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ADB Approves New Policy on Access to Information

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (22 April 2005) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today approved a new Public Communications Policy that gives the public greater access to the documents it produces and commits the bank to greater openness and dialogue with stakeholders.

Under the policy, which becomes effective on 1 September, ADB will make all documents it produces available unless they meet certain exception criteria.

The information and documents that the public will have easy access to include:

• Decisions by ADB's Board of Directors
• Core administrative documents, such as the institution's budget
• Project information at early stages, to enable more involvement of local people
• Project monitoring and evaluation information.

"This new policy puts ADB at the forefront among the multilateral development banks regarding transparency and access to information" says ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda.

"It is a major step towards improving awareness and understanding of ADB and the development challenges facing the region, giving the public a clear and balanced picture of our work, results, and achievements. At the grassroots level, ADB will explain project aims and receive the advice of local people affected by projects."

Under the policy, ADB will proactively share knowledge and information about its work with stakeholders and the public at large, expanding opportunities for those affected by ADB operations to be informed about, and influence, the decisions that affect their lives.

The policy commits ADB staff to ensuring that project affected people receive regular information on projects in an appropriate language and medium and have a way to provide feedback to project authorities.

Instead of reacting to requests, ADB will review each document it produces and proactively post it on its web site. Documents will be disclosed unless there are compelling reasons for confidentiality.

ADB also recognizes the great importance of country ownership of the activities it supports in development member countries, and respects the views of its member countries in implementing the policy.

In an effort to improve performance by learning from experience, ADB will report failures and disappointments as well as successes. This will encourage debate and dialogue of its policies and operations.

"As a public institution, ADB must be publicly accountable," Mr. Kuroda says. "By enabling the public to better understand, be engaged with, and monitor ADB's work, our ability to achieve greater development effectiveness will be enhanced."

In designing the strategy, ADB sought the views of a wide range of stakeholders. Drafts of the policy were posted on the web for comments and ADB staff met with representatives of government, the private sector, academia, nongovernment organizations, and other interested parties in workshops held around the world.

The Asian Development Bank is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 63 members, with 45 from the region.

More at adb.org/media

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