Regions and Countries

	Table of Contents
p. 17 of 19 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies IV. Regional Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Maldives

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VII. ADB's Operational Program

47. ADB’ lending operations in the past averaged one loan approximately every two years, with the average loan size in recent years of about $7 million per annum. The proposed lending and TA programs have been formulated within the broad framework of country performance, focusing on the key development concerns of the outer island population through regional development, environmental management, human development, improved public sector management, and increased private sector growth in the economy. The proposed lending program during 2001-2003 consists of 4 projects totaling $21 million, or an average of $7 million per year. However, the annual average lending level amounts to about $5 million per year if it is taken into account that there is no loan project in 2000. The proposed lending level is consistent with the country’s need for continued external concessional assistance and based on the satisfactory portfolio performance achieved in recent years.

48. Over the period 2001-2003, the sectoral distribution of the proposed loan program (by number) is social infrastructure 75 percent and energy 25 percent. In line with ADB’s overarching objective of poverty reduction, an important feature of the lending program is the inclusion of projects with scope to maximize poverty impact. Out of total of 4 projects over the period 2001-2003, projects targeting core poverty intervention tentatively constitute 50 percent by the number of projects and 52 percent by the total value, depending on the poverty line to be established under the poverty analysis.

49. The TA program for Maldives in recent years has averaged about $1.5 million per annum. The TA program for the period of 2001-2003 includes 11 TAs (4 PPTAs and 7 ADTAs) with a total value of $5 million, or $1.7 million per annum. The ADTAs continue to focus on capacity building for key Government agencies, and human development and governance issues for improved public sector efficiency and private sector led growth. The PPTAs are aimed to help sustain a robust pipeline of quality projects for ADB financing in support of regional and human development. A list of loan and TA program is given in Appendix 4.

50. ADB’s project implementation experience in Maldives has been generally positive. Of the six completed projects, four have been postevaluated. Three were rated generally successful, while one was rated unsuccessful which suffered from major project design flaws. In order to maintain and further improve this satisfactory implementation performance, ADB will adopt a strict performance-based lending approach in determining the level of future ADB assistance to Maldives.

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