Regional : Selected Evaluation Studies and Outreach for 2019-2020 (Subproject 3)

Multisector / ADB's corporate management, policy and strategy development

The proposed subproject is the third and last under the cluster knowledge and support technical assistance (C-TA0021) for selected evaluation studies and outreach for 2017-2019. Subproject 3 supports the 2019-2021 Work Program of the Independent Evaluation Department (IED) in delivering evaluation reports and conducting outreach events to improve ADB's strategies, policies, processes, and operations, subsequently benefiting its members in Asia and the Pacific. Like Subprojects 1 and 2, it covers a mix of corporate and thematic evaluations (4), country program evaluation and validations (4), sector assessments (1), impact evaluation/systematic review (1), quick, ad hoc sector and thematic research and writing, outreach events, and the validation system for project completion reports (PCRs) and extended annual review reports (XARRs).

Following IED''s work program, some of the cross-cutting issues to be examined under Subproject 3 are (i) addressing poverty and inequality through skills development; (ii) expanding the private sector operations by ensuring the additionality of ADB's nonsovereign operations and promoting PPPs; (iii) energy sector implications on operational priorities of Strategy 2030; and (iv) enhancing ADB's institutional effectiveness through One ADB.

ADB faces a rapidly changing socioeconomic, financial, and institutional landscape and needs to adapt to stay relevant and responsive to a more diverse, dynamic, and demanding clientele. The new corporate strategy, Strategy 2030 seeks to guide ADB's long-term efforts to respond to these changing needs and remain a key regional partner in the next phase of development. Under Strategy 2030, ADB expands its vision to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while helping efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. With the adoption of Strategy 2030, the key challenge for IED is to transition its Work Program to be more responsive to the new corporate strategy.

The 2019-2021 work program of IED is designed to address the operational priorities of Strategy 2030 as well as improving institutional effectiveness. Among its focus areas are: (i) enhancing links between cross-cutting and sector evaluations and Strategy 2030 goals and operational priorities. IED will ensure that inclusion, gender equality, safeguards, private sector, One ADB approach, and organization for delivery are regular features of major evaluations.; (ii) applying amore cross-cutting approach in sector evaluations focusing on operational priorities of Strategy 2030; (iii) supporting ADB's expanded private sector operations under Strategy 2030 by evaluating the additionality of ADB's nonsovereign operations, as well as how it is coordinated with sovereign operations and ADB's approach to engagement with its clients; and (iv) putting greater attention to results, knowledge, and innovation. It contributes to the institutional effectiveness over the next three years through evaluations on ADB corporate processes, business products and instruments that focus on delivery through a stronger, better, and faster ADB, strengthening knowledge services, promoting One ADB, and the use of technical assistance as an instrument to generate and deliver knowledge.

Development effectiveness of ADB operations, policies, strategies, and business processes improved

ADB Board of Directors, operations staff, and country agencies and informed by their increased use of evaluations

Evaluations and other evaluation products satisfactorily completed

Learning from and awareness of evaluations improved

Evaluation outreach products and services and derivative products from learning events disseminated

Information systems for managing and disseminating evaluation knowledge improved

Full details of consulting services and terms of reference (i.e., positions, expertise, duration, terms of reference and deliverables, and cost estimates) will be developed either at the consultant recruitment note or evaluation approach paper and validation plan stages of the evaluation or activity. Evaluation approach papers and validation plans will also include detailed implementation arrangements.

ADB will engage consultants (either on an individual or resource person arrangement) in accordance with ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and the associated Project Administration Instructions and/or TA Staff Instructions. Lump-sum or output-based contracts will be used as appropriate. Use of a consulting firm or entity (along with the selection method and type of technical proposal) will be assessed at the concept or evaluation approach paper stage. For tasks involving surveys and other quantitative analyses, working with consulting firms or entities is often more suitable and effective, and will be taken into consideration during consultant recruitment.