Countries and Regions

	Table of Contents
p. 18 of 20 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 - Lao People's Democratic Republic

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VII. ADB's Operational Program

A. The Proposed Program

87. The lending program for Lao PDR during 2001-2003 comprises of 11 projects amounting to approximately $195 million or an average $65 million annually, compared with annual IPF of $45 million. The proposed program will depend on country performance under the proposed performance-based allocation policy soon to be adopted by ADB. During the program period, the share of core poverty or poverty intervention projects by number is about 55 percent, and other development interventions projects about 45 percent. In terms of crosscutting operational priority classification, 40 percent of projects by number have environment as an objective, 20 percent for gender and development, and 10 percent each for good governance, human development, private sector development and regional cooperation. Sector-wise, social infrastructure, and agriculture and natural resources by number will account for 27 percent each for total lending, transport for 18 percent, and energy, financial, and other sectors for 9 percent each. The TA program, at about $5 million-6 million annually, focuses on capacity building and governance, policy support, and quality project preparation. The TA pipelines for 2002 and 2003 will be further developed and refined in close consultation with the Government. (The proposed program for lending and TA is summarized in the table below and detailed in Appendixes 4 and 5. The 2001 project profiles are in Appendix 6.)

B. Strengthened Role of ADB’s Resident Mission

88. LRM has been operational since mid-2000. It will facilitate donor coordination, effective policy dialogue with the Government, and strengthen interface with NGOs and civil society. LRM will help ease project difficulties and improve the implementation of ADB-financed projects through ongoing quarterly project review meetings with OIC and National Project Directors. From 2001, LRM will lead annual CPRMs with the assistance of COPP and PW3. It will be requested to participate in project review missions, and project fact-finding and appraisal missions, as appropriate. Incremental delegation of project administration will be considered. Appropriate resource allocation is required for LRM to conduct its role effectively.

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