Country Operations Business Plan

August 2016

Maldives 2017–2019

This document is being disclosed to the public in accordance with ADB's Public Communications Policy 2011.

CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 20 July 2016) Currency unit – rufiyaa (Rf) Rf1.00 = $0. 064892 $1.00 = Rf15.41000

ABBREVIATIONS

ADB – Asian Development Bank ADF – Asian Development Fund COBP – country operations business plan CPS – country partnership strategy DRR – disaster risk reduction TA – technical assistance

NOTE

In this report, “$” refers to US dollars.

Vice-President W. Zhang, Operations 1 Director General H. Kim, South Asia Department (SARD) Director R. Butiong, Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division, SARD

Team leader M. Nakane, Economist, SARD Team members M. Fan, Senior Urban Development Specialist, SARD L. George, Energy Specialist, SARD A. Heriawan, Transport Specialist, SARD M. K. Hidalgo, Financial Sector Officer, SARD S. Hong, Knowledge Management Specialist, SARD S. Jagannathan, Senior Education Specialist, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department R. Jones, Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Economist, SARD A. Reyes, Associate Programs Officer, SARD S. Shafiq, Financial Management Specialist, SARD F. Tornieri, Principal Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development), SARD

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

CONTENTS

Page

I. CONSISTENCY OF BUSINESS PLAN WITH COUNTRY PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY 1 II. INDICATIVE RESOURCE PARAMETERS 2 III. SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO LENDING AND NONLENDING PROGRAMS 2

APPENDIXES 1. Country Assistance Results Areas 4 2. Indicative Assistance Pipeline 5 3. Assistance Program for Current Year 7 4. Indicative Knowledge Publications and Events 8

I. CONSISTENCY OF BUSINESS PLAN WITH COUNTRY PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY

1. A drop in the tourism and communication sectors slowed down real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the Maldives to 1.5% in 2015 from 6.5% in 2014. Tourism, which in the last 10 years has come to account for the largest share, around 30% of GDP, declined in 2015 amid weak economic conditions in major markets—particularly the People’s Republic of China, which accounts for around 30% of the total tourist arrivals—and increasing competition from closer Asian destinations. GDP growth was supported by increased public investments, which fueled robust construction activities. Construction expanded by about 40%, and real estate by nearly 4%. Growth is expected to recover to 3.5% in 2016 on robust public investments. The government’s highly expansionary program to invest in public infrastructure will raise capital spending and construction in 2016 and 2017. Tourism is likely to be restrained by economic constraints in the major tourist markets.

2. The Government of the Maldives has been encouraging the population living in the outer atolls to relocate to the Greater Male’ Region to mitigate the pressure on the public sector budget in order to promote more efficient public expenditure on economic and social services.1 The government is targeting about 70% of the total population to reside in the Greater Male’ Region. To prepare for the increase in population in the region, the government has started to implement three mega transport and residential housing projects.2

3. In April 2016, the government requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to shift the focus of its assistance to developing the Greater Male’ Region including (i) the construction of bridges to connect Male’, Villingili, Gulhi Falhu, and Thilafushi; and (ii) urban development for Phase 2 of Hulhumale’ Youth City3. As a result, ADB and the government need to revisit the strategic priorities of the draft country partnership strategy (CPS), 2016–2019. The draft CPS, as initially agreed between ADB and the government, will primarily target the outer atolls and focus on (i) enhancing infrastructure connectivity to expand the access of communities to public services and markets; (ii) diversifying the economic base by supporting the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and their access to credit and skills development through an enabling environment; and (iii) improving environmental management by addressing climate change concerns.4

4. To identify the relevant strategic and operational priorities, and the pipeline of projects aligned with the government’s new focus for ADB assistance, ADB needs to carry out detailed analytical work, including a feasibility study for the comprehensive development of the Greater Male’ Region, and hold further consultations with the government. The feasibility study will help the government prepare a comprehensive development strategy for the region and identify potential ADB projects. Consideration of the new CPS by ADB’s Board of Directors will be deferred from 2016 to 2017 to include the findings of the analytical work. Until the new CPS is prepared, the country operations business plan (COBP), 2017–2019 includes an indicative pipeline of priority projects supporting the development of the Greater Male’ Region based on a

