 2019 provided a platform for this coordinated approach and later provided cofinancing opportunities for the organizers and other development partners.

Project Number: 52322-002
Project Name: Preparing Sustainable Energy Investment Projects
Report Date:
Lesson
A donor coordination platform is helpful in harmonizing reform initiatives and identifying cofinancing opportunities while tracking progress. The government’s donor coordination platform between ADB, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Bank played a critical role in harmonizing and developing directions, and in sharing different international experiences.

Project Number: 52322-002
Project Name: Preparing Sustainable Energy Investment Projects
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Lesson
The government’s internal approval processes need to be carefully considered when designing and implementing a policy reform program. In Viet Nam, the consensus-building approach to policymaking requires significant time and coordination, particularly for policies that would entail changes to the legal framework. The process for amending laws is a significant constraint, as the lawmaking cycle usually takes 5 years. Inadequate consideration of these features of policymaking and lawmaking in Viet Nam could lead to unrealistic program schedules.

Project Number: 49331-001
Project Name: Financial Sector Development and Inclusion Program
Report Date:
Lesson
Proposing reforms during crises requires careful risks assessments, including in particular the likelihood of reforms being sustained, and well-prepared mitigation measures. It also requires an in-depth knowledge of the sector in the country through previous successful involvement and will demand intensive policy dialogue to be pursued after the crisis. These conditions, which were met by ADB for this overall project, were essential for the success of the project. Social protection and social assistance programs are politically sensitive.

Project Number: 42322-012
Project Name: Food and Nutrition Social Welfare Program and Project 
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Lesson
The transition of PWWs into independent corporate entities requires adequate preparation to ensure they have the capacity, technical and financial management skills, and resources for viability and sustainability. To support this transition, the PMU adopted a phased and practical approach, implementing vital actions with training and technical support. The PWWs developed business planning and financial reporting systems and adopted supervisory control and data acquisition systems. The PMU has identified the first PWWs that are considered ready for the next step as a corporate entity.

Project Number: 41403-013
Project Name: Urban Water Supply Project
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Lesson
Timely processing of changes in scope, implementation, and disbursement arrangements strengthen implementation and enhance project relevance.

Project Number: 44240-013
Project Name: Urban Infrastructure Project
Report Date: