About ADB

ADB Operations

ADB's development work is aimed at improving the welfare of the people of Asia and the Pacific, especially of the 690 million poor living on less than a dollar a day.

Within months of adopting its poverty reduction strategy in 1999, ADB began focusing its work toward eliminating poverty in the region.

ADB's projects and programs, whether poverty interventions or otherwise, emphasize one or more of the following priorities:

• economic growth
• human development
• gender and development
• good governance
• environmental protection
• private sector development
• regional cooperation

Each priority is related directly to the three pillars of the poverty reduction strategy:

• pro-poor, sustainable economic growth
• inclusive social development
• good governance

Other crosscutting priorities are law and policy reform and social dimensions of development.

Sectors

ADB's operations are diverse, covering

• agriculture and natural resources
• education
• energy
• finance
• health, nutrition, and social protection
• industry and trade
• law, economic management, and public policy
• transport and communications
• water supply, sanitation, and waste management
• activities involving multiple sectors

Development Tools

ADB lends to governments and to public and private enterprises in its developing member countries. ADB's principal tools are loans and technical assistance, which are provided to governments for specific, high-priority development projects and programs. ADB's lending both supports and promotes investment for development based on a country's priorities.

In 2005, ADB approved loans worth $5.8 billion for 64 projects, most of which went to the public sector. People's Republic of China was the largest borrower, followed by Indonesia, Pakistan, Viet Nam, and Bangladesh. Multitranche financing facilities worth $1.52 billion, grants worth US$1.5 billion, equity investments for $217.1 million, and guarantees for $68.4 million were provided. Technical assistance, which is used to prepare projects and support advisory activities, amounted to $198.8 million.

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