China, People's Republic of : Capacity Building for Enhanced Partnership and Development Impact

Sovereign Project | 44097-012

The dynamic and evolving nature of the PRC-ADB partnership was shaped by emerging challenges and issues. The assistance is envisaged to enhance this partnership and also strengthen the development impact of ADB projects in the PRC. The TA will carry out capacity building programs and activities to enhance client agencies' awareness of and skills in (i) all aspects of project design, appraisal, and implementation; (ii) operating procedures under ADB's streamlined business processes; (iii) implementation and monitoring of safeguard action plans under ongoing projects financed by ADB including those being processed; (iv) administration and implementation of delegated TA activities; and (v) new ADB initiatives (online system under eOperations, knowledge partnerships, and new areas of operations, e.g., technical and vocational education).

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Tang, Hsiao Chink
    East Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    China, People's Republic of
  • Modality
  • Sector
    • Public sector management
Project Name Capacity Building for Enhanced Partnership and Development Impact
Project Number 44097-012
Country / Economy China, People's Republic of
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 7703-PRC: Capacity Building for Enhanced Partnership and Development Impact
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 1.50 million
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Governance and capacity development
Sector / Subsector

Education / Technical and vocational education and training

Public sector management / Economic affairs management - Public administration

Gender No gender elements
Description

The dynamic and evolving nature of the PRC-ADB partnership was shaped by emerging challenges and issues. The assistance is envisaged to enhance this partnership and also strengthen the development impact of ADB projects in the PRC. The TA will carry out capacity building programs and activities to enhance client agencies' awareness of and skills in (i) all aspects of project design, appraisal, and implementation; (ii) operating procedures under ADB's streamlined business processes; (iii) implementation and monitoring of safeguard action plans under ongoing projects financed by ADB including those being processed; (iv) administration and implementation of delegated TA activities; and (v) new ADB initiatives (online system under eOperations, knowledge partnerships, and new areas of operations, e.g., technical and vocational education). The TA will promote horizontal learning and knowledge exchange, identify capacity development needs, select target beneficiaries and participants, and promote enhanced partnerships through capacity building activities.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Capacity development is one of ADB's thematic priorities of Strategy 2020 aimed at enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of ADB interventions. Strengthened country capacity will contribute to the achievement of better public sector performance. Capacity development is particularly important as ADB-financed projects are increasingly moving to poorer western provinces where problems of weak financial management, institutional capacity, and corporate governance are more acute. The TA will support human resource development, institutional development, and organizational development through a wide range of institutional, organizational, and individual capacity-building activities. The TA will seek to (i) equip individuals with understanding, skills, knowledge, and training to enable them to perform effectively; (ii) help enable organizations, institutions, and agencies at all levels and in all sectors to enhance their capacities; and (iii) assist in establishing better management structures and processes within the agencies and between different agencies and sectors (public, private, and community). The TA will provide cost-effective unified capacity development support, which will reduce the need for ad-hoc actions and reduce transaction costs. The TA will supplement current efforts to strengthen institutional capacities of executing and implementing agencies for better project management by delivering training programs to these agencies, facilitating knowledge transfer, and showcasing good practices.

Impact

Increased development impact of ADB assistance to the PRC.

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Enhanced human resource development, and institutional and organizational capacity of client agencies in the PRC.

Progress Toward Outcome

Various trainings related to project implementation and administration, ADB operations, and other technical trainings have been conducted under the TA in 2011-2016. These trainings addressed the capacity development needs of the Ministry of Finance, executing agencies and implementing agencies. These were held both in the PRC and in ADB Headquarters in the Philippines.

During 2014-2016, the TA supported four batches of trainees from various government agencies for a 3-month training program in ADB Headquarters on ADB operations and processes, the last of which was held in May-July 2016.

In 2016, the TA also supported the preparation of the project implementation handbook, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Capacity building programs and activities to enhance client agencies' awareness and skills are completed.

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

The following outputs were completed in support of project impact and outcome:

1. Capacity Building Seminar for High Level Officials conducted on 25 July-3 August 2011 in the Philippines and Singapore, with 14 participants from the PRC Ministry of Finance. Vice President Lohani opened the seminar, commended the initiative, and called for mutual knowledge sharing and cooperation. The seminar aimed at familiarizing participants with ADB's priorities, strategies, and business processes. The program included site visits to Philippine projects, showcasing lessons learned. The Executive Director for PRC Yinming Yang and EARD DG Klaus Gerhaeusser spoke the conclusion of the seminar, and thanked ADB departments that contributed to the seminar's success. The participants expressed positive impact of the seminar.

2. Loan Implementation Training for Project Management Office Staff under Loan 2657-PRC and Loan 2821-PRC was conducted on 14-16 March 2012 in Nanning, Guangxi with 50 participants.

3. Project Impementation and Administration Seminar and Procurement Clinic was held on 27-31 March 2012 in Jing Hong City with 100 participants from PRC MOF.

4. Training Workshop of Executing Agencies for Delegated Technical Assistance was held on 5-7 June 2012 in Beijing for 35 participants.

5. Loan Disbursement Seminar was conducted on 8-9 November 2012 in Hunan Province for 70 participants.

6. Project Preparation and Implementation Seminar was held for 100 government representatives on 8-12 April 2013 in Zhengzhou.

7. ADB-Asia Pacific Finance Development Center (AFDC) International Seminar on Fiscal and Taxation Policy Reform was held on 21 May 2013 in Shanghai with 30 participants benefitting from the knowledge exchange among international and Chinese fiscal and tax policy experts.

