Regional: Sustaining the Gains of Regional Cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion

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

Education / Technical and vocational education and training

Energy / Electricity transmission and distribution

Health / Disease control of communicable disease

Industry and trade / Industry and trade sector development - Trade and services

Public sector management / Public administration

Transport / Transport policies and institutional development

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

GMS Coordination and Decision Making Mechanisms Strengthened.

Project identification, resource mobilization, and results monitoring mechanism improved.

Knowledge-based strategic planning enhanced.

The TA supported the organization and conduct of the 10th Economic Corridors' Forum and GMS Senior Official's Meeting (SOM) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on 12-13 December 2018. Bearing the theme _Extending Corridors for Inclusive Connectivity in the GMS_, the ECF-10 gathered about 150 participants, consisting of Ministers and other high level officials of the GMS member countries, representatives of the private sector, international development organizations and other institutions. It reviewed and discussed initiatives and interventions aimed at accelerating the development of the GMS economic corridors by effectively contributing to the pursuit of the 3Cs connectivity, competitiveness and community.

Provided secretariat support to (or supported organizing) various GMS Working Group (WG) meetings that are venues to discuss and firm up GMS sector strategies, plans and, projects. The WG meetings supported by way of knowledge sharing and secretariat assistance are as follows: (i) Working Group on Agriculture, 29-30 May 2018; (ii) Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee, 19-20 June 2018 and 21-22 March 2019; (iii) Tourism Working Group and Mekong Tourism Forum, 25-29 June 2018, and 4-5 December 2018; Health Cooperation, 10-11 December 2018; and (iv) Urban Development WG, 4-5 July 2018.

The TA also supported the organization and conduct of the 22nd Meeting of the GMS Subregional Transport Forum (STF-22 in Mandalay, Myanmar on 2122 June 2018. The forum discussed ways toward achieving the thrusts and priorities set in the new GMS Transport Sector Strategy 2030, particularly the review of the GMS transport sector projects in the GMS Regional Investment Framework (RIF) 2022, as well as other important transport sector issues, such as road safety and an assessment of the state of development of the GMS economic/transport corridors.

Moreover, the TA is supported/currently supporting the production of various GMS knowledge products:

(1) the GMS Ministers' endorsed Updated Regional Investment Framework (RIF) 2022/Progress Report, which serves as a regional pipeline and planning document for resource mobilization expected to be publicly circulated within first quarter of 2019

(2) GMS statistical database booklet (Chapter 7 Tourism data and indicators were revised and uploaded to GMS website; while preparation and revision of Chapter 8 - Health Sector data and indicators is completed).

(3) GMS Projects Database- serves as a geo-database for spatial and area planning of the GMS recruitment of database analyst and web developer completed in Q1/Q2 2018. GMS Projects Database updated and website active with GMS Projects.

(4) GMS Program website (www.greatermekong.org) developed and maintained as host for GMS statistics, projects database, and dissemination of information of GMS Program, including articles and e-newsletter highlighting key developments in the GMS. Content manager and web developer recruited in Q1/Q2 2018.

(5) Pilot Study on Section-Specific Planning for the North-South Economic Corridor, Subcorridor 5 (NSEC-5) in Myanmar and the People's Republic of China This proposed study is the first study to (i) involve NSEC-5 in GMS economic corridor planning; and (ii) focus on a specific economic corridor route in the GMS. The preparatory phases 1 and 2 (national consultations in Myanmar and the PRC, and a joint consultation workshop) were completed in December 2018. The preparation of the full study was endorsed by GMS countries at the 10th GMS Economic Corridors Forum in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

The TA supported preparation of briefing papers and presentations on outcomes and directives from the 6th GMS Summit for sector working group meetings that met in H1 of 2018 (Agriculture, Tourism, Energy, Transport, Urban Development and Health) with participation of officials from 6 GMS countries, development partners, and representatives of private sector and civil society.

The TA also supported the preparatory phases (1 and 2) of the proposed Pilot Study on Section-Specific Planning for the North-South Economic Corridor, Subcorridor 5 (NSEC-5) in Myanmar and the PRC, wherein national consultations with officials from relevant ministries/agencies and local resource persons/experts in both countries were conducted. A Joint consultations between PRC and Myanmar was also held.

A total 223 total individual consulting inputs will be allocated as follows:

(i) 24 person-months to eight international consultants,

(ii) 196 person-months to 21 national consultants and

(iii) three person months to seven resource persons. The international contracts (including out-of-pocket expenses) are estimated to cost $442,000 while the national contracts are estimated at $644,000. The total package for the resource persons/facilitators (under the workshop budget) is estimated at $58,000. Individual consultants will be recruited using Individual Consultant Selection.