The Handbook was initially drafted by Klaus Felsinger, a former staff member of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Regional and Sustainable Development Department (RSDD), Special Initiative Group (RSOD-SI) and a member of the Innovation and Efficiency Initiative (IEI) Team, under the direct supervision of Juan Miranda, Director General of Central and West Asia Department (CWRD) and Head of the IEI Team. Heather Skilling and Kathleen Booth carried out research and compiled and elaborated on the information. The Handbook further benefited from relevant comments contributed by ADB staff through review of drafts. Elsie Araneta, Maria Anna Birken, Sally Pedersen, and Stephen Edwards provided helpful advice and information. Ian Woodward contributed valuable information and editorial commentary. Virginia Herrera, Majella Canzon, and Aldwin Sutarez provided their best support at the pre-publication stage. Finally, Nariman Mannapbekov of RSOD-SI painstakingly completed this Handbook.