8. Financial Management Seminar held jointly with ADB Controllers Department on 7-9 August 2013 in Lanzhou, where 50 government officials participated.

9. TA 7703-PRC supported the allowance of two two Knowlege Sharing Experts (secondees) under the Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI) program in December 2012. The secondees learned ADB operations on knowledge exchange.

10. TA 7703-PRC supported the training on ADB operations of 1 staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and seconded to the Ministry of Finance, from October 2013-April 2014. The trainee was assigned to the East Asia Department and researched on facilitating people movement through visa reforms in CAREC. The trainee participated in regional cooperation and integration work in CAREC and in the country programming. The trainee also joined seminars ADB's financial products, public-private partnerships, and macroeconomics.

11. The Joint Financial Management-Disbursement Seminar was held on 23 October 2013 in Kunming with 50 government officials as participants.

12. One staff from the Gansu Finance Bureau was trained on the country programming process from 28 October 2013-1 November 2013 in Manila.

13. Fourteen high level officials from the Ministry of Finance conducted a study visit from 16-27 November 2013 to Australia and New Zealand on medium term budgeting, a priority area in PRC's fiscal policy framework.

14. 101 officials jointed the Project Preparation and Implementation Seminar conducted in Wuhan from 31 March-3 April 2014.

15. The Joint Financial Management-Disbursement Seminar was held on 28-30 May 2014 in Nanchang with 60 government officials as participants.

16. Four officials (3 from MOF and 1 from Ministry of Foreign Affairs) completed their 3-month training from 31 July 2014-31 October 2014 in Manila on project management and ADB business processes. The second batch of trainees, consisting of three officials from MOF and one from the Ministry of Commerce, completed the same training from 5 November 2014 to 31 January 2015. The third batch of trainees, consisting of 5 officials from MOF, completed the same training in October 2015 up to December 2015. A final batch of 6 officials from MOF, NDRC, MOFCOM, and other agencies underwent similar training for 3 months in May-July 2016.

17. A financial management seminar was held for 50 officials in Shandong, PRC from 19-21 November 2014.

18. A training seminar on regional cooperation and integration for PRC MOF and provincial government officials was held on 2-4 December 2015 in Manila.

19. A capacity building program on project management information system is under implementation by PRC Ministry of Finance (MOF) and PRCM.

20. In 2016, TA is also supporting the preparation of a ADB-PRC project implementation handbook in coordination with MOF.

21. The PRC Ministry of Finance (MOF) and ADB are in regular consultations for future areas of capacity building.

A TA Review mission was fielded 24 April 2015 to discuss the 2015 capacity program with the MOF and to speed up implementation of activities in time for the TA completion on 31 December 2015.

A TA Review Mission was conducted from 14-15 October 2014 and discussed with PRC MOF possible 2015 capacity-building activities: (i) continuation of training on project management and ADB business process; (ii) training on regional cooperation for officials from selected provinces with land borders; (iii) implementation of fiscal policy reform; (iv) workshop on medium term budget framework; and (v) continuation of financial management and project administration-related trainings.

A TA Review Mission was held on 14-17 March 2014 and was briefed on the positive results from the study visit on medium term budgeting. PRC MOF presented new training proposals for 2014 on regional cooperation as well continuation of project implementation-related training. In view of the broad range of proposed capacity building activities, TA 7703 PRC may not be completed by 31 December 2014. MOF requested ADB to extend the TA completion date. ADB approved the extension of the completion date to 31 December 2015.

A TA review mission was held in 21-22 October 2013 and discussed proposed capacity building program on medium term budgeting and overall training plan for 2013-2014.

A TA Review mission was conducted from 5-7 March 2013 (i) to discuss the status of implementation of the TA, specifically with the TA Division, MOF, the Executing Agency, since the TA had been inactive when the former task manager left EARD; and (ii) to explore the possible use of the TA funds to support the immediate activities of the Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI) as the expected funding from the PRC Fund has yet to be approved.

Geographical Location
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design The technical assistance was discussed and agreed to during the PRC Country Programming exercise held 14-16 December 2009.
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services

The TA will require about 8 person-months of international and about 55 person-months of national consulting services to carry out the terms of reference (Appendix 3). The international and national consultants will have expertise in (i) training and capacity building, (ii) institutional development, (iii) project management, (iv) procurement and consulting services, (v) disbursement, (vi) social development, (vii) resettlement, (viii) environment, and (ix) audit and financial management. TA and workshop coordinators may be appointed after discussions with the steering committee. Additional international and national resource persons and short-term task-specific experts will be recruited to carry out well-defined tasks (e.g., case study papers, workshop presentations, participation in workshops, and review of draft reports).

Responsible ADB Officer Tang, Hsiao Chink
Responsible ADB Department East Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Office of the Director General, EARD (EAOD)
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Finance
Timetable
Concept Clearance 26 Nov 2010
Fact Finding 08 Dec 2010 to 08 Dec 2010
MRM -
Approval 15 Dec 2010
Last Review Mission -
PDS Creation Date 28 Dec 2010
Last PDS Update 30 Sep 2016

TA 7703-PRC

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
15 Dec 2010 25 Jan 2011 25 Jan 2011 31 Dec 2013 30 Sep 2016 28 Dec 2016
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
1,500,000.00 0.00 300,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,800,000.00 17 Jun 2022 1,005,177.60

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.


Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

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The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

No tenders for this project were found.

Contracts Awarded

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Procurement Plan

None currently available.