ADB to support Azerbaijan in improving project implementation

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to allocate $1 million under a new regional technical assistance project titled “Enhancing Project Readiness and Strengthening Project Management in Central and West Asia.”

According to Report, citing ADB, the project covers nine countries in the region — Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — and aims to enhance institutional capacity in procurement, preparation, and implementation of ADB-financed projects.

The bank states that technical assistance will be provided to executing bodies and implementing agencies to support key stages of project design and implementation. Special focus will be placed on developing procurement skills, including preparing tender documentation, evaluating bids, and drafting reports; addressing bottlenecks related to delays in procedures and insufficient project readiness; strengthening contract management and grievance redress mechanisms; with an emphasis on building internal capacity rather than relying on external consultants.

ADB highlights positive trends in project implementation efficiency in the region. The time required for procurement procedures has decreased from 370 days in 2022 to 261 days in 2023 and 181 days in 2024. However, despite this progress, further institutional strengthening remains necessary, particularly to resolve issues hindering development outcomes.

ADB targets two main indicators of project readiness — project readiness (availability of preliminary or detailed design and cost documentation before approval) and procurement readiness (publication of tender documents for main contracts before implementation).

The technical assistance will also focus on introducing mechanisms to filter and assess project maturity at early preparation stages, supporting compliance with safety standards in procurement processes, and expanding alumni networks of training programs to facilitate experience exchange and dissemination of best practices.

This project aligns with ADB’s priorities in regional cooperation and provision of public goods. It aims to build sustainable and effective institutions capable of implementing complex infrastructure and socio-economic projects, while adapting best practices to the specific characteristics of each participating country.