Regional : Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific

Sovereign Project | 53302-001

The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) aims to deepen the skills and capacity to plan and implement effective communications strategies in developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The TA will develop and deliver communications capacity building activities for pilot DMCs , primarily for planning and finance ministries and related agencies. The TA will promote interactions among government officials and international experts to enable them to share lessons, knowledge, and experience related to communications in a range of contexts.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Abad, Medardo C. Jr.
    Department of Communications and Knowledge Management
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Regional
  • Sector
    • Public sector management
Project Name Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific
Project Number 53302-001
Country / Economy Regional
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 9929-REG: Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 975,000.00
Operational Priorities OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities
OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality
OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability
OP4: Making cities more livable
OP5: Promoting rural development and food security
OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
OP7: Fostering regional cooperation and integration
Sector / Subsector

Energy / Energy efficiency and conservation

Finance / Finance sector development

Public sector management / Public administration

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban policy, institutional and capacity development
Gender Some gender elements
Description The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) aims to deepen the skills and capacity to plan and implement effective communications strategies in developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The TA will develop and deliver communications capacity building activities for pilot DMCs , primarily for planning and finance ministries and related agencies. The TA will promote interactions among government officials and international experts to enable them to share lessons, knowledge, and experience related to communications in a range of contexts.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The communications environment in DMCs is rapidly evolving as expanded digitization and internet access fuels content creation, feeds the 24-hour news cycle, and powers pervasive social media use and social networking. These continuing changes alter how the public interacts with and consumes information from governments and other sources, and how individuals perceive government decisions and actions. The rapidly evolving communications environment directly impacts the work of communications professionals and demands new approaches to achieve the communications objectives of government ministries and agencies. Without having a broad set of skills and strategic planning capabilities to manage communications, DMC officials cannot convey the development agenda needed to get buy-in for key government initiatives from the public. Communications officials in DMCs need to broaden their skills and strategic communications planning and execution capability to effectively manage communications across traditional, digital, and other channels to build awareness, understanding, and support for government policies, programs, and projects. Participant survey and individual interviews of representatives from DMC ministries at the Communication Capacity Building Program for Developing Member Country's Communication Officers in August 2019 highlighted capacity gaps in communications strategy development and implementation.

The growing ease of access to information, expansion of social media, and proliferation of information sources have increased public expectations about government transparency and public demand for opportunities to participate in government decision-making and implementation. The development community has recognized the value of two-way communications systems that enable dialogue and allow communities to express their aspirations and concerns and participate in decisions concerning their development. DMC communicators must leverage new approaches, tools, and technologies to meet these demands. This will require increasingly sophisticated efforts to (i) establish communications objectives, (ii) identify and understand the views of key stakeholders, (iii) develop strategic messaging frameworks and content, (iv) select appropriate channels and tools for information dissemination, and (v) execute communications plans.

Competition for limited resources within and among government agencies often limits learning opportunities for those responsible for communications functions. Learning to mainstream modern, cost-efficient, and context-appropriate tools and methods in communications planning and administration would greatly address this gap and more effectively convey messages to intended stakeholders.
Impact

Stronger institutional capacity for implementation of development policies and projects improved.
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Communications planning and implementation in participating DMCs improved.
Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Communications planning and implementation capacity strengthened.

Network of DMC communications professionals established.
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)
Geographical Location Regional
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services ADB will engage consultants following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated Project Administration Instructions and Staff Instructions as appropriate. The TA will be implemented through an international consulting firm, individual consultants, and resource persons. The consulting firm with expertise in designing and delivering communications training will be recruited using quality and cost-based selection. An individual consultant will be hired to advise DOC by reviewing the program design to ensure quality training and by evaluating the feedback to measure impact. Where possible, output-based contracts and/or lumpsum costs provision for out-of-pocket expenses will be considered, for administrative efficiency.
Procurement Direct procurement
Responsible ADB Officer Abad, Medardo C. Jr.
Responsible ADB Department Department of Communications and Knowledge Management
Responsible ADB Division Media and External Relations Division (DCMD)
Executing Agencies
Asian Development Bank
Timetable
Concept Clearance 25 Oct 2019
Fact Finding -
MRM -
Approval 20 Dec 2019
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 26 Dec 2019

TA 9929-REG

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
20 Dec 2019 - 20 Dec 2019 31 Dec 2023 30 Sep 2024 -
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
975,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 975,000.00 02 Dec 2023 600,446.71

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.

Related Publications

None currently available.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific (Case Writer: Digitalization/private sector led and innovative digital connectivity) Individual - Consulting Closed
Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific (Case Writer: Fiscal reforms/domestic resource mobilization) Individual - Consulting Closed
Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific (Case Writer: Regional cooperation/trade and investment corridors/supply chain) Individual - Consulting Closed
Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific (Case Writer: Climate finance/adaptation) Individual - Consulting Closed
Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific (Case Writer: Food security/economic and social inclusion/cash transfer to the poor and vulnerable) Individual - Consulting Closed
Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific Individual - Consulting Closed
Enhancing Communications Skills and Capacity of Developing Member Countries in Asia and the Pacific Firm - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
Capacity Development Technical Assistance 9929 07 Sep 2020 PT Edelman Indonesia(INDONESIA) | Menara Sentraya 21st Floor, Jl. Iskandar No. 1A Jakarta, 12160 Indonesia Asian Development Bank 451,294.00 —

Procurement Plan

None currently available.