Sichuan Climate Smart Low-carbon Agriculture Development Demonstration Project

Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China, 2024 – 2025

Client: Asian Development Bank

Role: Technical Assistance Team

Project Background and Objectives

The Sichuan Climate-Smart Low-carbon Agriculture Development Demonstration Project is being prepared with a total proposed investment of approximately USD 600 million, including a USD 150 million loan from the Asian Development Bank. The project targets 9 counties in Sichuan Province and aims to enhance climate-smart and low-carbon agriculture capacity, modernize sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems, and accelerate green and low-carbon transformation of agricultural production and value chains.

Financing Modality

The project adopts a Results-Based Lending (RBL) modality, under which financing is disbursed based on the achievement of agreed results and performance indicators. The RBL approach links investment financing directly to institutional strengthening, policy implementation, and measurable outcomes in climate-smart agriculture development.

SIET’s Role and Services

SIET was engaged as the technical assistance consultant to support full project preparation and implementation readiness, with responsibilities including:

  • Technical, economic, and financial feasibility assessment of proposed project components
  • Review of environmental and social safeguard requirements and preparation of safeguard documents
  • Social surveys, stakeholder consultations, and social and gender analyses, including preparation of mitigation measures addressing poverty, social inclusion, and gender impacts
  • Review of domestic feasibility studies and provision of technical recommendations to align project design with ADB requirements and national policies
  • Capacity development for executing and implementing agencies on RBL-based project management and implementation
  • Preparation of all linked documents and supplementary documents required for the ADB Report and Recommendation of the President (RRP)

Outcomes and Value Added

The technical assistance ensures that the project is technically robust, financially sound, socially inclusive, and fully aligned with ADB’s RBL framework and safeguard policies. SIET’s support enables the Government of China and local authorities in Sichuan Province to operationalize results-based financing for climate-smart and net-zero agriculture development at scale.