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Lesson
The knowledge team (formerly Knowledge Advisory Services Center) from the former Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department administered the TA and supervised consultants until the TA was transferred to the Partner Funds Division. Managing consultants through external resources should be based on a clear understanding of ADB procedures and guidelines and should be adopted only if necessary.

Project Number: 52299-001
Project Name: Demonstrating Future Thinking and Foresight in Developing Member Countries
Report Date:
Lesson
The development of specialized expertise requires careful selection and the engagement of qualified consultants and proper management of expectations from all parties. Future thinking and foresight is a specialized expertise. It is crucial to identify and engage consultants with proven experience to ensure they can provide the necessary guidance and insights. It is also a new approach for ADB and thus, clear onboarding, communication, and setting expectations for both Staff and consultants who were critiical to the success of the TA.

Project Number: 52299-001
Project Name: Demonstrating Future Thinking and Foresight in Developing Member Countries
Report Date:
Lesson
More frequent and direct in-person contact with the executing agency is advisable for future similar endeavors. Despite the adverse work circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of the consulting firm and its experts was satisfactory. The project team als administered the TA satisfactorily. Nonetheless more frequent, person-to-person interaction is advised in future similar TA.

Project Number: 54092-001
Project Name: Institutional Support to the National Quality Center for Road Assets
Report Date:
Lesson
Engaging an international firm with extensive experience proved to be the best option for this TA which focused on a complex and highly specialized topic. Nevertheless,there will always be an indispensable need for national perspectives and experiences, best provided by national consultants, to inform and be considered in TA analyses and recommendations. Future TA could benefit from increased engagement with local experts, either as individual consultants or as subcontracted members of international consulting firms or TA implementation teams.

Project Number: 53198-001
Project Name: Developing a Disaster Risk Transfer Facility in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Region
Report Date:
Lesson
Sustained efforts to strengthen relationships with government counterparts and other stakeholders, and direct communications with key project staff are essential for the successful implementation of knowledge TA and similar initiatives.

Project Number: 54092-001
Project Name: Institutional Support to the National Quality Center for Road Assets
Report Date:
Lesson
Joint activities with development partners (DPs), such as collaboration in knowledge products and joint conduct of capacity-building activities, could maximize synergies and resources further. These could build on close coordination and relationships developed by this project among CAREC countries, as well with DPs which the project team strengthened through regular communication and information exchange, and by inviting the DPs to TA workshops and consultation meetings.

Project Number: 53198-001
Project Name: Developing a Disaster Risk Transfer Facility in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Region
Report Date:
Lesson
Urban land acquisition in densely populated areas poses significant challenges. Compensation rates may rise during implementation, driven by urbanization rather than project schedules, potentially causing delays beyond the control of the project. Aligning civil engineering procurement with land acquisition progress is essential to prevent contractual disputes. Close collaboration, clear milestones, and effective communication mitigate risks. Establishing a resettlement information system aids in early issue identification, maintaining transparency.

Project Number: 45022-002
Project Name: Jiangxi Ji'an Sustainable Urban Transport Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Cost management and quality assurance mitigate the risk of cost increases due to project design changes during implementation. Despite modifications to the project, the final cost aligned closely with the estimates at appraisal as a result of coordinated efforts. A well managed tender process secured favorable offers, while proactive project management throughout the procurement and construction phases ensured cost efficiency and quality.

Project Number: 45022-002
Project Name: Jiangxi Ji'an Sustainable Urban Transport Project
Report Date:
Lesson
A time-based contract suits consultants better than a lump sum contract as it prevents issues when service extensions are necessary for unforeseen project extensions, which typically imply annual price escalations.

Project Number: 45022-002
Project Name: Jiangxi Ji'an Sustainable Urban Transport Project
Report Date:
Lesson
To ensure knowledge creation, documentation, and dissemination, a good combination of consultants with both practical and documentation capacity needs to be considered in the preparation of the terms of reference of the TA and selection of consultants. The national consultant team, which conducted most of the TA activities, lacked adequate skills in summarizing and writing down key knowledge acquired through the TA. The international consultant was brought in to help improve documentation only after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

Project Number: 53035-001
Project Name: Sustainable Fodder Management
Report Date:
Lesson
As clients may not be able to keep pace with ADB's movement toward more advanced digitalization technologies, diversified communication channels and personal engagement will remain important aspects of implementation.

Project Number: 53035-001
Project Name: Sustainable Fodder Management
Report Date:
Lesson
A functional coordinating mechanism centered around a competent consultant team leader is key to the success of a complex implementation arrangement. The TA engaged a consulting firm, which subcontracted six additional international and national partners. This helped build a great partnership for knowledge and solutions. However, as many parallel activities were unfolding, the firm had difficulty coordinating input and outputs.

Project Number: 53035-001
Project Name: Sustainable Fodder Management
Report Date:
Lesson
Lack of communication could negatively impact engagement quality. The outbreak of COVID-19 during TA implementation affected consultant ability to engage stakeholders, government participation, and contribution by the international consultants. Despite significant efforts by the ADB resident mission and the consultants, communication between the ADB team and MOFALI were sometimes dependent on consultants, which reduced the quality of engagement.

Project Number: 53035-001
Project Name: Sustainable Fodder Management
Report Date:
Lesson
A combination of consulting firm and individual consultant inputs may prove effective in meeting the consulting requirements of projects. The quality- and cost-based selection method used by the TA to engage the firm offered a number of key benefits, including improved quality, increased competition, transparency, accountability, and sustainability.

Project Number: 44184-012
Project Name: Afghanistan and Turkmenistan: Regional Power Interconnection Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Designation of existing consultants to higher positions and responsibility levels may be explored to fill vacancies during implementation. There were two changes to the team leader position. The first was due to the resignation of the specialist because of an unexpected urgent assignment from his hiring university. The consultant recruited as the replacement team leader was not capable of performing the role. Instead of going through contract termination and recruitment process again, the TA team appointed the national simulation specialist, who had demonstrated strong leadership.

Project Number: 54037-001
Project Name: Innovation-Driven Green Economic Diversification for Resource-Exhausted Cities in Heilongjiang
Report Date: