Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Agricultural policy, institutional and capacity development

Education / Education sector development

Energy / Energy sector development and institutional reform

Finance / Finance sector development

Public sector management / Economic affairs management

Transport / Transport policies and institutional development

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban policy, institutional and capacity development

Knowledge products providing in-depth, relevant, and timely assessments, policy proposals, and recommendations completed

Knowledge sharing events in DMCs conducted

Active partnerships with regional knowledge partners generating and disseminating knowledge to DMCs formed

1. Work on this RETA centered on supporting knowledge events and knowledge products as well as funding of subprojects and KM activities.

2. Subprojects approved by the Project Steering Committee and funded by the RETA:

NEW. Approved KM subproject and activities are as follows:

27 February 2019 PSC Meeting:

For TASF-funding:

SAPF: Video on Loan 2867/Grant 0290 MLD: Inclusive Micro-, Small, and Medium Sized Enterprise Development Project

SAPF: Assessment of Capital Market Development in Bangladesh

For RCIF funding:

SARC: Publication-Trade Facilitation in SASEC

SARC: Analysis of Economic Impact of Improved Connectivity

SAHS: 8th ADB International Skills Forum (part of funding came from the cancelled TVET subproject)

Cancellation:

SAHS: South Asia Regional Workshop on TVET Assessment

26 November 2018 PSC Meeting

For RCIF funding:

SAHS: South Asia Regional Workshop on TVET Assessment

SARC: Refining BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity

SARC: Feasibility Study for Blockchain Application for Trade Facilitation

Cancellation:

BRM: Preparation for a Workshop - Road to a Prosperous, Equitable and Healthy Bangladesh

3. TASF-funded Subprojects

ONGOING:

SAHS: Three reports (a) ICT for Development Forum 2013: Session on ICT for Education: Is ICT the Missing Link in Development Operations? and (b) Challenges and Opportunities for Skills Development in Asia: Changing Supply, Demand and Mismatches, were published in 2015. The Sanitation in Rural Gujarat: Policy Lessons from Project Implementation report was replaced with (c) Impact Evaluation for the Secondary Urban Primary Health Care Project and will be published in mid-2019.

SAOD-PR: Under the PCR/TCR/DMF Training for South Asia Government subproject, two trainings were held in May and June 2017. Two additional trainings were conducted in May 2018, and a third training was targeted for first quarter of 2019.

SAOD-PR: Development of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Knowledge Products. Consultant has completed her work. Publication of the report is in process and targeted for completion by end of March 2019.

SARC: Preparatory Work for the Preparation of Conceptual Development Plan for Phase 3 of East Coast Corridor. Consultants are onboard and initiated work on the Plan. Additional RCIF funding was requested and approved to continue the work of the current consultant on ECEC.

SARC: Nepal Customs History Book. Consultant's work is ongoing.

BRM: Dissemination of the Gender Equality Diagnostic of Selected Sectors (GEDSS). Consultancy work is ongoing and more than 50 percent of target outputs have been completed. Workshops were also held to facilitate application of GEDSS. Subproject completion is targeted by end of March 2019.

BRM: Consultancy for BAN Economic Corridor Development funding was reallocated from BRM: Workshop - Road to a Prosperous, Equitable and Healthy Bangladesh which was cancelled. ECD consultant work is ongoing.

SLRM: Dissemination of GEDSS and Documentation of Impact Stories. Twenty impact stories have been collected and ten write-ups have been prepared. subproject has been extended to 31 May 2019.

SLRM: Labor supply and demand in Sri Lanka study. Consultancy work is ongoing. Subproject has been extended to 30 April 2019.

FOR FINANCIAL CLOSURE:

SAOD-PR/SATC: Bangladesh Railways & Asian Development Bank KP on the Longstanding Partnership. Videofilming and post-production have been completed. Long version of the video was shown during the Transport event and the short version has been uploaded in the ADB website. For financial closure.

NRM: The draft Research Paper on Impacts of Dams on Aquatic Resources has been reviewed and updated by NRM prior to DER review and editing. SDCC and NRM staff have also provided their comments. Report has been printed in 2019. For financial closure.

