Regional technical assistance projects that include
As the table below indicates, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) continues to provide grants for regional technical assistance (TA) projects in the Greater
Mekong Subregion (GMS) that include
the amount of the grant extended by the ADB was US$1 million or smaller. This allows the projects to be approved by the ADB President, not by the
Board of Directors.
|
Project name (ADB number,
approval date) Project description |
Implementation period |
Total cost Amount of ADB assistance
(percentage out of total project cost) |
Benefit for Burma |
|
Preparing Environmental Inputs for the Second GMS Summit
(39086, approved April 2005) To assist GMS environment ministers to issue a statement
at the GMS Summit in support of sustainable environmental management. |
Not indicated, but the GMS Environmental Ministers meeting is on May
24-26, 2005, in Shanghai, and the GMS Summit is in July 4-5, 2005. |
Total
cost unknown ADB’s
grant: $90,000 |
The grant supports the
activities of the GMS Working Group on the Environment, of which Burma is
part. |
|
GMS Phnom Penh Plan for Development Management-Phase II
(37624, approved March 2005) To develop a group of development managers with the
capacity to operate as competent change agents through trainings. |
2005-2006* *Phase I covered 2003-2004 |
Total
cost unknown ADB’s
grant: $800,000 |
The
Phnom Penh Plan trains officials in the GMS countries in strategic planning,
project management, community mobilization, and other skills central to
development management and good governance. |
|
Facilitating Cross-Border Trade and Investment in the GMS (37279,
approved December 2004) To promote the competitiveness of GMS enterprises by supporting the
GMS Business Forum. |
January 2005 – June 2007 |
Total cost: $700,000 ADB’s grant from the Japan
Special Fund: $600,000 (85.7% out of total cost). In-kind support from
participating governments: $100,000 equivalent. |
Much of the grant
supports the activities of the GMS Business Forum (of which Burma is
currently Chair), including the operational expenses of the GMS Business
Forum Secretariat, staff salaries, rentals, communications, and travel
expenses. |
|
Strengthening Capacity and Regional Cooperation in Advanced
Agricultural Science and Technology (38020, approved December
2004) To promote regional cooperation in capacity strengthening
for safe use of advanced agricultural science and technology and for related
food safety. |
2 years from April 2005 |
Total cost: $1,200,000 ADB’s grant from the
Japan Special Fund: $1,000,000 (83.3% out of total cost; 100% of foreign
currency cost)[1] In-kind support from
GMS governments: $200,000 equivalent |
Each GMS country will
appoint a project coordinator, who will be fully involved in the project to
ensure close coordination among stakeholder agencies. Each GMS government will establish a
national task force or committee to formulate or strengthen biosafety policy
and regulatory frameworks, or use the existing national committee for this
purpose. |
|
Capacity Building on
Promoting Sustainable Development in the GMS (37725, approved November 2004) Assist GMS countries to prepare National
Strategic Development Strategies to integrate sustainable development
objectives into national policies and strategies. |
November 2004 -
September 2006 |
Total
cost: $800,000 ADB’s
grant from the Japan Special Fund: $500,000 (62.5% out of total cost) Co-financing
by UNEP ($200,000) and in-kind support from GMS governments (about $100,000
equivalent) |
International and local consultants will work with GMS governments and
stakeholders to develop guidelines and build capacity for integrating
environment into economic planning.
Workshops will be held in each country to facilitate the process of
identifying needs and building capacities.
|
|
GMS Transport Sector
Strategy Study
(38052, approved October 2004) To
develop a multi-modal transport sector master plan of the GMS covering
2006-2015. |
About 12 months from January
2005 |
Total
cost: $950,000 ADB’s
grant: $950,000 (100%) |
Subject
of the study as a member of GMS. Consultations
will be held in all GMS countries. |
|
Strengthening the GMS
Economic Cooperation Program (37526, approved September 2004) To increase capacity of GMS governments in
implementing GMS activities, increase resource mobilization for GMS priority
programs. |
August 2004 – July 2005 |
Total
cost: $1,250,000 equivalent ADB’s
grant: $1,000,000 (80% out of total cost equivalent; 100% out of total
foreign currency component)[2] In-kind
support from GMS governments: $250,000 equivalent |
The project
provides general support for the GMS program.
The project also finances international and domestic consultants. |
|
GMS Tourism Sector
Strategy (37626,
approved July 2004) To
assist the GMS tourism working group to draw up a 10-year strategy and a 5-year
action plan for the GMS member countries. |
October 2004 – June 2005; final
strategy and action plan to be presented for endorsement at the GMS Summit in
July 2005. |
Total
cost: $800,000 ADB’s
grant: $800,000 (100%) |
The
grant covers the cost of a domestic consultant for each GMS country. National tourism organization in each GMS
country will coordinate with government agencies, and appoint a project
coordinator with support staff. |
|
Total of ADB grants for above projects: |
$5.74 million |
|
|
[1] The total cost is estimated at $1.2 million equivalent ($726,000 in
foreign exchange and $474,000 equivalent in local currency). ADB’s grant ($1 million) will finance the entire
foreign exchange cost and part of the local currency cost equivalent. The balance of the local currency costs
($200,000 equivalent) will be met by GMS governments in kind.
[2] The total cost is estimated at $1.25 million equivalent ($1 million in
foreign exchange and $250,000 equivalent in local currency). ADB’s grant ($1 million) will finance the
entire foreign currency component and the GMS governments will provide the
remaining $250,000 equivalent in kind.