Managing for Development Results at ADB

Results Matter October 2007

The Project Performance Management System:
A Capacity Building Approach
By Andrea Iffland, Principal Project Performance Management Specialist, COSO

Workshop in Fiji

As an integrated part of the Project Performance Management System (PPMS), the Central Operations Services Office (COSO) has developed a capacity building program that introduces the Asian Development Bank (ADB) staff to the preparation and compilation of design and monitoring frameworks (DMFs). The design process is a team approach and includes partner organizations in developing member countries (DMCs), project preparatory technical assistance consultants, and ADB staff, so it is essential that all parties involved have a sound knowledge and understanding of how to best prepare the DMF.

Training for ADB Staff
Initially, the PPMS capacity building program focused on mission leaders and members in ADB headquarters. This was later expanded to national officers and staff in non-operational departments. To date, 577 staff members have participated in various training programs and workshops on DMF preparation, results chain development, problem analysis, and indicators.

Training for Resident Missions, Executing and Oversight Agencies
In September 2005, the PPMS capacity building program also began training executing agencies (EAs), oversight agencies, and ADB resident mission (RM) staff. These more intense 5-day workshops on results-focused project design and management link the design process and the DMF with change management and results-focused project implementation tools. So far, more than 575 DMC officials in 23 DMCs have participated in these workshops.

Training of Facilitators
To strengthen the application of the various participatory design tools, the PPMS capacity building program also conducts an 8-day training of facilitators (TOFs) program in results-focused project design and management.

To date, 4 subregional TOFs programs have been conducted in Central Asia, South Asia, Mekong, and East Asia with a total of 154 graduates, including 97 DMC officials, 24 RM staff, 7 staff members from ADB headquarters, and 26 from nongovernmental agencies. These facilitators have formed an IT-based network, FaciliNET, to share information and facilitation opportunities. A database of facilitators will be launched shortly in ADB to assist mission leaders in their search for competent professionals to organize and facilitate participatory stakeholder planning and review session.

Recommendations
While these various training programs and workshop continue, an evaluation of the use and usefulness of these programs is under preparation. At a recent PPMS Focal Point meeting, regional departments shared experiences and discussed challenges. They confirmed the need for intensified training of ADB staff in areas ranging from DMF write-shops, individual counseling, advanced training for the custodians of DMF quality, and training of facilitators’ workshops for ADB staff in RMs and headquarters. In addition, a training program for consultants will be launched on cost-covering basis.

COSO welcomes feedback and suggestions. Please e-mail aiffland@adb.org.

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