Regional : Global Research Alliances (Phase 3)

Project Name

Global Research Alliances (Phase 3)

Project Number

53358-001

Country / Economy

• Regional

Project Status

Active

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Technical Assistance

Source of Funding / Amount

TA 9921-REG: Global Research Alliances - Phase 3

Source	Amount
Technical Assistance Special Fund	US$ 1.00 million

TA 9921-REG: Global Research Alliances (Phase 3)

Source	Amount
Technical Assistance Special Fund	US$ 475,000.00

TA 9921-REG: Global Research Alliances (Phase 3)

Source	Amount
Technical Assistance Special Fund	US$ 210,423.00

TA 9921-REG: Global Research Alliances (Phase 3)

Source	Amount
Technical Assistance Special Fund	US$ 300,000.00

Operational Priorities

• OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity

Sector / Subsector

• Public sector management / Economic affairs management - Public expenditure and fiscal management

Gender

No gender elements

Description

The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will involve research and development, policy advice, and capacity development on issues facing ADB's developing member countries (DMCs) in line with the priorities set out in Strategy 2030 (S2030). This will entail partnerships with prominent researchers from leading international and national research institutions on frontier development topics and methodologies. Collaboration activities will include enhancing the quality of ADB publications such as the Asian Development Review (ADR); co-organizing prominent knowledge sharing events such as Asian Development Conferences; and inviting speakers to share development ideas with ADB on cutting-edge, creative, and sustainable solutions to address DMCs' development challenges.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Development challenges that DMCs face are increasingly becoming more complex, especially in light of the impacts of the fourth industrial revolution on jobs, the adverse effects of climate change, rapidly aging societies, and growing urbanization, among others. DMC policy makers need support to effectively analyze these development challenges and come up with appropriate solutions. In most cases, however, domestic capabilities are inadequate to independently undertake empirical analysis and generate sound policies. There is a need for supply of quality evidence-based studies that address the complex questions DMC policy makers are dealing with. The rationale of this TA is therefore to identify the pressing development issues DMCs face and offer innovative analyses that will help them devise policy reform measures suitable to their specific conditions.

Under S2030, ADB will further strengthen its role as knowledge provider and convener of partnerships. This will entail working closely with DMCs to identify their needs and create the knowledge products and services most relevant to them. At the same time, this will involve greater collaboration among diverse partners and stakeholders within and outside the region to be able to present the most innovative solutions to DMCs' development challenges.

ERCD, in line with S2030 priorities, identified its strategic research areas beginning from 2020 as: (i) skills and jobs; (ii) macroeconomic resilience including debt sustainability and fiscal policy; (iii) infrastructure deficits; (iv) urbanization; (v) gender equality and demographic changes; (vi) regional cooperation and integration; and (vii) disaster risk management and climate change. ERCD research will focus on these areas but will flexibly respond to emerging challenges and areas requested by DMCs. To implement its research program, ERCD will strengthen its alliances with respected regional and global research institutions and development partners. Such alliances have proven helpful in establishing a wider research network and improving access to a larger pool of talent; enhancing ADB's capacity to produce innovative knowledge solutions; strengthening ADB's role in convening policy dialogue to craft policy options; disseminating knowledge solutions more widely through its partners networks; and, ultimately, further raising the profile of ADB as a knowledge institution.

Impact

Analytically sound and research-backed development policies formulated in DMCs.

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Policy discussions and formulation by DMC officials and the general research community supported.

Progress Toward Outcome

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

Findings of research outputs and conferences on key and frontier development challenges reported to key DMC agencies and think tanks

ADR issues published and effectively disseminated

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

A.International Consultants

1.Economists (lump-sum payment)

Teams of individual consultants will be engaged for a total of 24 person-months to undertake research on (i) skills and jobs; (ii) macroeconomic resilience including debt sustainability and fiscal policy; (iii) infrastructure deficits; (iv) urbanization; (v) gender equality and demographic changes; (vi) regional cooperation and integration; and (vii) disaster risk management and climate change and other topics to be determined. They will include economists, social scientists, and environmental economists with well-established research records in development economics in general and the study topics in particular. Under the supervision of Asian Development Bank (ADB) staff, the consultants will perform the following tasks:

(i)prepare background and analytical papers on topics assigned by ADB staff, in consultation with research partners;

(ii)present research findings and participate actively in the inception and consultation workshops;

(iii)revise and finalize the papers for publication;

(iv)review and provide comments on the papers prepared by other team members, as requested;

(v)prepare progress reports, as requested; and

(vi)assist ADB and partner agencies in disseminating research outcomes of the technical assistance (TA), as necessary.

The individual consultants will report to the assigned ADB staff in the Economics and Research Department (ERD).

2. Economics Editors (lump-sum payment)

Economics editors with extensive experience in editing economic publications will be engaged for 4 months to edit and ensure quality of the economic publications under this TA. Under the supervision of the ADB staff, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

(i)review the draft papers and suggest revisions to ensure that the chapters form a consistent report;

(ii) assist in integrating the overall findings and in reflecting these in the subsequent publications; and

(iii) ensure that edited materials adhere to ADB style and usage, conform to high publication standards, and are properly and timely delivered.

3. Resource Persons (lump-sum payment)

Resource persons with background as policy makers and/ or experts, will be engaged (i) to review draft knowledge outputs; (ii) as distinguished speakers on development issues; and (iii) as presenters, moderators or discussants during workshops under this TA.

B.National Consultants

1.Research Assistants (intermittent/full-time)

Depending on the needs of the different studies, research assistants with background in economics and strong analytical skills, will be engaged for 48 person-months. They will not only contribute in drafting knowledge products and processing required data but also assist in coordinating and organizing related workshops and other events. Under the supervision of ADB staff, the research assistants will help:

(i)search relevant literature and provide summaries;

(ii)collect, process and analyze study-related data;

(iii)review papers and other outputs from the studies;

(iv)prepare presentation materials;

(v)prepare various outputs such as reports and books for publications;

(vi)with logistics and organization of workshops and other public outreach activities; and

(vii) with other tasks that may be assigned.

2.Copy Editors and Graphic and Layout Artists (intermittent, lump-sum payment)

A copy editor will be engaged to ensure that edited materials adhere to ADB style and usage and conform to high publication standards. In addition, a graphic and layout artist will be engaged to lay out the text, tables and charts, and convert the files into the required format for publication. The consultants should possess expertise in copy editing and desktop publishing, and preferably have extensive experience in similar assignments involving the preparation of economic publications.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Zveglich Jr., Joseph Ernest

Responsible ADB Department

Economic Research and Development Impact Department

Responsible ADB Division

Office of the Chief Economist and Director General, ERDI (EROD)

Executing Agencies

Asian Development Bank

Timetable

Concept Clearance

07 Nov 2019

Fact Finding

12 Sep 2019 to 12 Sep 2019

MRM

-

Approval

19 Dec 2019

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

20 Dec 2019

Funding

TA 9921-REG