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| Spotlight: ADB’s Water Strategy |
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New Water Financing Program 2006-2010
A new Water Financing Program (WFP) confirms water as a core investment area for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In the next five years, ADB plans to increase its investments in the water sector to US$ 2 billion annually.
Launched at the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico, the WFP builds on the first five years of implementing ADB's Water for All policy. It includes a large program of water investments, knowledge and awareness products, and regional cooperation services. It will focus on combining increased investments in water infrastructure with capacity building and private sector participation.
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Asia Water Watch 2015: Achievements and Challenges
Great progress has been made in Asia-Pacific countries for urban water supply, but much remains to be done if the water-related Millennium Development Goal is to be met, particularly in rural areas and for sanitation. Read more details in the new report "Asia Water Watch 2015" published by ADB, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
ADB to Help Improve Access to Water Supply and Sanitation in Bangladesh
ADB will help provide sustainable access to improved and safe water supply and sanitation services to about 1.6 million people in 16 towns in Bangladesh through a US$ 41 million loan. The loan will support the $ 71 million Secondary Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector project, which will help to meet poverty reduction targets.
Other ADB Resources on Water
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| News |
ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda |
ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda Re-elected to 5-Year Term
On 3 October 2006, ADB Board of Governors has unanimously re-elected President Haruhiko Kuroda to a 5-year term. Mr. Kuroda was first elected President of ADB in November 2004 and assumed office on 1 February 2005. Mr. Kuroda's new five years term starts on 24 November 2006. |
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New Vice-President for Knowledgement Manage-ment and Sustainable Development Took Office
Ms. Ursula Schäfer-Preuss assumed office as ADB Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development (VPKM) on 6 November.
Prior to her appointment at ADB, Ms Schäfer-Preuss was Director General at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Germany.
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Ms Schäfer-Preuss arriving at Manila airport with ADB Assistant Secretary Roger Burston (left) and Mr. Preuss. |
ADB Launched US $10 Billion Asian Currency Note Program
On 14 September 2006, ADB launched a US$ 10 billion Asian Currency Note Program that will serve as the first regional platform dedicated to bond issues in Asian regional currencies. The program is Asia's first multi-currency bond platform since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. |
New Country and Regional Strategies and Programs
To better respond to changing needs, ADB developed new Country Strategies and Programs (CSPs) in close cooperation with the People's Republic of China, Viet Nam, Indonesia, and the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion.
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| Aid Effectiveness |
ADB's Work on the Pakistan Earthquake - One Year On
The 8 October 2005 earthquake that hit the northern areas of Pakistan was the most devastating in the nation's history. One year on, aid effectiveness has been greatly enhanced by the resilience of affected communities and the response by people worldwide to appeals for help. Supported by ADB's Pakistan Earthquake Fund and other international aid, funding and technical assistance have been secured, reconstruction has started, and all stakeholders are firmly committed to the long haul recovery process.
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New Measures to Help Aid Reach Poorest Discussed in Manila
On 18-20 October, ADB hosted a major regional forum on aid effectiveness in Asia in cooperation with the World Bank, the Government of Japan, and the UK Department for International Development (DFID). One of the main lessons emerging from case studies is that aid, including disaster response, is more effective when based on national development strategies involving communities, local governments, and civil society organizations at the various stages of the development aid process.
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Results-based Country Strategies and Programs Improve Aid Effectiveness
ADB has improved the development impact of its assistance through results-based Country Strategies and Programs (RB-CSP). A stocktaking report of the first seven RB-CSPs has been published by ADB last August as part of its Managing for Development Results initiative to implement the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.
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| Cofinancing and Partnerships |
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Denmark Establishes Second Fund for Renewable Energy in ADB
The Government of Denmark has made an initial grant contribution of DKr 20 million (about US$ 3.4 million) to establish the "Second Danish Cooperation Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Rural Areas". The fund will aim at increasing the use of renewable energy in ADB's developing member countries.
Multi-Donor Program for Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam
Despite rapid economic progress in Viet Nam, important structural reforms and social challenges remain. To help address them, ADB has approved a US$ 15 million Poverty Reduction Support Credit. In addition, the program includes concessional loans from the World Bank (US$ 100 million), Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and Germany (€ 6 million), and grants from Europe including the European Commission (€ 10 million), Denmark (DKr 61 million), Ireland (€ 3 million), the Netherlands (€ 9 to 14 million), Spain (€ 3 million), and the United Kingdom (£ 20 million).
