Catalog

	Table of Contents
p. 13 of 53 BACK | NEXT Executive Summary Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations by ADF Donors ADF VIII: Requests for Midterm Policy Reviews and Reports I. Introduction II. The International Development Goals III. Poverty in Developing Asia IV. ADB and ADF: Vision and Role A. Poverty Reduction—The ADB’s Vision and Overarching Goal B. The Vision and Role of ADF C. The Role of ADB in the International Community and in the Region V. ADB’S Framework for Poverty Reduction VI. Development through Partnership VII. ADF Resources: Portfolio Management and Performance VIII. The Strategy for Implementing ADF VIII IX. Planned Lending in ADF VIII X. Financing Framework for ADF VIII XI. Issues for Policy Review XII. Midterm Review of ADF VIII

ADF VIII Donor's Report: Fighting Poverty in Asia : IV. ADB and ADF: Vision and Role

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C. The Role of ADB in the International Community and in the Region

16. Donors thus consider that the ADB's responsibility is to serve the interests of the international community by accelerating the process of poverty reduction in the Region and contributing towards the achievement of the IDGs. The main way that ADB does this is by supporting the individual and collective efforts of the DMCs. Donors concluded that ADB’s role has three dimensions: developmental, regional and financial. These three dimensions are complementary and reinforcing.

17. The development dimension is focused on using pro-poor economic growth, social development, and good governance as the three central themes in ADB’s engagement with DMCs in the development process. It is also concerned with mainstreaming cross-cutting issues (e.g. environment, gender, core labor standards, and regional cooperation) in ADB operations, using demonstrated commitment and performance in DMCs as the primary basis for planning operations, and in applying ADB’s experience as a multilateral and regional institution to the development process at the global, regional and national levels. This dimension of ADB’s role also gives special consideration to the needs of small DMCs. 18. The regional dimension is concerned with encouraging DMCs to solve problems jointly. This would in turn instill among them a stronger sense of common understanding and ownership of the Region‘s development process. ADB assists DMCs to identify opportunities and potential benefits of improved cooperation or the real costs of its absence, fostering intra Region trade and investment that is fully consistent with an open multilateral system, translating global perspectives into regional initiatives, and integrating the Region’s perspectives on development into a global framework.

19. The financial dimension of ADB’s role is concerned with the provision of technical assistance and medium to long-term financing for policy and institutional reforms and investment projects in DMCs where the private sector would underinvest. The financial dimension is also concerned with mobilizing other international public resources, as well as catalyzing international and domestic private capital for financing, over time, a greater share of total investment for development in DMCs. This dimension supports the development and regional dimensions of ADB’s role.

20. Donors considered that in implementing its role to accelerate poverty reduction, ADB draws on strengths that equip it uniquely for the task. These include the exclusive focus on Asia and the Pacific; regional location; and majority shareholding of regional members (and hence, greater ownership by them of ADB’s strategic orientation). At the same time, besides providing additional resources, the participation of nonregional members ensures that global perspectives are brought to bear on regional development issues. ADB undertakes grant-financed technical assistance, public sector lending, and private sector operations within a single organization, and can take advantage of the synergies that result. ADB’s regional character gives it a comparative advantage over other development partners in the fields of governance and anticorruption, and in promoting regional cooperation in the fight against poverty. ADB’s response to the Asian financial crisis, in particular measures to mitigate the impacts on the poor, also demonstrate the institution’s ability to effectively address questions of social protection.

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