National Poverty Reduction Strategies Fund

On the Highway to Prosperity

Infrastructure is often seen, from a macro-perspective, as being vital to a nation's economic growth. But in terms of maximizing poverty reduction impacts and enhancing direct benefits to the poor, construction and maintenance of infrastructure alone are not enough.

In the Spotlight and Features Sections of this issue of Poverty Matters, we look at how infrastructure investments can be made pro-poor: by making sure that infrastructure and its services are accessible and affordable by the poor.

INTERVIEW:
Monawar Sultana, an ADB Social Development Specialist working in the Infrastructure Division of ADB’s Southeast Asia Department, explains what it takes to make sure that infrastructure projects serve the poor better. Read the full interview [ PDF: 446kb | 3 pages ].

Increasing Livelihood Opportunities through Road Projects [ PDF: 195kb | 2 pages ]
A technical assistance (TA) grant complemented the ADB-funded Road Network Development Project in Nepal by helping the Government enhance the poverty reduction impact of its road projects. Read the stories of people the project has helped.

Raising People’s Awareness of Human Trafficking Risks in Projects Improving Connectivity [ PDF: 86kb | 2 pages ]
A PRF-financed regional TA in the Greater Mekong Subregion identified the links between infrastructure development and the increasing vulnerability among ethnic minorities to risks of unsafe migration and human trafficking, among others.

Poverty Reduction in Forestry Conservation Programs in the PRC [ PDF: 105kb | 3 pages ]
Emerging evidence over the past few years pointed out some negative impacts of environmentally-successful forestry programs on the livelihoods of the poor in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). A TA grant helped the Government conduct an in-depth and comprehensive assessment of this problem in Shaanxi, Sichuan, Jiangxi, and Hebei. In doing so, the TA provided a venue for stakeholders to voice out their views and opinions.

Poverty Reduction in Grassland Improvement Programs in the PRC [ PDF: 101kb | 3 pages ]
Worsening degradation and desertification of grasslands is seriously affecting the welfare and livelihoods of nearly a quarter of the population of the PRC. A TA grant helped develop a policy framework for sustainable grassland improvement programs, which not only results in positive environmental impacts, but also protects the welfare of affected communities.

Developing the Law for Gender Equality in Viet Nam [ PDF: 87kb | 3 pages ]
Though Viet Nam’s gender equality indicators fare relatively well within the region, women work longer for less, have less decision-making power in public spheres, and are exposed to risks of gender-based violence and discrimination. A TA grant supported the Government of Viet Nam in its resolution to draw up a law on gender equality.

NGO–Government Partnerships in Village-Level Poverty Alleviation in the PRC [ PDF: 80kb | 3 pages ]
To help sustain poverty reduction efforts in the PRC, a TA supported the very first government project to involve nongovernment organizations (NGOs) in poverty reduction at the grassroots level. In its midway, the project already demonstrates quite clearly that governments and NGOs can work together, and that relationships of trust can be developed.

Promoting Ownership of and Demand for Effective Waste Management in the RMI [ PDF: 80kb | 2 pages ]
With more than 2,000 small, low-lying islands, the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) has a very fragile ecosystem. Extremely high population growth rates, however, have resulted in serious waste disposal and pollution problems, exacerbated by ineffective urban solid waste programs. A TA grant helped provide a participatory, community-owned, sustainable solution to the problem.

Formulating a Country-Based Social Protection Index for Monitoring Vulnerability [ PDF: 85kb | 3 pages ]
Social protection is generally considered an essential element of pro-poor and inclusive growth, but its definition significantly varies across countries, making the cross-country comparison difficult. A TA grant supported a pilot project to develop a social protection index that could be used to improve information, measure progress, and compare countries' efforts in social protection.

Improving Knowledge of Remittance Flows in Central Asia and South Caucasus [ PDF: 121kb | 3 pages ]
The economic power of migrant remittances, as a source of capital and support, is affecting millions of households around the world, including those in Central Asia and South Caucasus. A regional TA aimed to understand remittance flows and their impact, both on imed to understand remittance flows and their impact, both on financial sector development and on poverty in individual countries, and in the region as a whole.

Forum on Inclusive Growth and Poverty Reduction in the New Asia and Pacific
Over 100 international experts gathered in Manila last 8-9 October to discuss how inclusive growth and poverty reduction efforts can be made more effective for the new Asia and Pacific. The forum recommended that ADB should move away from supporting traditional sectors in favor of inclusive growth to meet the new challenges facing the region. Read the opening remarks by Vice President Ursula Schaefer-Preuss and watch her video interview. Read the keynote presentation [ PDF: 418kb | 23 pages ] by Harvard University’s Michael Walton (pictured above), the conference highlights [ PDF: 170kb | 11 pages ], and summary recommendations [ PDF: 168kb | 6 pages ]. The conference was supported by a PRF-finance regional technical assistance.