1 The Greater Male’ Region includes Gulhi Falhu, Hulhumale’, Male’, Thilafushi, and Villingili islands. 2 The three projects are the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport Expansion Project, the Male’ – Hulhumale’ Bridge Project and the Hulhumale’ Phase 2 development including 15,000 housing units. 3 The government established state-owned company, Housing Development Corporation Ltd. (HDC), with the mandate of undertaking the Hulhumalé development project, called Youth City, to provide opportunities and infrastructure to the creative entrepreneurship of the youth of the nation. HDC invests in infrastructure, including the development of roads, landscaping, and basic utilities. 4 The proposed CPS was to be based on the Manifesto and other relevant government strategy documents: (i) Maritime Transport Master Plan, (ii) Small and Medium Enterprises Act, and (iii) Climate Change Policy Framework. It was also to be prepared in line with the results of the country diagnostic study (completed in 2015), the CPS and the interim CPS final review report (completed in 2014) and its validation (completed in 2015).

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preliminary analysis of the government’s proposed projects, and detailed consultations with relevant officials.

5. The country assistance results areas of the COBP, 2017–2019 (Appendix 1) have been adjusted to reflect the expected changes in the indicative lending and nonlending products and services during 2017–2019 (Appendix 2, Table A2.1 and Table A2.2). Appendix 3 summarizes the lending and nonlending programs for 2016. The COBP will support development outcomes in energy, transportation, and public sector management, which are all in line with the priority areas of the previous CPS, 2011–2015. Appendix 4 provides the indicative knowledge products that will be delivered in the Maldives in 2016 and 2017 to respond to the country’s priority knowledge needs.

II. INDICATIVE RESOURCE PARAMETERS

6. As a Group A developing member country, the Maldives is eligible for Asian Development Fund (ADF) grants.5 The indicative ADF grant and concessional ordinary capital resources lending allocation for 2017–2019 is $60.63 million, including $15.83 million in disaster risk reduction (DRR) resources.6 The final allocation will depend on available resources and the outcome of the country performance assessments. Cofinancing and funding from other sources, including the regional pool under concessional resources, will be explored. While ADB assesses indebtedness risk annually for allocation purposes the following year, the 2016 debt distress classification of Maldives which was assessed to be high, was based on the 2016 Article IV consultation of IMF with Maldives. In accordance with the ADF grants framework, the country is to receive 100% of its country allocation in grants in 2017, subject to a 20% volume discount on the grant portion of the country allocation.7

III. SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO LENDING AND NONLENDING PROGRAMS

7. Lending program. The L. Gan-Fonadhoo Community Connectivity Project, proposed as a firm project in 2018 in the previous COBP, was dropped following the request of the government.8 Instead, two new programs to support the government’s new connectivity and economic infrastructure projects in Greater Male’ Region will be added: (i) the Greater Male’ Connectivity Improvement Project programmed for 2019 with preparatory project to commence in 2017; and (ii) the Greater Male’ Environmental Improvement and Waste Management Project, which is programmed as a standby project for 2017 and as a firm project for 2018.

8. Nonlending program. Five nonlending programs will be added: (i) the project preparatory technical assistance (TA) for $600,000 for the proposed Greater Male’ Environmental Improvement and Waste Management Project in 2017; (ii) supplementary

5 This refers to the combination of ADF lending operations with the ordinary capital resources balance sheet that will take effect on 1 January 2017. For 2016, the concessional ordinary capital resources lending should be understood as ADF lending. 6 The DRR aims to strengthen disaster resilience and help spur investment. This additional financing will support (i) stand-alone DRR projects, (ii) discrete DRR components of other grant and loan projects, and (iii) the incremental cost in strengthening the disaster resilience of infrastructure investments. 7 The proportion of grants for the resource allocations during 2016–2018 will be determined by future annual debt distress classifications in accordance with the ADF grants framework. 8 ADB initially programmed an ensuing loan of $15.67 million for 2018, which will improve access of communities in the Laamu Atoll located in the South Central Region to road transport through the upgrading and construction of district roads to connect urban and rural communities to the main link road, thereby, contributing to improved productivity and welfare in the outer atolls. In April 2016, the Government of the Maldives requested the cancellation of the project preparatory TA for the L. Gan-Fonadhoo Community Connectivity project, which was approved in 2015.

