Knowledge building

This validation agrees with the lesson of building awareness for the work done under the TA project. However, it is unclear why awareness-building beyond ASEAN is required for this TA project. One can surmise that it could be for the goals of attracting capital. However, the role of partnership with foreign academic institutions is unclear beyond the publication of potential knowledge products. This lesson or recommendation should then be classified under partnership and cofinancing.

The independent validation process implemented under the ACGS is good practice for knowledge building. It gives practical information on actual corporate governance practices of PLCs. Many ACMF initiatives have good traction within the region. However, awareness beyond ASEAN is limited. In addition to the existing knowledge sharing of best practices within ASEAN, future support to ACMF should also include engagement with international partners. This includes foreign academic institutions with strong private sector partnerships.

The capacity building activities transferred best practices to government agencies, academia, and researchers through trainings, workshops, and field activities. Nine events (Appendix 3) under the TA were organized before and during the TA’s implementation relating to IWRM issues where the total number of participants reached approximately 560 persons from different organizations. ADB should consider to include more training and learning exercises to be included in similar TA projects to provide more opportunities for local experts and consultants to gain first-hand knowledge.

The lesson also does not talk about constraints encountered. To be a useful knowledge product, it is essential to comment on the constraints and the mitigation strategies deployed by the project so that others can learn from it.

This validation is also suggesting this lesson statement: Increasing knowledge and awareness in a specific geographic area about key elements of the agriculture sector (e.g., markets, infrastructure, institutions, best practices, value chain) can be catalytic for increasing investment and development of new horticulture market opportunities.

The TCR lesson lists the activities carried out by the project and concludes that the survey reveals new product opportunities in the value chain. The TCR does not talk about specific lessons learned out of the process. In finalizing this validation report, the NRM rephrased the lesson and provided additional information: Effective knowledge building brings many tangible benefits in the design of new projects.

The TA supported the preparation of (i) a policy matrix for a $50 million policy_x005F_x0002_based loan, (ii) a report on a commodity mapping survey along key road corridors in Gandaki Province, (iii) institutional mapping of the agriculture sector under federalism, (iv) a report on best practices under the recently completed ADB-financed value chain project, and (v) a preliminary concept note on rice- based value chain development. These reports will provide background information for the development of a new investment project in the agriculture sector in Nepal.

consultants. 4. Knowledge building ( ) Awareness () Technical product ( ) Adoption or uptake () Building institutional or system capacity ( ) National or sector practice (guidelines) ( ) Policy, legal standards ( ) Academic literature The workshops were attended by 40 government officials, but further knowledge sharing was facilitated through a wider yet targeted dissemination of the knowledge products. When targeted well, distribution of knowledge products can be an effective way of institutional knowledge building.

The workshops were attended by 40 government officials, but further knowledge sharing was facilitated through a wider yet targeted dissemination of the knowledge products. When targeted well, distribution of knowledge products can be an effective way of institutional knowledge building.

Agreed. A large turn-out from all the Pacific DMCs at the workshop, including finance ministries, maritime and aviation authorities fostered interest in the project and facilitated knowledge sharing and contributed to project outcomes. A high turnout at workshops with multi-sector representatives from many DMCs helps to foster knowledge sharing and develop awareness, adoption and uptake of TA project initiatives building institutional capacity and driving and guiding national or sector guidelines.