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The Public Communications Policy of the Asian Development Bank: Disclosure and Exchange of Information

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II. Public Communications and Development Effectiveness

9. Effective external relations (Box 1) that aim to make ADB more widely known, understood, and respected, will support ADB's development effectiveness in a number of areas. ADB's shareholders need to be reassured that it is playing an effective role in development and that its role is recognized by academics, civil society, and the media, all of which influence the broader public in their countries. In developing member countries, there will be more support for policies and practices advocated by ADB if they are better understood by development specialists, media, and civil society.

10. In donor countries, there is growing competition for scarce funds in official development assistance budgets, and governments must weigh the benefits of allocating resources to their bilateral programs, to global multilateral institutions, and to regional bodies like ADB. Officials of finance and aid ministries and political leaders need reassurance not only that their taxpayers' money is being effectively spent, but that the public perceives this to be the case.

11. There are other reasons for assigning importance to effective external relations. Greater understanding of, and respect for, the organization will promote partnerships with opinion leaders in donor and developing member countries. Among other benefits, this will help attract and retain high-quality ADB staff. More proactive communications with affected people will improve the quality of project design and implementation.

12. The proactive disclosure of information is a prerequisite for effective communication, and for building productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Without the provision of timely, relevant, accessible information, the effectiveness of consultations with communities in which projects are undertaken will be seriously reduced. Information will allow affected people to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of a project properly and to contribute more effectively to discussions on design and implementation. This process will ultimately lead to better and more sustainable projects.

13. Transparency is an important element of economic growth,⁸ financial stability, and effective governance. The greater transparency provided by increasing access to information will strengthen integrity in public institutions and private organizations.

14. Finally, there is a moral argument for the disclosure of information by public institutions. Many ADB members now consider government-held information to be public, either through right-to-information laws or through constitutional provisions. As a public institution, ADB should be publicly accountable. Accountability cannot be achieved without availability of information.

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