FINANCIALLY CLOSED:

SAEN: A review chapter on Energy Pricing for Sustainable Development in Bangladesh was completed in September 2013. Subproject is financially closed.

SAER: For the study on Agriculture Value Chains in Nepal-Some Key Insights, preparation of the study reports have been completed. Subproject is financially closed.

SAHS: For the Human and Social Development Videos in Bangladesh, two videos entitled: Health Services for Bangladesh's Urban Poor and Professional Skills Training for Bangladesh' Youth, were completed. Subproject is financially closed.

SAHS: The publication entitled, Human Capital Development in South Asia: Achievements, Prospects, and Policy Challenges and other short reports on social development topics were also published under this subproject. Subproject is financially closed.

SAHS: ICT in Education Report. Consultant work has been completed. Two papers prepared for publication in a journal. Request for financial closure sent to CTL.

SAHS: Knowledge Sharing on Addressing South Asia Regional Challenges on Improving Education Quality. Consultants' work and holding of workshop have been completed. Request for financial closure sent to CTL.

SAHS: Editing and Translation of ADB South Asia Working Paper on Closing the Financing Gap in Asian Infrastructure. The working paper and its translation have been completed. Request for financial closure sent to CTL.

SAOD-PR: Publication of Lose to Gain: Is Involuntary Resettlement a Development Opportunity? was completed and launched in April 2014. Subproject is financially closed.

SAPF: Research study on Developing an Econometric Model for the Indian Banking Sector was completed and the working paper was published in November 2014. Subproject is financially closed.

SAPF - A study to establish a PCRGFI for India has been completed and financially closed.

SAPF: The PCRGFI-2, which is a second phase to update the work on PSCRGFI has been completed, and the final report was presented under a South Asia Seminar Series. Subproject is financially closed.

SAPF: Video on Grants 0305/0306 NEP: Strengthening Public Management Program. Several videos have been completed. Request for financial closure sent to CTL.

SARC: Participation of selected delegates to participate in NAPSIPAG conference was funded. Subproject is financially closed.

SARC: Publication of ADB-Bhutan Development Partnership was launched on 3 February 2014 by the Prime Minister of Bhutan and ADB President. Subproject is financially closed.

SARC: Publication on ADB-Maldives 35 Years of Partnership was launched on 15 October 2015 by the Finance Minister of Maldives. Subproject is financially closed.

SARC: Under RCSC Knowledge Sharing on Performance Management System subproject, two trainings: Moderation Framework (April 2016), and Training for HR Professionals and Managers in the Civil Service (August 2016) were completed. Subproject is financially closed.

SARC: Under the Knowledge Enhancement for Maldives Operations subproject, a consultant report on a National Development Strategy (NDS) was prepared; a knowledge publication on lessons from the work of the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority was completed and has been published; and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) event has been cancelled. Financially closed.

SARC: Through the Promotion of SASEC Program and Branding of SASEC 2025- the 10-year Vision, Strategy and Road Map for SASEC, an international Communications Specialist was engaged to create outreach products and provide input to the storyline for the video production. The videofilm was completed under the Winds of Change subproject. A photographer and international Writer-editor were recruited to produce a coffee-table book. The photobook preparation has been cancelled but a set of photo-essays were instead prepared by the writer-editor. Request to financially close sent to CTL.

SARC: A videofilm on Nepal- Capturing Innovative Approached in Nepal Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation has been completed. Request for financial closure sent to CTL.

SARC: The first (a) Film on Winds of Change (WoC) was completed in early 2016. (b)Two films on SASEC, under the Winds of Change heading, have been completed. A (c) third film under WoC is the Digital Knowledge Product on National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) Good Practices has also been completed. Request for financial closure sent to CTL.

SAUW: Publication of report entitled Gender and Urban Poverty in South Asia was completed in 2014. Subproject is financially closed.

