Regional : Sustainable Safeguard Policy Applications in the Central and West Asia Region

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Water-based natural resources management

Energy / Energy sector development and institutional reform

Public sector management / Public administration

Transport / Road transport (non-urban)

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Other urban services

The TA will help DMCs in the Central and West Asia region implement safeguards by (i) developing a region-wide strategy and plan for sustainable environmental safeguards capacity strengthening, and (ii) providing targeted training and sector and/or project-specific consulting services in the CWRD DMCs. The TA will:

(i) support executing and implementing agencies meet the environmental safeguard requirements of ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) and the new Environment and Social Framework;

(ii) engage and deploy international and national consultants to provide technical expertise to executing/implementing agencies in achieving high project readiness in safeguards and strengthening safeguards implementation;

(iii) utilize and build on knowledge products and relationships developed under ADB's technical assistance projects to address limited familiarity of executing/implementing agencies with international standards and practices and the occasional lack of authority and/or resources;

(iv) identify gaps in a timely manner between local practice and ADB safeguard policies, and develop strategy to effectively bridge these gaps;

(v) provide capacity building to increase the understanding of executing/implementing agencies on requirements of ADB safeguard policies; and

(vi) support the use of multimedia knowledge products, ICT, and other innovative outputs to achieve the outcome.

Gaps remain in environmental safeguards implementation. Weak capacity of government agencies, inadequate legal frameworks, lack of coordination, weak enforcement of regulations, limited availability of local experts, and need for experienced consultants on environmental thematic areas, where they do exist, are the key constraints on safeguards implementation in CWRD DMCs. There are gaps in country safeguards systems, compounded by shortages of comprehensive guidance products and implementing regulations, despite past positive efforts in this area. ADB's technical assistance for Supporting Environmental Safeguards in the Central and West Asia Region supported CWRD DMCs in solving administrative bottlenecks, improving coordination, providing technical guidance, capacity building, and problem-solving during project preparation and implementation.2 However, the TA still highlighted gaps such as the inability of ADB or the executing/implementing agencies to rapidly undertake technical studies during processing or implementation, particularly, existing assessments were identified as either insufficient or absent.

The differing demands of development partners relating to safeguards further complicates implementation in CWRD DMCs. With the ongoing review and update of the Safeguard Policy Statement, there was a demand from executing/implementing agencies to continue the deployment of consultants to strengthen their capacities on the Safeguard Policy Statement, as well as to assist in problem solving during project preparation and implementation. ADB's technical assistance for Strengthening Safeguards Implementation in ADB Projects which is currently being implemented by the SDSS, also highlighted in the TA report that based on ADB's IED findings, more attention needs to be given to the quality and focus of safeguard documentation, project readiness for safeguards implementation, and monitoring and supervision, as well as better consideration of health and safety risks and grievance redress.

Innovative practices can be used to strengthen capacity for safeguards implementation. Previous ADB technical assistance projects identified several innovative practices being used in DMCs to strengthen capacity for safeguards implementation at the project and country levels. These may be transferred within and between DMCs. ICT and other innovative tools for project processing and monitoring will be utilized to strengthen the capacity of CWRD DMCs.

The proposed TA is included in the ICPM reports, 2023-2025 of the CWRD DMCs. It will contribute to the achievement of SDG 2, 5, 9, 11, 13, and 16. It is also aligned with ADB's Strategy 2030 and its OP2, 3, and 6.

Effective infrastructure development in Central and West Asia compliant with ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) and new Environment and Social Framework promoted.

Sustainable approach to environmental safeguards strengthening CWRD DMCs is developed and implemented

Quality and timeliness of environmental safeguard documents improved

Region-wide safeguards capacity development strategy and plan prepared, and capacity development activities implemented.

Project management and supervision capacity of executing and implementing agencies showcased and strengthened using advanced technology applications