Page 27 - Unlocking innovation

learning point
Having access to relatively small amounts of funding such as this pilot TA project enabled ADB to demonstrate to the Government of Armenia that it was a valuable partner in the health sector, which had never been on the country’s agenda before with regard to accessing ADB nancing. As a result of the pilot, ADB has become well-positioned to be a trusted partner of the government to address its double burden of noncommunicable diseases and population aging. The goodwill and relationships established over 2 years supported the subsequent inclusion of health in a $10 million policy-based loan for the Human Development Enhancement Program. That program supports the necessary reforms
to improve the education and health services, providing the foundation for the government’s planned increased investment in human development.
A revolution in Armenia resulted in a complete change of direction for the Ministry of Health, and
the project had to adapt accordingly. Although the grant funding was relatively easy to secure,
What the micromanagement of how it was disbursed when the scope of work had to change created an could have administrative burden for the team that far outweighed the level of funding. Having a de ned output,
and giving autonomy to the TA project recipients as to how that output was achieved, would have been been better a better approach.
What went well
20 Unlocking Innovation for Development