| Project Detail |
The technical assistance (TA) is estimated to cost $1 million, which will be financed on a grant basis by ADBs Technical Assistance Special Fund. The government will provide counterpart support in the form of counterpart staff, access to reports and information, office space for consultants, training venues, and other in-kind contributions. The TA will enhance NWSDBs financial sustainability and operational efficiency and increase its capacity for environmental and social safeguards, climate change and disaster risk management, and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI).
Project Name Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board
Project Number 52246-002
Country / Economy Sri Lanka
Project Status Approved
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 6962-SRI: Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 1.00 million
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector
Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban policy, institutional and capacity development
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The technical assistance (TA) is estimated to cost $1 million, which will be financed on a grant basis by ADBs Technical Assistance Special Fund. The government will provide counterpart support in the form of counterpart staff, access to reports and information, office space for consultants, training venues, and other in-kind contributions. The TA will enhance NWSDBs financial sustainability and operational efficiency and increase its capacity for environmental and social safeguards, climate change and disaster risk management, and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). The TA will support (i) capacity development of NWSDBs PPMU and NRW cells; (ii) the establishment of a dedicated Environmental and Social Unit, covering safeguards and GESI-related aspects; (iii) training on interdepartmental organization, team building, finance, auditing, human resource management, and supply chain management; (iv) knowledge increase for improved business efficiency, such as consumer relationship and integrated information and communication technology at the central level; (v) advancing institutional capacity on GESI with in-house master trainers on GESI, skills in GESI analysis and assessment, and formulation of a GESI policy and strategy; (vi) capacity increase in DMA and GIS-based asset management of RSC and O&M of smart water management systems; and (vii) the development of a financial sustainability road map and business efficiency action plan. Manuals and guidelines will be developed. The MWS will be the executing agency, and NWSDB will be the implementing agency for the TA, which will be implemented in 4 years.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy Following the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine further exacerbated the countrys economic vulnerability to external shocks. Facing growing challenges in macroeconomic and debt management, including difficulties meeting its external payment obligations, the government began engaging with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure a new Extended Fund Facility (EFF). In September 2022, IMF reached a staff-level agreement to support Sri Lankas economic policies under the EFF. The TA is aligned with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV consultations which recommended SOE reforms to strengthen governance, boost productivity, and improve sustainability and efficiency.
Impact
productivity and efficiency of functional areas of NWSDB improved
organizational reforms for increased business efficiency introduced |