SAUW: A publication on Financing Low Carbon Urban Development in South Asia: A Post 2012 Context (formerly Accessing Carbon Finance for Solid Waste Projects in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal Post-2012: Lessons from Kyoto Protocol Projects in India and China) was completed in October 2013. Subproject is financially closed.

SAUW: Consultancy work on a study report on Inclusive Urban Development for South Asia has been completed. While the draft manuscript has undergone DER's publication review processes, clearance from the Government of India was not received. Only the consultant report and last manuscript will be considered as internal outputs. is being sought prior to printing. Subproject is financially closed.

BRM: For the Bangladesh Development Effectiveness Brief, The brief has been printed and uploaded in the ADB website. Subproject is financially closed.

BRM. Four articles under BRM's Quarterly Economic Updates were completed in the last quarter of 2015. Four articles were prepared by eminent scholars, and subproject has been completed. Subproject is financially closed.

INRM: The report on Impact of Trade and FDI Policies on Industrial Development in South Asia was published in December 2015. Subproject is financially closed.

INRM: The report on Promoting Regional Supply Chains in South Asia: The Case of Food Processing Industry was published in December 2015. Subproject is financially closed.

INRM: The report on Promoting Regional Supply Chains in South Asia: The Case of Leather and Leather Products been printed. Subproject is financially closed.

INRM: A Study on Developing an Institutional and Governance Framework for Ease of Doing Business with respect to MSMEs along the Tamil Nadu Industrial Corridor was undertaken by a consultant. Report review has been completed. Subproject is financially closed.

NRM: Study on Constraints to Agricultural Transformation in Nepal was completed in November 2013. Subproject is financially closed.

NRM: NTNC - International Conference on Invasive Alien Species Management was held on March 25 - 27, 2014 at the National Trust for Nature Conservation, Biodiversity Conservation Centre in Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal. A webpage has been dedicated for the conference (http://www.ntnc.org.np/iciasm) where conference materials are available. The conference proceedings was published in June 2015. Subproject is financially closed.

NRM: The Nepal Country Environment Note was published in December 2014 and the electronic copy is available in the ADB website. Subproject is financially closed.

NRM: The National Strategic Framework for Nature Conservation underwent a series of consultation process and the final document was approved by the Nepal's National Planning Commission Board and printed in September 2015. Subproject is financially closed.

NRM: Translation of the Nepal's Office of Audit General Audit report was completed in 2014. A second Audit Report was translated in June 2015 and disseminated in the last quarter of 2015. Subproject is financially closed.

NRM: A study on Impacts of social mobilization in local governance community development in Nepal was completed in early 2015. Subproject is financially closed.

NRM: For the Nepal Learning Program for Midlevel Managers, international consultants have completed their reports. Request for financial closure sent to CTL.

SLRM: Regional IFRS for SMEs Workshop has been completed. Subproject is financially closed.

SLRM: The book on Good Practices in Involuntary Resettlement: Approaches and Experiences of the Southern Transport Development Project in Sri Lanka has been completed, reviewed by internal and external peer reviewers. At the request of SDES, the name of the book was changed to: Challenges in Implementing Best Practices in Involuntary Resettlement- A Case Study in Sri Lanka. The book was completed and launched in December 2016. Subproject is financially closed.

SLRM: The I-O Tables Launching and Workshop was held in late 2017 and led by the Department of Census and Statistics in Sri Lanka. Subproject has been completed and is financially closed.

SLRM: Under the Eminent Speaker Series at Academy of Financial Studies, eight sessions were completed. Subproject is financially closed.

4. RCIF- Funded Subprojects

ONGOING:

SARC: RCI Publications. Three publications on TTFMM and other related RCI reports have been printed.

SARC/BRM: ECD work in Bangladesh (SWBEC) Southwest Economic Corridor in Bangladesh. Consultants have been engaged to work on knowledge products.

FOR FINANCIAL CLOSURE:

None.