Joint MDG 2007 Report Released at Poverty Forum
“The Millennium Development Goals: Progress in Asia and the Pacific 2007” [ PDF: 2,795kb | 65 pages ] says that the Asia and Pacific region as a whole is forging ahead on many of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but there is uneven progress within countries and many of the less developed economies need global support to plug some of their key development gaps. The MDG 2007 report was produced through a regional partnership among ADB, United Nations Development Programme, and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Showcasing NPRS and PRF Experience
Session 6 of the aforementioned Poverty Forum highlighted outcomes and lessons learned of NPRS and PRF poverty funds, showcasing the five NPRS-PRF case studies:

• Pacific poverty reduction strategies [ PDF: 73kb | 2 pages ]
• Study on cross-border poverty reduction impact of regional economic integration in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) [ PDF: 87kb | 2 pages ]
• Maximizing poverty reduction impact through area-wide road network development methodology in PRC [ PDF: 65kb | 2 pages ]
• Targeting ethnic minorities in communicating risks of HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, and drug use in the GMS [ PDF: 95kb | 3 pages ]
• Poverty reduction and natural resource management in the Tonle Sap Initiatives in Cambodia. [ PDF: 74kb | 3 pages ]

Poverty Purchasing Power Parity Results Review Workshop
The workshop, held last 4-8 October at ADB Headquarters, discussed the methodology for computing poverty purchasing power parity (PPP) and reviewed preliminary poverty PPP results (released in July 2007). Discussions concentrated on the review and validation of Poverty-PPP estimates using two approaches: one derived using the International Comparison Program (ICP) Poverty Advisory Group methodology utilizing ICP Regional Basic Headings PPPs; and the other, PPPs derived from Poverty Price Survey data. Both estimates used household expenditure weights for the poor from household expenditure surveys.

International Conference: Optimizing ICT for Education, Sharing Practical Experiences from the Asia and Pacific Region
The conference, held last 16-18 October at ADB Headquarters, facilitated the sharing of comprehensive and current information and communications technology practices for education issues. Delegates from developing member countries and a number of private sector stakeholders participated. The conference was supported by a PRF-finance regional technical assistance.

Upcoming Events

South Asia Regional Forum on Mainstreaming Managing for Development Results (13-14 November, Bangkok, Thailand)
The forum aims to facilitate a process where donors, government officials, consultants, and other stakeholders work together towards a new view of mainstreaming Managing for Development Results (MfDR) in partner countries, in which MfDR is seen as a component of larger public sector reforms. The project is co-funded by PRF.

Results of Pilot Projects under RETA 6296: Developing Pro-Poor Governance Capability and Knowledge (13-14 November, Manila, Philippines)
The presentation of results of the citizen report cards and continuous improvement and benchmarking pilot projects under the regional TA will be presented during the Network of Asia-Pacific Schools and Institutes of Public Administration and Governance Annual Conference in November.

Final Regional Conference for RETA 6248: Legal Empowerment for Women and Disadvantaged Groups (13-14 December, ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines)
The conference will mark the completion of a three-country technical assistance project that has been carried out through the Asia Foundation in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan. It will involve presentations and discussions by the ADB-Asia Foundation project team, their partner government and grassroots organizations, and legal empowerment experts from the region.

Urban Development Housing Project in Mongolia Reports
Reports produced under the TA and the resulting loan are available online.

Technical Assistance Completion Reports available online:

• Strengthening Capacities for Poverty Monitoring and Evaluation in Bangladesh [ PDF: 38kb | 3 pages ]
• Promoting Pro-Poor and Gender Responsive Service Delivery Project [ PDF: 34kb | 2 pages ]
• Community Information Services for the Poor in Sri Lanka [ PDF: 19kb | 2 pages ]
• Sri Lanka Post-Tsunami Needs Assessment and Preparation for Emergency Assistance Implementation Strategies [ PDF: 50kb | 3 pages ]
• Transport Services Networks for the Poor in Viet Nam [ PDF: 28kb | 2 pages ]
• Developing Tools for Assessing the Effectiveness of ADB Operations in Reducing Poverty [ PDF: 85kb | 3 pages ]

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