India : Advanced Project Preparedness for Poverty Reduction - Capacity Development of Bihar Power Sector Entities (Subproject 4)

Energy / Electricity transmission and distribution - Energy sector development and institutional reform

Information and communication technology / ICT industries and ICT-enabled services

Improved energy efficiency and management of Bihar electricity sector

Enhanced capacity of Bihar Power Sector Agencies (BERC and BSEB) to fulfill their mandates and carry out their functions in an efficient manner

BERC officials attended a training course on Environmental and Energy Security Challenges and the Impact on Climate Change in Washington D.C., USA.

Furniture and equipment were also purchased to carry out implementation activities for the TA.

Output 1: (i) Organized PMU with defined roles and exposure to ADB project preparatory and implementation matters; (ii) Completed updated cost estimates and modified/finalized financial economic analysis in line with ADB requirements; (iii) Environmental assesment report and a social safeguards plan in relation to the project; (iv) Completed bidding documents; (v) Training and basic computerization to address immediate needs in transmission and distribution systems, planning and operations, and in billing and management information systems; (vi) Complete needs assessment and future training plan for BSEB personnel in transmission and distribution systems planning and operations and for longer term management information systems.

Output 2: (i) A reporting framework for the power sector entities including draft reports and formats to ensure efficient analysis and decision making; (ii) A complete needs assessment and future training plan, including management information systems.

Capacity development activities to prepare BSEB's PMU for the ADB Loan (Loan 2681-IND: Bihar Power System Improvement Project) have been completed. In addition to various training and capacity building activities, this also involved the purchase of computer and office equipment for the PMU. One outstanding item is the preparation of a needs assessment for financial management and other training to be conducted under the loan. This assessment is in process. For Output 2, the training program is complete.

The main objective of Output 1 is to develop capacity in BSEB through assistance and training of the PMU on loan processing and implementation activities, and to provide computerization in order to maximize effectiveness of the ADB loan. The PMU has been equipped with computers and Microsoft office software. However, the staff lack basic training in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, which inhibits the effectiveness of the computerization effort. Skills in this office software are required for the report preparation and other activities associated with loan implementation, thus, a computer training program was also conducted for the BSEB staff.