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financing for $400,000 for the capacity development TA for Strengthening Capacity for Operations Management in 2017; (iii) the capacity development TA for $2.0 million to accompany the Greater Male’ Environmental Improvement and Waste Management Project in 2018; (iv) the capacity development TA for $300,000 for Capacity Building for Portfolio Management in 2018; and (v) the capacity development TA for $1.0 million to accompany the Greater Male’ Connectivity Improvement Project in 2019. The capacity development TA that was proposed to accompany the L. Gan-Fonadhoo Community Connectivity Project was removed from the 2018 program.

9. Nonsovereign operations. There are ongoing constraints in actively pursuing private sector investments and nonsovereign operations in the Maldives, such as the lack of effective convertibility of the rufiyaa, the generally weak capacity of the private sector in key areas such as financial management and accounting, and the lack of a skilled workforce. ADB will continue to explore potential private sector operations to support capacity building and promote the expansion of emerging export industries.

4 Appendix 1

COUNTRY ASSISTANCE RESULTS AREAS

ADB Key Country Development Outcomes Indicative Resource Allocation in that ADB Contributes to Key Areas of Assistance 2017–2019 Changes from Last COBP 1. Energy

Improved quality and reliability of electricity Enhanced energy efficiency, Lending and Grants: Greater Male’ Environmental supply transmission and distribution Amount: $25.29 million (ADF) and Improvement and Waste Management $50.00 million (cofinancing) Project added in 2018 with PPTA in 2017 Improved institutional capacity for policy Capacity building for the and CDTA in 2018. formulation, sector regulation, and project relevant agencies Share of COBP envelope: 40% implementation TA: Amount: $600,000 (TASF) and $2,000,000 (cofinancing) 2. Transport

Improvements in the transport network Bridges, road safety, and Lending and Grants: PPTA and the ensuing loan for the asset management Amount: $37.39 million L. Gan-Fonadhoo Community Well-structured, organized, and capable Connectivity Project was dropped central transport sector in which Share of COBP envelope: 60% following shifts in government requests. government institutions operate as facilitators, and in which public assets are TA: Greater Male’ Connectivity Improvement managed and maintained in a more Amount: $1,000,000 (TASF) Project added in 2019 with TA grant in effective and sustainable manner 2017 and CDTA in 2019.

3. Public Sector Management

Improved project management capabilities Stronger portfolio TA: To enhance government capacity, the in core ministries established management capacity Amount: $700,000 (TASF) following TAs were added: (i) Supplementary financing for TA8070: Strengthening Capacity for Operations Management in 2017 (ii) Capacity Building for Portfolio Management in 2018

ADB = Asian Development Bank; ADF = Asian Development Fund; CDTA = capacity building technical assistance; COBP = country operations business plan; PPTA = project preparatory technical assistance; TA = technical assistance; TASF = Technical Assistance Special Fund. Source: Asian Development Bank estimates.

Appendix 2 5

INDICATIVE ASSISTANCE PIPELINE

Table A2.1: Lending Products, 2017–2019

Strategic Year Cost ($ million) Agendas of ADB Poverty and Drivers PPTA/ ADF Co- Project/Program Name Sector Targeting of Change Division PDA Total OCR COL Grants Total Gov’t finance

2017 Firm Greater Male’ Connectivity TRA TI-G IEG and RCI SATC 6.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 6.00 TBD 0.00 Improvement Project (TA Grant)

Total 6.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 6.00 TBD 0.00

2017 Standby Greater Male’ Environmental ENE TI-G IEG and SAEN 2017 75.29 0.00 0.00 25.29 25.29 TBD 50.00.a Improvement and Waste PAR Management Project

Total 75.29 0.00 0.00 25.29 25.29 TBD 50.00

2018 Greater Male’ Environmental ENE TI-G IEG and SAEN 2017 75.29 0.00 0.00 25.29 25.29 TBD 50.00 Improvement and Waste PAR Management Project

Total 75.29 0.00 0.00 25.29 25.29 TBD 50.00

2019 Greater Male’ Connectivity TRA TI-G IEG and RCI SATC 2017 31.39 0.00 0.00 31.39 31.39 TBD TBD Improvement Project

Total 31.39 0.00 0.00 31.39 31.39 TBD TBD

ADB = Asian Development Bank; ADF = Asian Development Fund; COL = concessional OCR lending; ENE = energy; Gov’t = government; IEG = inclusive economic growth; OCR = ordinary capital resources; PAR = partnerships; PDA = project design advance; PPTA = project preparatory technical assistance; RCI = regional cooperation and integration; SAEN = Energy Division, South Asia Department; SATC = Transport and Communications Division; South Asia Department; TBD = to be determined; TI-G = targeted intervention—geographic dimensions of inclusive growth; TRA = transport. a Cofinancing amount is indicative, and source to be determined. Source: Asian Development Bank.

