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p. 5 of 14 BACK | NEXT Preface Emerging Asia: Challenges to Development Regional Development Challenges The Global Context ADB’s Response to the Region’s Challenges The Strategic Agenda Implementing the Strategy Resources for the Strategy Next Steps

The Long-term Strategic Framework of The Asian Development Bank (2001-2015) : Emerging Asia: Challenges to Development

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ADB’s Response to the Region’s Challenges

ADB’s long-term strategy is intended to respond to the challenges of poverty and to help achieve the IDGs in the Asia and Pacific region. There has been progress: several studies⁴ show that advancing the IDGs in the Asia and Pacific region is possible. Far more needs to be done, however, and to do it, significant resources will be required in an increasingly complex global and regional environment (Appendix 2). Large amounts of capital will be needed to address the development problems of the region; efficiency in the use of capital will need to be considerably improved; and the use of capital to further social aspects of the development process—for example, to reduce asset inequality—will be an important measure of success. ADB as the region’s development finance institution will continue to address these development challenges directly. However, given the scale of the challenge, it must also play a key catalytic role, bringing together other partners to help the DMCs address fundamental problems of development and poverty.

More generally, ADB brings unique strengths and skills to the Asian development environment. As the premier development institution in the region, ADB must utilize and build on its strengths to better serve its DMCs (Appendix 3). The institution has a strong Asian character and is perceived to be sensitive to the region’s diverse social and cultural norms. This has allowed it to become a trusted partner with many of its DMCs in helping improve governance structures. ADB has engaged successfully in private sector development; having public and private sector operations within a single institution gives it a unique opportunity to be a broker between the public and private sectors in the DMCs. ADB has demonstrated its ability to help DMCs deal successfully with regional problems and issues through regional cooperation efforts, and to address environmental issues in their planning and implementation of projects.

Headquartered in and focused exclusively on the Asia and Pacific region, ADB includes both regional and nonregional members and is both a multilateral and a regional institution. Being multilateral, it brings global perspectives, experience, and resources into the region. Being anchored in the Asia and Pacific region, ADB has a responsibility to reflect and respond to the region’s particular requirements. ADB thus is in a unique position to link the region’s DMCs to the larger global context, in support of the development process. Many global issues (e.g., the environment, financial stability, economic and social stability) may be most effectively addressed at the regional level, reflecting evolving global norms and experience, but also accommodating key differences within the region to ensure local relevance and ownership. At the same time, ADB can play an especially effective role in communicating the region’s particular development conditions and requirements on the global stage, mobilizing international resources for development and poverty reduction in the region.

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