Regional : Operations, Knowledge, and Analytics Support in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations and Small Island Developing States

Project Name

Operations, Knowledge, and Analytics Support in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations and Small Island Developing States

Project Number

56177-001

Country / Economy

• Regional
• Micronesia, Federated States of
• Kiribati
• Lao People's Democratic Republic
• Nauru
• Papua New Guinea
• Marshall Islands
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tuvalu

Project Status

Active

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Technical Assistance

Source of Funding / Amount

TA 10045-REG: Operations, Knowledge and Analytics Support in FCAS and SIDS

Source	Amount
Technical Assistance Special Fund	US$ 1.30 million

TA: Operations, Knowledge, and Analytics Support in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations and Small Island Developing States

Source	Amount
Technical Assistance Special Fund	US$ 1.00 million

Operational Priorities

• OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities
• OP4: Making cities more livable
• OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
• OP7: Fostering regional cooperation and integration

Sector / Subsector

• Information and communication technology / ICT industries and ICT-enabled services

• Public sector management / Public administration

Gender

Some gender elements

Description

The TA will provide strategic support to enhance DMC and ADB capacity to implement differentiated approaches in fragile and conflict situations (FCAS) and in small island developing states (SIDS). Based on assessment of the causes and drivers of fragility and the multidimensional nature of risks and resilience factors, it will develop and apply new knowledge products, analytical tools, and business processes and procedures, adopt innovative technologies, and recruit experts experienced in these technologies.

The TA is aligned with ADB's FCAS and SIDS Approach (FSA), approved in May 2021, which outlines an action plan (2021-2025) for ADB to achieve its Strategy 2030 objectives by adopting differentiated approaches to build resilience and improve development outcomes in FCAS, SIDS, and subnational pockets of fragility. The TA will support FSA implementation and strengthen links between the FSA and the plans for the seven operational priorities (OPs) of Strategy 2030 and ADB's Operational Plan for Private Sector Operations. The TA will also support FCAS and SIDS in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The FSA is based on understanding the causes and drivers of fragility (institutional, economic, structural, social, and environmental/climate change) and conflict, and using that understanding to tailor development approaches to the contexts of FCAS and SIDS. While progress has been achieved under the FSA, there are continuing challenges with improving development outcomes and ADB's portfolio performance in these contexts due to: inadequate identification of DMC contexts and fragility drivers; DMC capacity constraints; inadequate use of knowledge and analytical tools; limited FSA delivery capacity; and insufficient flexibility with ADB procedures.

Many DMCs face increasing fragility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These converging crises have fueled rising energy prices, inflation, and food insecurity, with severe economic, health, and social impacts on DMCs across all three tiers of ADB's Asian Development Fund (ADF) classification (Groups A, B and C). ADB must consider these impacts and related risks during country and project planning, with appropriate indicators that encourage take-up of differentiated approaches and adaptive responses, leading to improved development outcomes in FCAS and SIDS contexts. Adoption of new technologies, improved knowledge products, and capacity development will help DMCs and project teams working in contexts of fragility better understand what drives fragility, how to build resilience in such contexts, and how to improve project results through application of the differentiated approaches described in the FSA.

ADB's Independent Evaluation Department (IED) Annual Evaluation Review on FCAS and SIDS (April 2022) highlighted that ADB can do better in analyzing and addressing context-specific drivers of fragility and conflict. Country and project-level monitoring frameworks and indicators are not tailored to FCAS and SIDS contexts. Partnerships with development and humanitarian agencies must be leveraged to improve coordination. These lessons align with the FSA.

Implementation of the FSA has been supported by TA-9986, with TA resources committed to mid-2023. The TA has been invaluable in supporting consultation with DMCs for the FSA preparation, fragility and resilience assessments (FRAs), and in incorporating differentiated approaches in country planning and project design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.

The proposed TA will build on TA-9986 and will further institutionalize context-sensitive differentiated approaches, capacity enhancement, FSA knowledge and analytical tools, innovative technologies, flexible business processes and procedures, and development of monitoring indicators and results frameworks that adequately reflect FCAS and SIDS risks and contexts.

Impact

The effectiveness of ADB assistance and DMCs' development outcomes in FCAS- and SIDS-specific contexts, and fragility and poverty at the subnational level, improved.

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Implementation of FSA and action plan in ADB operations in FCAS and DMCs facing fragility increased.

Progress Toward Outcome

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

FSA applied in programs, projects, and policies

Knowledge and analytical tools supporting the FSA expanded

Knowledge and experience exchange platform established

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Geographical Location

Kiribati - Nation-wide; Lao People's Democratic Republic - Nation-wide; Marshall Islands - Nation-wide; Micronesia, Federated States of - Nation-wide; Nauru - Nation-wide; Papua New Guinea - Nation-wide; Solomon Islands - Nation-wide; Timor-Leste - Nation-wide; Tuvalu - Nation-wide

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 staff instructions.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Herradura, Jerome V.

Responsible ADB Department

Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department

Responsible ADB Division

Fragility and Engagement Division (CCFE)

Executing Agencies

Asian Development Bank

Timetable

Concept Clearance

19 Sep 2022

Fact Finding

-

MRM

-

Approval

14 Dec 2022

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

14 Dec 2022

Funding

TA 10045-REG