Regions and Countries

	Table of Contents
p. 2 of 9 BACK | NEXT Executive Summary I. Introduction II. Current Development Trends and Issues III. Pacific DMC Development Strategies IV. ADB's Development Experience V. ADB's Strategy VI. Delivering the Pacific Strategy VII. Risks and Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Appendixes

Responding to the Priorities of the Poor: A Pacific Strategy for the Asian Development Bank 2005-2009

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I. Introduction

1. The purpose of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Pacific Strategy 2005–2009 is to provide a framework for ADB operations in its 14 Pacific developing member countries (PDMCs)¹ and for ADB support to regional cooperation in the Pacific. This third ADB Pacific Strategy² will allow ADB’s Pacific Department (PARD) to better focus its activities, deepen its experience and expertise in key result areas (KRAs), and align resources to strategy objectives, in order to maximize the impact of ADB support to the development efforts of the PDMCs.

2. The strategy reflects important differences among the PDMCs, in terms of their geography and natural resources, people and cultures, and economic and social development status and performance, but it also seeks to address many common development challenges (Box 1). Given the important differences, the country level remains the focus for tailoring strategies and detailing ADB programs, through country strategy and program (CSP) and CSP update (CSPU) papers. CSPs and CSPUs will detail ADB’s support for national development programs, in strategies and programs also consistent with the Pacific Strategy. ADB's Regional Cooperation Strategy and Program (RCSP) for the Pacific complements the country programs.

3. ADB has undertaken significant analytic work in preparation for this strategy, to better understand recent development performance in the Pacific and to guide effective approaches for the future. In accordance with ADB’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, ADB has carried out extensive work both to improve its awareness of the extent and nature of poverty in the Pacific, and to identify possible responses.¹ Participatory poverty assessments provide a clear picture of development priorities as well as an organizing framework for this strategy. Studies of governance² and of the constraints to private sector development (PSD)³ also inform both the analysis of current development challenges and proposed ADB approaches. Thematic studies on the environment⁴ and gender⁵ also contributed to this paper, along with a forthcoming education sector study.

4. This paper was significantly strengthened by inputs received during a 3-month consultation phase involving PDMC governments, private sector groups, and civil society organizations (CSOs), Pacific regional organizations, key development partners in the Pacific, and direct feedback via ADB’s web site. ADB staff have been extensively involved in the preparation of this strategy (Appendix 1 sets out the strategy formulation process).

5. Sections II and III of this paper analyze current development trends, issues, and strategies in the region. Section IV reviews ADB’s development experience. Drawing on this analysis, Section V sets out ADB’s strategy for the period 2005–2009. Sections VI and VII outline strategy implementation measures.

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