DILI, 10 october 2023 (TATOLI) – Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance organized a seminar on the dissemination of the ADB’s disbursement policies, guidelines, procedures, and practices.
Stefania Dina, ADB’s Country Director for Timor-Leste, said it’s important to have a good understanding of the ADB’s disbursement policies, guidelines, procedures, and practices.
She said that ADB would provide training on the ADB’s Client Portal for Disbursements (CPD).
The Client Portal for Disbursements (CPD) is a secure web application of the Asian Development Bank which allows executing agencies and implementing agencies to prepare, submit, and track withdrawal applications online.
Using the system can speed up the preparation and submission of withdrawal applications by borrowers and reduce transaction costs. The CPD enables real-time communication between the user and ADB on matters pertaining to the withdrawal application.
“Consultation sessions on specific disbursement-related issues will be available after the seminar upon request,’’ Dina said.
She said that Timor-Leste still faces some disbursement issues, due to misunderstanding, misconceptions, or simply inadequate knowledge of ADB’s disbursement policies and procedures.
Dina highlighted the importance of disbursement in effective project implementation.
She explained that the CPD effectively shortened the processing time for withdrawal applications, adding delay in disbursement could affect Timor-Leste’s socio-economic development.
General Director for Directorate General of External Resources Mobilization and Management of Minister of Finance, Francisco Da Silva said it’s important for the finance staff members to have a clear knowledge of the CPD, a secure channel for submitting withdrawal applications (WA) for loans and grants from ADB, allowing executing agencies and implementing agencies to prepare, submit, and track WAs online.
To date, the Government of Timor-Leste has received a loan from the ADB totaling US$ 615 million to finance infrastructure development projects, including roads, drinking water, electricity, etc.
In 2021, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Timor-Leste signed a US$47 million loan to help provide safe, reliable, and affordable water supply and sanitation services to about 62,000 people living in municipalities of Lospalos, Viqueque, and Manufahi.
The seminar was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, project accountants, and project managers.
ADB has been supporting Timor-Leste since 1999 with a focus on removing infrastructure bottlenecks and institutional constraints to open the way for more sustainable development.
ADB operations in Timor-Leste are guided by the Country Partnership Strategy 2023-2027 which provides a strategy for economic recovery, inclusive development, and climate resilience.
The ADB program in Timor-Leste will continue to emphasize knowledge systems, innovation, and technical expertise to accompany traditional financial support.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomino Martins
