Better project management yields better project outcomes. Below are case studies that show how aRBm has helped projects deliver stronger results for LLF beneficiaries.
aRBM impact on project performance through improvements to LLF delivery
The Regional Rice Value Chain Development Project in the Gambia aimed to boost regional rice production. Co-funded by the IsDB and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the project targeted the development of 3,265 hectares of land to facilitate access to machinery and inputs essential for rice cultivation.
Impractical planning proposals initially threatened to derail the project.The land development component started with an assessment and development of a design by a consultant in April 2021, funded by BADEA. The consultant's design report was generic, making it unimplementable across the sites, and the Bill of Quantities budget (BoQ) estimated at $83 million for the critical land development component, far exceeding the project's allocated budget of $29.8 million. This led to tensions between BADEA and the PMU in agreeing the way forward for the land development work, leading to a stall in the project's progress.To navigate these challenges, the PMU deployed aRBM routines. By intensifying regular progress reviews and PMU routines, as well as utilizing data-driven progress reviews, the PMU restored trust with BADEA, which gradually began to participate more actively. These routines were crucial in improving transparent communication and coordination on problems, shifting the project dynamics from reactive to proactive management. Dr. Biola Kazeem Badmos, Operations Team Leader for the IsDB, emphasized the change, stating, "aRBM has supported our project team in reorienting the work towards achieving better results."
This resulted in a significant recalibration of the project, which put it back on track towards successful implementation. The second quarterly progress review routine in August 2023, proved a turning point, with challenges reframed as an opportunity for strategic recalibration. aRBM's data-driven and solution-focused approaches allowed stakeholders to reduce the project's scope to align with the available budget and operational capabilities. This strategic realignment was supported by BADEA's expedited approval processes, highlighted by their issuance of a "No Objection Certificate" essential for moving forward (1).
This experience illustrates the transformative potential of adaptive management practices. By fostering collaboration and focusing on data-driven decision-making, the project navigated through financial and operational hurdles and is now on a path to successful implementation, with strengthened relationships and enhanced trust between all stakeholders.
(1) The No Objection Certificate constitutes an approval from BADEA for the land development component to be transferred to IsDB. IsDB already committed to revising the land development target at the time, in line with the budget...
aRBM impact across the IsDB ecosystem
The benefits of aRBM extend beyond the initial cohorts of projects and regions, with a positive ripple effect on institutional dynamics within the IsDB ecosystem. This is evidenced by the adoption of aRBM's tools in LLF projects beyond initial PMUs and increased involvement of regional leadership in aRBM routines and processes, indicating growing recognition of aRBM's ability to transform project delivery across diverse operating environments.
<p><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 11);">The benefits of aRBM extend beyond the initial cohorts of projects and regions, with a positive ripple effect on institutional dynamics within the IsDB ecosystem. This is evidenced by the adoption of aRBM's tools in LLF projects beyond initial PMUs and increased involvement of regional leadership in aRBM routines and processes, indicating growing recognition of aRBM's ability to transform project delivery across diverse operating environments.</span></p>
The project has done a lot of work on delivering its outputs. We see the aRBM program as an opportunity to link these outputs to outcomes through streamlined monitoring and reporting which will give the bank a better sense of progress and an opportunity to share the impact stories of the LEGS project more widely within the bank
Jamal Mahmud
OTL of the Local Economic Growth Support (LEGS) Project
At the regional level, aRBM support was instrumental in bridging human resources gaps and ensuring regular, clear, and consistent communication between the project team and the OTL. I highly recommend extending this initiative to other non-LLF IsDB projects
Issa Zakari
OTL for the Abuja Regional Hub for Burkina Faso