ADB approves $10 million grant to improve its overall operations in Kyrgyzstan

AKIPRESS.COM - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $10 million grant for the Multisector Activities Support Facility-the first project using the Small Expenditure Financing Facility modality in ADB. The facility aims to improve the efficiency, sustainability, responsiveness, and readiness of ADB-financed projects and programs in the Kyrgyz Republic. "Our goal at ADB is to design and implement projects that make the most positive development impact to people's lives," said ADB Senior Urban Development Specialist for Central and West Asia Mr. Cesar Llorens. "The establishment of this facility is important to ensure that ADB-financed projects in the Kyrgyz Republic respond to the needs of the country and that the achievements are sustained."
The grant, sourced from ADB's Special Funds Resources and categorized as a small expenditure financing facility, will fund project preparatory support for design and procurement readiness of ensuing ADB projects; small pilot projects to demonstrate new technologies, international standards, and management approaches for possible scale-up; project implementation support for ongoing ADB projects to ensure the efficient delivery of project outcomes; and capacity building and supplemental support for completed ADB projects.
It will also finance a series of small-value activities to support and complement larger projects financed by ADB in the Kyrgyz Republic. For instance, the facility's first activity will support further upgrades at a water treatment plant in the Kyrgyz Republic, which was first supported by ADB in September 2016. The planned upgrades will provide over 400,000 people with access to safe and reliable water supply.
The establishment of the facility is aligned with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic's national development plan and the priorities of ADB's country partnership strategy, 2018-2022, which include more efficient project design and implementation processes as well as localized capacity building to ensure sustainability.