Evaluations Of NDB Funded Project Will Initiate From India In 2024: Ashwani Muthoo
The quantitative evaluations of the projects funded by the New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral development bank established by BRICS, will start with India being the first nation,
The quantitative evaluations of the projects funded by the New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral development bank established by BRICS, will begin with India as the first nation, said Ashwani K Muthoo, Director General, Independent Evaluation Office, NDB in EvalFest 2024. BRICS is a multi-national development bank founded in the year 2015 by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS).
“For the year 2024, IEO will be starting its first quantitative evaluations from India. IEO is collaborating with the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog and other Government organisations along with many non-government organisations for the purpose of evaluation,” said Director General of IEO, NDB.
Muthoo also highlighted the fundamentals that need to be kept in mind for doing better and more precise evaluations. Muthoo said, “Responsive, adaptive and future responsive approaches are foundational to the evaluations done by IEO.”
He also said that the evaluation strategies need to be done in a way that benefits the people at the last mile, especially in South Asia and emerging market economies (EMEs).
Muthoo also mentioned, “Top-down approaches should also include participative and inclusive approaches. Along with this, the non-economic indicators should also be kept in mind while doing evaluation.”
The Director General of IEO also pointed out that one size fits all can not yield the benefits and results that are desired. Therefore, he says that the methodologies should be tailored by keeping local factors in mind, and also the evaluation should be done project-wise.
Regarding a future responsive approach, he said, “Better policies, programmes and strategies are a must to do better implementation of projects and building a sustainable future.”
So far NDB’s approvals for India total USD 7.5 billion, of which USD 4.2 billion stands disbursed. The disbursals in India include the USD 2 billion loan extended as part of NDB’s emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an exclusive interaction with BW Businessworld Muthoo said, “IEO do get information from government and other non-government organisations as far as programme implementation and project completion is concerned. But, we do our primary research also at the ground level by physically visiting the project sites. That helps us to properly analyse the stage at which the project currently is, and whether the sum provided was used judiciously or not.”
Established in 2015 by BRICS countries, the New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank aimed at mobilising resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other EMDCs.
The IEO is independent of the Management of the NDB and reports directly and exclusively to the Board of Directors. The IEO is responsible for independently evaluating the Bank’s policies, strategies, processes, initiatives and operations. The IEO also contributes and provides oversight to improve the effectiveness of the Bank’s quality assurance and self-evaluation activities.
The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the New Development Bank conducts evaluations to improve the NDB’s development effectiveness and to further the achievement of the Bank’s mandate. Independent evaluation plays a central role in driving the quality and development impact of the Bank.
NDB has extended support to India, including financing landmark projects such as the Delhi-Meerut-Ghaziabad regional rapid transit system, metro system expansions, clean water and sanitation infrastructure development, eco-tourism projects, and emergency loan programs for inclusive economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
NDB signed a loan agreement of USD 500 million with India for the Gujarat Rural Road Program. NDB also signed a loan agreement of USD 115 million with India for the development of an integrated sewerage system for the city of Imphal, Manipur.
This project aims to enhance sanitation services and improve water quality in the Imphal river by constructing 3 sewerage treatment plants, 21 sewerage pumping stations and a 297 kilometer network of sewer pipelines. The Bank has signed a loan agreement of USD 70.27 million with India for the rejuvenation of the Lamphelpat waterbody and its surrounding areas in Imphal, the capital city of Manipur.
