This publication explores how roads are financed in five Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program countries and outlines lessons and best practices to help build a robust road network throughout the region. The publication details how road funds are managed in Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, and explains how earmarked road user charges help finance maintenance and repair. It recommends countries create road asset management systems to prioritize roads with the highest economic returns, boost data collection, and increase the efficiency and transparency of road fund financing.

This publication explores how roads are financed in five Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program countries and outlines lessons and best practices to help build a robust road network throughout the region. The publication details how road funds are managed in Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, and explains how earmarked road user charges help finance maintenance and repair. It recommends countries create road asset management systems to prioritize roads with the highest economic returns, boost data collection, and increase the efficiency and transparency of road fund financing.

This publication shares lessons from performance-based road maintenance contracts implemented in Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, the People’s Republic of China, and Tajikistan. It outlines the contract scope, performance standards, inspections, response and reaction times, payments and deductions, and procurement and contract costs. The publication highlights learning from the different experiences and provides recommendations for future performance-based road maintenance contracts in these and other countries.

Under the CAREC 2030 framework, a regional trade strategy will provide a more coherent approach to strengthen trade and enhance growth potential of CAREC countries. The CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA) 2030 aims to support CAREC countries in integrating further with the global economy through trade expansion from increased market access, greater diversification, and stronger institutions for trade. Taking into consideration the countries' capacities and varying levels of progress, CITA 2030 will be implemented in a phased and pragmatic approach including through a three-year rolling strategic action plan.

The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport Strategy 2030 builds on progress made and lessons learned from the CAREC Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy 2020. It separates trade facilitation from transport and links to the overall CAREC 2030 program in the areas of enhanced connectivity and sustainability. This strategy underscores increasing sustainability and network quality alongside continued construction and rehabilitation of transport corridors, and places more emphasis on multimodal connectivity, road asset management, road safety, and performance-based maintenance goals. The CAREC Transport Strategy 2030 will be implemented in conjunction with the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030.

Cumulative transport investments under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program reached $23.4 billion in 2017 through which approximately 9,964 kilometers of expressways or national highways were built or improved. For the upkeep of road corridors, CAREC countries agreed to take measures to set up road funds and road tolling to ensure adequate maintenance funding. This guide presents fundamental concepts of road tolling; addresses concerns typically faced in the introduction of tolls; and provides useful tips for design, implementation, and operation of toll road projects. It highlights challenges decision makers may face in implementing toll road projects and extracts lessons from international experiences relevant to the circumstances of CAREC countries.

This publication provides a diagnostic framework to analyze the level of gender equality in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) countries. It also serves as a basis for developing the CAREC Gender Strategy 2030 and assessing the CAREC Program’s performance in mainstreaming gender in its operations. The analysis includes a comparison of key gender global indicators as well as cross- cutting gender and human development issues, particularly women’s access to decent work, economic opportunities, education and training, health services, information and communication technology, and infrastructure and public services, and women’s participation in decision-making. A representative sample of 107 CAREC projects was reviewed to identify good practices, gaps, and missed opportunities in gender mainstreaming.

Road asset management is one of the top priorities of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy 2020. The implementation of performance-based road maintenance contracts (PBCs)—an essential element of road asset management—promotes effective and efficient maintenance of road networks. Well-designed PBCs keep roads in predefined good condition at relatively low cost. This guide aims to help policy makers in CAREC member countries understand and implement PBCs. After a brief history of the development of PBCs, it discusses the various types of PBCs and their relative advantages and disadvantages. It highlights PBC implementation in selected developed, developing, and transitional countries, including CAREC member countries, to illustrate best practices.

Providing an authoritative yet accessible introduction to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), this comprehensive Companion offers a detailed examination of the ADB’s objectives, policies, development outcomes, strengths and weaknesses, areas for reform, and challenges going forward.