Luxembourg Raises Stake in Financial Sector Development Partnership Fund
The Government of Luxembourg is making an additional contribution of € 249,000 to its Financial Sector Development Partnership Fund established with ADB last August. The multi-donor fund is financing stand-alone projects, including technical assistance, and components of investment projects to improve the financial sector in selected Asian countries.
Norway Swaps US$ 20 Million Debt for Pakistan Earthquake Fund
Norway has made a US$ 20 million contribution to ADB's Pakistan Earthquake Fund last August through an innovative debt-for-development swap. The initiative means that US$ 20 million worth of outstanding loan repayment obligations from Pakistan to Norway will be converted into a grant to be administered by ADB. Instead of merely cancelling bilateral debt, the swap ensures that the funds are redirected toward poverty reduction initiatives.
ADB and KfW Promote Cross-Border Securitization Market in Kazakhstan
ADB provided a credit guarantee for US$ 100 million to help develop Kazakhstan's securitization market and enhance financing to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country. Half of this guarantee will be reinsured by KfW Bankengruppe from Germany, which finances investments and accompanying consulting services in developing countries on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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| Sustainable Development |
Bindu Lohani, Director General of ADB’s Regional and Sustainable Development Department, and Wu Zongxin, Director for Energy, Environment, Economic Institute at Tsinghua University, shaking hands after signing ceremony.
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ADB Establishes Climate Change Knowledge Hub at University in Beijing
ADB is partnering with Tsinghua University in establishing a regional knowledge hub on climate change, under an agreement signed in Beijing. The launch took place on the sidelines of the opening day of the Carbon Expo Asia, an ADB-supported trade fair and conference. ADB is committed to setting up centers of excellence in the region to strengthen research and disseminate new and emerging concepts and technologies. |
Independent Assessment of ADB Safeguards on Involuntary Resettlement
An independent evaluation from the Bank's Operations Evaluation Department (OED) has rated the ADB Policy on Involuntary Resettlement as effective in terms of potential impact on people affected by infrastructure projects. Further progress, however, is expected to fully implement the policy across projects and countries.
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Evaluation Calls for Greater Flexibility in ADB Environment Policy
Another OED evaluation of ADB's Environment Policy concluded that it should allow for greater flexibility. The report says that while principles and objectives of the policy remain valid, ADB must adapt environmental safeguards to the needs and challenges in each developing member country.
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| Resources |
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2006 Asian Development Outlook Update
Developing Asia and the Pacific is set to record another good year in 2006, according to the September Update of ADB’s flagship publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO). In spite of higher oil prices, soaring costs of commodity imports, and rising interest rates, economic growth in the region is projected to be 7.7 %, up from 7.6 % in 2005. Prospects for 2007 remain robust. |
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South Asia Economic Report
This issue of the South Asia Economic Report (SAER) is the first in a series of ADB biannual reports on economic and development trends in South Asia. The report discusses recent economic performance and prospects with a special focus on banking, governance, and investment climate. Brief country write-ups are also included. |
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MDGs: Progress in Asia and the Pacific
This report highlights the region's achievements towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Asia and the Pacific and deals with issues on which much remains to be done. The report by ADB, World Bank and UN-ESCAP provides estimates of populations affected by social and economic poverty in the region and compares them to Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Beyond Microfinance: Building Inclusive Rural Financial Markets in Central Asia
This ADB publication concentrates on rural finance development in countries about which little information on the subject exists. It is also an attempt to focus on rural financial market development issues and potential that have been overshadowed by the overwhelming interest in microfinance during the last two decades.
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Recent ADB Management Speeches
- President Haruhiko Kuroda, From Vision to Action: CAREC as a Catalyst and Facilitator
- President Haruhiko Kuroda, Message for the International Day for Eradication of Poverty
- President Haruhiko Kuroda, Doubling Water Financing and Results
- President Haruhiko Kuroda, Private Finance for Infrastructure Development: Experiences and Prospects in Asia
- VP C. Lawrence Greenwood Jr., Infrastructure Development in Indonesia: Moving Forward
- VP Liqun Jin, Global Asia: Changing Realities, New Priorities
- VP Khempheng Pholsena, speech at 2006 Asian Regional Forum on Aid Effectiveness: Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation
- VP Liqun Jin, speech at Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Business Development Forum
For additional speeches, please visit the Speeches Section on ADB Website.
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Contact
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
European Representative Office
Rahmhofstrasse 2
60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Telephone: (+49-69) 219 364-00
E-mail: adbero@adb.org
Philippe B. Bénédic, Resident Director General, pbenedic@adb.org
Sophia S. Y. Ho, Deputy Resident Director, ssyho@adb.org
Axel Klein, External Relations Officer, aklein@adb.org
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