6 Appendix 2

Table A2.2: Nonlending Products and Services, 2017–2019

Sources of Funding ADB Others Assistance Amount Amount Total Assistance Name Sector Division Type Source ($'000) Source ($'000) ($'000)

2017 Greater Male’ Environmental Improvement ENE SAEN PPTA TASF 600.00 TBD 0.00 600.00 and Waste Management Project

Strengthening Capacity for Operations PSM SARC CDTA TASF 400.00 0.00 400.00 Management (Supplementary financing)

Total 1,000.00 0.00 1,000.00

2018 Greater Male’ Environmental Improvement ENE SAEN CDTA 0.00 TBD 2,000.00 2,000.00 and Waste Management Project

Capacity Building for Portfolio Management PSM SARC CDTA TASF 300.00 0.00 300.00

Total 300.00 2,000.00 2,300.00

2019 Greater Male’ Connectivity Improvement TRA SATC CDTA TASF 1,000.00 1,000.00 Project

Total 1,000.00 1,000.00

ADB = Asian Development Bank; CDTA = capacity development technical assistance; ENE = energy; PPTA = project preparatory technical assistance; PSM = public sector management; SAEN = Energy Division, South Asia Department; SARC = Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division, South Asia Department; SATC = Transport and Communications Division, South Asia Department; TASF = Technical Assistance Special Fund; TBD = to be determined; TRA = transport. Source: Asian Development Bank.

Appendix 3 7

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CURRENT YEAR

Table A3.1: Lending Products, 2016

Strategic Cost ($ million) Agendas Year of ADB Poverty and Drivers PPTA/ ADF Co- Project/Program Name Sector Targeting of Change Division PDA Total OCR Loans Grants Total Gov’t finance

Kulhudhuffushi Harbor TRA TI-G IEG, ESG, SATC 2014 9.69 0.00 0.00 9.69 9.69 0.00 0.00 Expansion Project PSD

Total 9.69 0.00 0.00 9.69 9.69 0.00 0.00 ADB = Asian Development Bank; ADF = Asian Development Fund; ESG = environmentally sustainable growth; Gov’t = government; IEG = inclusive economic growth; OCR = ordinary capital resources; PDA = project design advance; PPTA = project preparatory technical assistance; PSD = private sector development; SATC = Transport and Communications Division, South Asia Department; TI-G = targeted intervention—geographic dimensions of inclusive growth; TRA = transport. Source: Asian Development Bank.

Table A3.2: Nonlending Products and Services, 2016

Sources of Funding ADB Others Assistance Amount Amount Total Assistance Name Sector Division Type Source ($'000) Source ($'000) ($'000)

Capacity Development for Kulhudhuffushi Harbor Extension Project TRA SATC CDTA TASF 500.00 0.00 500.00

Total 500.00 0.00 500.00 ADB = Asian Development Bank; CDTA = capacity development technical assistance; SATC = Transport and Communications Division; South Asia Department; TASF = Technical Assistance Special Fund; TRA = transport. Source: Asian Development Bank.

8 Appendix 4

INDICATIVE KNOWLEDGE PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS

Table A4.1: Knowledge Publications and Events for 2017

Department or Sector Group or Technical Title of Publication or Event Subjecta Typeb Thematic Groupc Assistance The Economic Effects of Participating in Global Value Capacity development, Publication and ERCD RETA 8779 Chains: Country and Sector Level Analysis Economics, and documentation Governance and public sector management SASEC 2025: Vision Document (third quarter of Regional cooperation Publication and SARD RETA 7491 2017) and integration documentation

Transport and Trade Facilitation Monitoring Industry and trade, and Publication and SARD RETA 7491 Mechanism Regional cooperation documentation and integration Asia SME Finance Monitor Finance, and Industry Publication and SDCC TA; Admin Core and trade documentation Budget (Staff work)

