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p. 14 of 25 BACK | NEXT Introduction Background The need for change Practices of other multilateral development banks The World Bank The Inter-American Development Bank The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development The African Development Bank Policy framework Organizational and resource issues Recommendation

Resident Mission Policy : Practices of other multilateral development banks

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The African Development Bank

Earlier, the African Development Bank closed its four regional and three country offices, citing their ineffectiveness and failure due to lack of clear responsibility, lack of operational staff experience, poor management, lack of control and reporting mechanisms, and too wide a coverage by regional offices. However, in line with the trend among other multilateral development banks, it recently¹⁶ decided to reestablish field representation. It now proposes to establish 25 country/ regional offices (covering more than one country) and eight national program offices (staffed only by locally recruited persons). The program will be implemented gradually, with the first six offices being opened in 1999–2000. The selection criteria for setting up field offices include

1. portfolio size,
2. portfolio quality,
3. pipeline for public sector lending,
4. potential for promoting private sector development,
5. accessibility and distance from Abidjan,
6. institutional capacity in the country, and
7. prospects for promoting regional integration.

Given its past experience, the African Development Bank intends to focus the activities of its field offices on improving project implementation, through project administration and portfolio management activities. In other activities, such as programming and project processing, field offices will have a supportive role. The field offices will report to the directors of the country department concerned. The staffing structure will vary according to need but will consist of a minimum of the resident representative, one other staff from headquarters, and at least two local professional staff, one of whom will perform office administration functions.

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