Information Sharing and Disclosure

Translation Framework

English is the working language of ADB. Nonetheless, ADB recognizes the need to communicate more widely and effectively by expanding the extent of information made available in languages other than English used in ADB’s developing member countries.

In March 2007, Management approved a translation framework [ PDF: 94kb | 22 pages ]. In accordance with ADB's commitment to increase shared information under the Public Communications Policy (PCP), the framework complements ADB's communication efforts with external stakeholders in line with its operational needs.

Since the implementation of the framework, ADB has translated a wide variety of awareness-raising documents into the following developing member country languages: Armenian, Azeri, Bahasa Indonesia, Bangla, Chinese, Dari, Fijian, Filipino, French, Georgian, Hindi, Hindustani, Kazakh, Khmer, Kyrgyz, Lao, Marshallese, Mongolian, Nepali, Portuguese, Russian, Sinhala, Tajik,Tamil,Tetum, Thai, Tok Pisin,Tongan, Urdu, Uzbek , and Vietnamese.

What documents are recommended for translation under the translation framework?

• awareness-raising documents, such as country partnership strategies and reviews; information on ADB and its developing member countries; basic policies that help external stakeholders to engage with ADB; and other institutional/strategy documents


• consultation drafts (paragraph 63 of translation framework) when ADB's business processes require consultation with in-country stakeholders


• documents or information pertaining to a complaint handled under ADB's accountability mechanism


• summary information about other programs, such as the Greater Mekong Subregion Program and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program, where the scope of the programs is relevant for those who do not speak English


• information provided to affected people by the project sponsor as committed to under the applicable ADB safeguard instruments on the environment, involuntary resettlement, and indigenous peoples; the accountability mechanism; and PCP paragraph 74


• other project-specific documents (paragraphs 64–67 of translation framework), as deemed essential for meeting ADB’s operational needs

The public may request that a document be translated into a particular language by sending an e-mail to disclosure@adb.org. DER will forward these requests to the appropriate document owners in order for them to consider demand when deciding whether or not to translate.

View ADB's list of translated documents.