"From concept to project": EDB and international financial institutions synchronize approaches to technical assistance
Almaty, June 26, 2026. — A session entitled "Technical Assistance as a Catalyst for Investment: MDBs’ Perspective" was held on the second day of the EDB's Annual Meeting and Business Forum. The discussion topics included the evolution of technical assistance (TA) from an isolated consulting tool into a strategic mechanism for investment portfolio formation, as well as the opportunities for joint project preparation and coordination of TA resources in Central Asia.
Technical assistance involves preparation of projects up to the investment decision adoption, development of institutional environment, and improvement of regulatory climate. The discussion focused on integrating TA into the investment cycle and accepting its role of a tool that supports not only individual projects but also portfolio development as a whole.
Alexey Skatin, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Management Board, noted that the Technical Assistance Fund is a key element of the Bank's strategy:
"Historically, technical assistance was viewed as a consulting tool. Now, it is important to integrate it into the investment cycle, because the process of making decisions with regard to financing is sometimes easier than the project preparation. The importance of platforms coordinating technical assistance funds, such as the MCDF, is also growing."
He also presented an overview of the EDB Technical Assistance Fund activities in 2022-2026, noting a fivefold increase in the annual volume of approved financing for new projects.
Zhongjing Wang, CEO of the Multilateral Cooperation Centre for Development Finance (MCDF), emphasized that technical assistance is critical to moving projects from concept to success, and the MCDF platform allows banks to share projects and use common evaluation criteria. He called for reducing the implementation time for technical assistance projects to two years:
"We are focused on coordination among MDBs to reduce transaction costs. Coordination allows banks to avoid duplication, bring projects to the investment stage more quickly, and use available resources more efficiently."
Strahan Spencer, Head of Platform Team at the Multilateral Cooperation Centre for Development Finance (MCDF), noted the positive experience of coordination between the MCDF and MDBs in the preparation of sector-specific research and master plans for the implementation of investment projects:
"Joint work by multilateral development banks on the preparation of sector-specific reports and master plans improves the quality of research and creates a solid foundation for further co-financing of investment projects."
Utsav Kumar, Country Director for Kazakhstan at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), shared new approaches pursued under the ADB's updated Technical Assistance Policy:
"In a context of limited resources, it is important to optimize their allocation. TA projects in the same area are often implemented autonomously, even within a single bank. To combat this fragmentation, we are creating a pan-bank platform to strengthen knowledge sharing and integrate ideas, expertise, and innovations from our developing member states and partner organizations into the ADB initiatives."
Yahya Rehman, Deputy Head of the Islamic Development Bank's Top Expert Group, spoke about the bank's work in the field of Islamic finance:
"We are actively engaged in technical assistance in developing strategic roadmaps, promoting confidence in Islamic financial instruments, developing regulation in conjunction with central banks and finance ministries, and harmonizing approaches across countries. We also actively collaborate with other MDBs and international organizations operating in this area."
Kazuhiro Nomoto, Partnership Officer at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, urged the participants to focus not only on the number of projects, but also on their real impact on countries' economies:
"We are already working with other MDBs on technical assistance projects and are paying special attention to the harmonization and integration of such projects to help countries that truly need it. It is important to look not at the number of projects, but at their economic impact."
Session participants agreed that coordinating technical assistance resources through platform formats such as MCDF allows development banks to prepare projects more effectively, reduce transaction costs, as well as expedite their implementation - from concept to investment decision.
Additional Information:
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a multilateral development bank investing in Eurasia. For more than 20 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and expand economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries. By the end of December 2025, the EDB’s cumulative portfolio comprised 326 projects with a total investment of US $19.6 billion. The Bank's portfolio consists principally of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and mechanical engineering. The Bank’s operations are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles.
As part of its 2022–2026 Strategy, the EDB is implementing 3 mega-projects: The Water and Energy Complex of Central Asia, The Eurasian Transport Network, and The Eurasian Commodity Distribution Network.
The EDB Media Centre:
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