FINANCIALLY CLOSED:

SARC /SLRM: Colombo-Trincomalee Economic Corridor (CTEC) work. Consultant work on a database of infrastructures and strategies in CTEC. Subproject is financially closed

SATC: SASEC Dhaka-Northwest Corridor Road Project Phase 2. Consultant under the SATC KM activities subproject had a contract variation to continue related work on the SASEC road project. A workshop was held to discuss the result of the corridor study. Request for financial closure sent to CTL.

CANCELLED:

SARC: Conduct of Analytical Studies on Multi-Modal Logistics Park in Telangana and Gujarat. This subproject was cancelled but $20,000 RCIF amount was reallocated to continue consultancy work under the TASF-funded Preparatory Work for the Preparation of Conceptual Development Plan (CDP) for Phase 3 of East Coast Economic Corridor.

5. Other KM Activities funded as identified in the RETA:

ONGOING:

SARC: Printing costs for various working papers in SARD are funded by the RETA.

FOR FINANCIAL CLOSURE:

SAUW: The video production for Support to KP on Transforming Kolkata: A Partnership for a More Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient City has been completed. For financial closure.

FINANCIALLY CLOSED:

SAEN: Chapters of the original Flagship Book on Energy are being converted into working papers. Two working papers: Improving the Regulatory Environment for a Regional Power Market in South Asia (SAWP 45) and Improving Energy Efficiency in South Asia (SAWP 47) have been completed. Two other working papers are under preparation and will be charged to the working paper miscellaneous and administration budget. Remaining funding of the subproject is financially closed.

SAPF. Knowledge work on developing financial sector in South Asia has been completed. Subproject is financially closed.

SARC: A South Asia Economic Conference was funded in 2012. Subproject is financially closed.

SARC: The capacity building on Results Based Management and Project Management for BHU staff of Gross National Happiness Commission was funded in 2013 and held in Thailand. An in-country capacity building on Performance Management System for BHU staff of Royal Civil Service Commission was funded in 2015. Both subprojects' activities are financially closed.

SARC: Under a ADBI-ADB Partnership, an ADBI-ADB Partnership event on Workshop on International Standards and Conventions Relating to Temporary Admission was held in Delhi, India on 22-23 September 2016. Subproject is financially closed.

SARC: Under the Development Matters platform, the SASEC Vision subproject has been completed and the document has been iteratively reviewed in various meetings. A final SASEC Vision document SASEC: Powering Asia in the 21st Century - has been published. Remaining funds under the umbrella Development Matters subproject has been cancelled and financially closed.

SARC: The first South-South Leaning Series - Developing South Asia: Lessons and Insights was published in 2013. Subproject is financially closed

SARC: The second South -south Learning series subproject has been cancelled. Contracts on related preliminary costs has been financially closed.

SARC: Eminent Speaker Series. SARC facilitated the visit and presentations of INRM: DEA of India in 2014. Subproject is financially closed.

SARC: The BHU: Visit of Prime Minister was held in 2014. This KM activity is financially closed.

SARC: The next visit of the Secretary, DEA was cancelled while the ESF for Infosys has also been cancelled. Both subprojects funding cancelled and reallocated to main RETA funds.

SARC: RETA 7997 KPS Highlights from the RETA ($40,000). Originally this event is targeted towards the end of the RETA implementation. Subproject funding cancelled and reallocated to main RETA funds.

SARC: The original book manuscript for BAN: Service Delivery and Governance Initiative was reformatted as a working paper manuscript but was not published. Subproject is financially closed.

SARC: For Project Communication activities including blogs, videos, interviews, an international Communications Specialist consultant has been engaged. He has completed related outreach and communications activities including blogs and detailed treatment notes for selected videos. Subproject is financially closed.

SATC: KM Work on the Transport Sector; requested additional RCIF requested and approved to the current consultant to work on the Dhaka NorthWest Corridor Road project. Consultancy work has been completed. Subproject is financially closed.

SAUW: A flagship book Gearing up for Competitiveness: The Role of Planning, Finance, and Governance in Small and Medium-Sized Towns in South Asia has been published. Subproject is financially closed.

NRM. Preliminary work and consultation on Nepal Think Tank was completed. Subproject is financially closed.