Regional : Support for Human and Social Development in Southeast Asia - Phase 2

Education / Secondary - Technical and vocational education and training - Tertiary

Health / Disease control of communicable disease - Health care finance - Health insurance and subsidized health programs

Public sector management / Social protection initiatives

Output 1: Human and social development projects preparation strengthened. Output 1 will provide technical support to all Southeast Asian DMCs to prepare HSD investment projects and programs. This will include due diligence covering technical, fiduciary, safeguards, social, and institutional dimensions; economic and financial analysis; and measures to strengthen project readiness and implementation capacity. Specific activities will include the preparation of: (i) feasibility studies; (ii) economic analysis; (iii) financial management assessment, financial evaluation, and analysis; (iv) strategic procurement planning and procurement assessment; (v) gender action plans; (vi) risk assessment and management plans; (vii) environment, involuntary resettlement, and indigenous peoples' safeguard documents; (viii) sector assessments; (ix) poverty and social analysis; and (x) climate change assessments. Where high-level and green technology is planned, the feasibility of this technology will be assessed. The indicative list of projects covering 20212023 is in Appendix 1.

Output 2: Evidence-based policy and technical advice and capacity building for project implementation supported. The TA facility will provide demand-driven policy and technical advice and capacity building to support policy, institutional, and program reforms to ensure effective project implementation and to institutionalize project gains. It will support quality assurance mechanisms and systems, such as the verification of disbursement-linked indicators, and build the capacity of government staff for procurement, financial management, safeguards, gender actions, and monitoring. The TA facility will support research and data analytical capacity development for evidence-based policy actions in health, education and skills development, technical and vocational education and training, labor market analysis, and social protection. It will strengthen collaboration between government staff and national or regional institutions and industry.

Output 3: Diagnostic and knowledge development and sharing among countries in the Southeast Asian region enhanced. The TA facility will support in-depth analysis to improve the quality of the design and readiness of the ensuing projects and programs and to assist DMCs to explore future investment opportunities. It will identify deep-rooted issues in HSD sectors which affect vulnerable populations and which COVID-19 has exacerbated. It will also support promotion of innovations in such areas as technology adaption, private sector engagement, financing modalities, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. The facility will support knowledge sharing beyond Southeast Asian DMCs by supporting knowledge exchange to tackle common challenges in HSD sector development in collaboration with other ADB departments. Knowledge sharing and dissemination activities will be encouraged through webinars, training, workshops, and national and regional conferences between DMCs and across ADB thematic groups. Effective information, education and communication tools using infographics and social media will be utilized to reach targeted audiences, especially women and youth. All publications and knowledge products will be disseminated electronically.