Trainings for policymakers, insurance supervisors, Finance Publication and SDCC RETA 8528 and other insurance stakeholders – materials documentation

Working Papers (six) produced under the Sustainable Environment Publication and SDCC (Environment) To be determined Hydropower in Asia documentation

Progress Report (2016–2017) on the MDB Working Transport, Climate Publication and SDCC (Transport) SG and TG Budget Group on Sustainable Transport change, and documentation Environment Update Country Social Protection Indicator 2014– Social development and Publication and SDCC (Gender RETA 8677 2015 protection documentation Equity and Social Development)

Appendix 4 9

Department or Technical Title of Publication or Event Subject Type Sector Group or Assistance Thematic Group Events Launch and Dissemination of the Asian Economic Capacity development, Event organization ERCD TA; Admin Core Budget Integration Report 2017 Economics, Finance, (Staff work) Industry and trade, and Regional cooperation and integration Subregional Conference on Inclusive Access to Transport Training or capacity SARD and SDCC RETA 8311 Transport (or Urban Development) development Launch Seminar of Asia SME Finance Monitor Finance, and Industry Event organization SDCC (Finance) TA; Admin Core Budget and Trade (Staff) Trainings for policymakers, insurance supervisors, and Finance Training or capacity SDCC (Finance) RETA 8254 other insurance stakeholders development Asia Clean Energy Forum 2017 Energy, Environment, Event organization SDCC (Energy) TA; Trust Fund Finance, and Regional Initiative; Partner cooperation and integration Asia Solar Energy Forum 11th Meeting Climate change, Event organization SDCC (Energy) To be determined Energy, Environment, Finance, and Capacity development Total number of publications = 8

Total number of events = 6 ERCD = Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department; MDB = multilateral development bank; RETA = regional technical assistance; SARD = South Asia Department; SASEC = South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation; SDCC = Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department; SG = sector group; SME = small and medium-sized enterprise; TA = technical assistance; TG = thematic group. Source: K-Nexus.

10 Appendix 4

Table A4.2: Additional Knowledge Publications and Events Delivered in 2016

Department or Technical Title of Publication or Event Subject Type Sector Group or Assistance Thematic Group Integrating South and East Asia: An Analysis of the Economics, Regional Publication and ERCD RETA 7791; Admin Economic Effects of Intensified Regional Cooperation cooperation and documentation Core Budget (Staff and Integration integration work) The Future of Regional Cooperation in Asia and the Economics, Regional Publication and ERCD RETA 9032; Admin Pacific cooperation and documentation Core Budget (Staff integration work) Assessment of Power Sector Reforms in South Asia Energy Publication and SARD To be determined documentation Cross-border Electricity Generation, Transmission and Energy Publication and SARD To be determined Trading: A Vision for South Asia documentation Fast-Track Tax Reform – The Maldives Story Finance Publication and SARD RETA 7997 documentation SASEC 2025: Operational Plan Regional cooperation Publication and SARD RETA 7997 and integration documentation Risk Management in the Maldives: Action Plan and Regional cooperation Publication and SARD TA 8436 Recommendations and integration documentation Male’ Road Safety Program Transport Publication and SARD Admin Core Budget documentation (Staff work) Roadmap for the National Single Window in the Regional cooperation Publication and SARD TA 8436 Maldives and integration documentation Conference Report of the Sub-regional Gender, Energy Publication and SARD and SDCC RETA 8311 Conference on Going Beyond the Meter – Inclusive documentation (Gender Equity) Energy Solutions in South Asia Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems Energy Publication and SARD TA 7485 Development in South Asia DMCs documentation

Training materials for policymakers, insurance Finance Publication and SDCC (Finance) RETA 8528 supervisors, and other insurance stakeholders documentation 2015 Joint MDB Climate Finance Report Climate change Publication and SDCC (Climate Admin Core Budget documentation Change and (Staff) Disaster Risk Management) Progress Report (2014–2015) of the MDB Working Transport and Climate Publication and SDCC (Transport) To be determined Group on Sustainable Transport Change documentation Promoting Investment in Natural Capital: Science, Environment Publication and SDCC SG and TG Budget Policy, and the Way Forward documentation (Environment)

Appendix 4 11

Department or Technical Title of Publication or Event Subject Type Sector Group or Assistance Thematic Group

