Economics & Development

This document provides an overview of the Web-based platform of the Transport Infrastructure Assets Management Information System In Ulaanbaatar. The system would hopefully reduce the learning, training, and usage costs for user and thus contribute to the transportation assets management and corresponding decision making.

Ratings of the CAR Emergency Electricity Supply and Access Project for Central African Republic were as follows: outcome was satisfactory; Bank performance was satisfactory; M&E quality was substantial. Key lessons are that impactful energy investments in fragile contexts are achievable when based on rigorous project design, strong preparatory analysis, and persistent supervision; that closing capacity gaps in the borrower and Project Implementation Unit through hands-on support, including use of Hands-on Expanded Implementation Support, is essential to reduce delays; that first-of-its-kind generation projects require thorough feasibility work, sound technical design, competitive procurement, and early capacity building to ensure grid integration and sustainability; that donor coordination must anticipate volatility in financing and scopes in fragile, conflict, and violence contexts by maintaining close collaboration and preparing contingency plans to adapt to changes; and that utility ownership is critical to timely execution and full realization of benefits, including the integration of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems and completion of transmission and distribution reinforcements. Recommendations include maintaining diligent upstream technical work and continuous supervision to navigate operational and security constraints; institutionalizing project and contract management capacity within the implementing entities, including a functional contract management team with clear responsibilities for planning, quality assurance, and monitoring; sequencing investments to match grid readiness and ensuring operations and maintenance arrangements are in place for complex assets such as battery energy storage systems; strengthening structured coordination with cofinanciers while safeguarding critical activities against scope or budget shifts through contingency provisions; and securing proactive engagement and accountability from the utility by clarifying roles, milestones, and decision points for grid testing, network upgrades, and system integration to avoid underperformance and delays.