ADB Assistance to Boost Effectiveness of Mekong Cooperation Program

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (13 October 2005) - ADB will strengthen management and effectiveness of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program through a new technical assistance grant of $2.5 million.

The subregion is one of the world's fastest growing and among Asia's most rapidly integrating. In 2004, despite prolonged droughts, escalating oil prices, and the threat of avian flu, each of the GMS countries grew at more than 6%. However, large numbers of people in the subregion are still living in severe poverty.

At the Second GMS Summit in July 2005, the leaders noted that progress has been made over the 13 years since the GMS Program began, but emphasized that increasingly complex challenges remain, including environmental management and cross-border crime and disease.

To ensure sustained momentum in the development of the GMS and a more equitable distribution of benefits, there needs to be a more proactive approach in defining, carrying out and monitoring the GMS program, using a clear analytic framework that can determine and measure results.

The technical assistance (TA) project will support the work programs of the various GMS working groups and draw up a monitoring and evaluation framework for activities. It will also develop ways to engage more effectively with the private sector, helping to identify areas for public-private partnerships and private sector participation in projects. In addition, the TA project will promote more effective coordination among development partners and provide assistance to boost the capacity of national coordinators and line agencies in the GMS countries.

ADB will be responsible for implementing and monitoring the TA, in consultation with the GMS governments. TA activities will be carried out over the next two years to January 2008.

ADB has been supporting GMS economic cooperation since the program's inception in 1992 and is the lead development partner.

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