Events Launch and Dissemination of the Asian Economic Economics, Finance, Event organization ERCD TA; Admin Core Budget Integration Report 2016 Capacity development, (Staff work) Industry and trade, and Regional cooperation and integration Trade and Transport Facilitation Monitoring Regional cooperation Event organization SARD RETA 7491 Mechanism: Baseline Study Meeting and integration SASEC 2025 Finalization Workshop Regional cooperation Event organization SARD RETA 7491 and integration 4th SASEC Electricity Transmission Utility Forum Energy, and Regional Event organization SARD RETA 7491 cooperation and integration 5th SASEC Customs Subgroup Meeting Regional cooperation Event organization SARD RETA 7491 and integration SASEC ASYCUDA Subregional Network Meeting Capacity development, Event organization SARD RETA 7491 and Regional cooperation and development 6th SASEC Customs Subgroup Meeting Industry and trade, and Event organization SARD RETA 7491 Regional cooperation and integration SASEC Customs-to-Customs Data Exchange Regional cooperation Event organization SARD RETA 7491 Workshop and integration, and Transport SASEC Transport and Trade Facilitation Working Industry and trade, and Event organization SARD RETA 7491 Group Meeting Regional cooperation and integration Regional Workshop on Technical and Regulatory Regional cooperation Event organization SARD RETA 7491 Challenges in Cross-Border Electricity Transmission and integration, and Interconnections Energy

The Maldives: Second National Workshop on Customs Regional cooperation Event organization SARD RETA 7491 Valuation and integration Deployment of Advanced Energy Storage to increase Energy Other SARD (SAEN) To be determined the share of renewable energy in Addu Island of Maldives Subregional Conference on Going Beyond the Meter: Energy, and Gender Event organization SARD / SDCC RETA 8311 Inclusive Energy Solutions in South Asia (Gender Equity)

12 Appendix 4

Department or Technical Title of Publication or Event Subject Type Sector Group or Assistance Thematic Group Deep-dive Lateral Learning Program on Inclusive Energy Training SARD RETA 8311 Energy Solutions Trainings for policymakers, insurance supervisors, and Finance Training or capacity SDCC (Finance) RETA 8528 / Admin other insurance stakeholders development Core Budget (Staff work) 6th International Skills Forum 2016 Education Event organization SDCC (Education) To be determined

2016 OGP Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue Governance and public Event organization SDCC TA (to be determined) sector management Asia Clean Energy Forum 2016 Capacity development, Event organization SDCC (Energy) TA; Trust Fund; Climate change, Energy, Initiative; Partner Environment , Finance, Gender, Transport, Urban Development, Water, and Regional cooperation and integration Total number of publications = 15 Total number of events = 18 ASYCUDA = Automated System for Customs Data; DMC = developing member country; ERCD = Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department; MDB = multilateral development bank; OGP = open government partnership; RETA = regional technical assistance; SAEN = Energy Division; SARD = South Asia Department; SASEC = South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation; SDCC = Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department; SG = sector group; TA = technical assistance; TG = thematic group. Notes: Since the country operations business plan, 2017–2019 includes information on operations for 2016 (as programs for the current year), this table incorporates knowledge publications and events delivered, or to be delivered, in 2016. Source: K-Nexus.

Appendix 4 13

Table A4.3: Innovation, Advanced Technology, and Pilot Initiatives to be Implemented in 2017

Item Nature Project Number Sector or Theme Division Advanced ICT tools to enhance equity and quality of Advanced Technology Pipeline Education SAHS education overcoming geographic constrains and lack of qualified teachers and quality learning materials ICT Application for Credit Information Bureau in Maldives: Advanced Technology Grant 0290 Access to SAPF Upgrade and expansion of credit information bureau services finance and coverage ICT Application in Tax Administration in Maldives: Advanced Technology Grant 0290 Public Finance SAPF Development of an integrated Point of Sale and Accounting software as required by Maldives Inland Monetary Authority; Enhancement for SAP Tax and Revenue Management module Total number of innovation, advanced technology, and pilot initiatives = 3 ICT = information and communication technology; SAHS = Human and Social Development Division, South Asia Department; SAP = system application and product; SAPF = Public Management, Financial Sector and Trade Division; South Asia Department. Sources: Asian Development Bank’s South Asia Department.