Regional : Knowledge Development Support for Southeast Asia

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Water-based natural resources management

Education / Education sector development - Technical and vocational education and training

Finance / Infrastructure finance and investment funds

Health / Health sector development and reform

Industry and trade / Industry and trade sector development - Small and medium enterprise development

Public sector management / Economic affairs management - Public administration

Southeast Asia is one of the most dynamic regions in the world. Driven by strong growth, many of the region's developing member countries (DMCs) are entering middle income status (i.e., Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand), Other Southeast Asian DMCs are also experiencing robust growth rates. The region''s development and integration are expected to gain momentum with the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the end of 2015, further fueling the region''s growth, integration, and competitiveness within the global economy.

As the region experiences positive momentum for development, its knowledge requirements are becoming more complex. Quick access to in-depth knowledge products and services is needed to formulate policies and provide solutions to emerging issues, including knowledge services that cannot be planned. Yet despite ADB's growing support, DMCs and subregional entities today need more responsive knowledge solutions that can be provided in real time. In line with the "Midterm Review of Strategy 2020: Meeting the Challenges of a Transforming Asia and Pacific", and evolving client needs in Southeast Asia, ADB needs to: (i) provide faster and more operationally relevant knowledge support; (ii) ensure a readily available resource pool to respond the countries' requests at both national and subregional levels; and (iii) enhance coordination among the sector divisions, resident missions, and knowledge departments in the formulation of knowledge products and support. This technical assistance (TA) is based on the requirements of Southeast Asian DMCs and requests to ADB for enhanced knowledge support

The impact of the TA will be enhanced growth, competitiveness, and integration of Southeast Asia within the global economy. The outcome will be the adoption and application of knowledge solutions for improved policies, regulations, and capacities by Southeast Asian DMCs and subregional entities through: (i) DMC officials using knowledge solutions as envisioned in the midterm review and country knowledge plans (CKPs) via the facility TA approach; and (ii) ADB (sector divisions and resident missions) and relevant agencies engaging in policy dialogue (as relevant for ADB operations) by the end of 2018, consistent with the CKP and midterm review priorities, and based on the recommendations from the TA knowledge solutions.

The proposed TA will improve the timely and coordinated delivery of knowledge services and policy advice to Southeast Asian DMCs and subregional entities to promote inclusive growth and increase ADB's operational efficiency and policy impact. To facilitate a quick and effective response to the DMC and subregional entity knowledge requirements, the TA will be structured as a facility TA. ADB first developed the facility TA modality in partnership with the Government of the People's Republic of China to serve as a flexible, quick-response mechanism where multiple subprojects are funded under a single TA. Using this facility TA modality will better enable ADB to provide timely knowledge support, particularly for policy advice pursuant to emerging DMC and subregional demands. It will improve responsiveness, while reducing administrative costs of processing individual TA projects.

Development of knowledge products for Southeast Asian DMCs or subregional entities

Conduct of dissemination activities related to the knowledge products and support

The TA's initial funding of $1.5 million was augmented by $500,000, and on 23 October 2017 with another $1.5 million. Total TA is now at $3.5 million. TA completion has been extended to 30 June 2019.

The TA enables quick and effective responses to immediate knowledge requirements of ADB developing member countries. Subprojects are tailored to client needs, helping improve policies, regulations, and capacities in Southeast Asia. As of end of February 2018, a total of 30 subprojects have been supported. Overall TA implementation has been satisfactory.

Among the knowledge products supported are:

- Philippine long-term development plan (Ambisyon Natin 2040) and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), 2017-2022;

- Master Plan for public-private partnerships for the health sector in Thailand;

- marketing and advertising support for the Hanoi Metro rail system;

- Lao PDR study on the GMS program and economic corridors;

- assessment of Viet Nam's general education, technical vocational education and training

- Framework for Development for Cambodia-Lao PDR-Myanmar and Viet Nam;

- updating and expansion of the GMS website;

- studies on GMS logistics, axle load control, and the transport sector;

- study on the Borneo-Kalimantan power interchange;

- formulation of national programs for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam to meet ASEAN Economic Community reforms;

- study on trade protectionism;

- study on enhancing infrastructure service delivery through competition and innovation;

- training workshop on estimating potential output and

- post conflict needs assessment for Marawi, Philippines

Support was also provided for pre-feasibility/ feasibility analyses of project opportunities in converting transport corridors into economic corridors; developing special economic zones; power trade between Sabah (Malaysia) and Kalimantan (Indonesia); and promoting cross-border value chains and exploring innovative models to finance infrastructure. To support the dissemination of knowledge products generated, sixteen workshops/trainings have also been supported.