Policy and Strategy Overview
Strategy 2020 sets a strategic direction for ADB with a clearer focus on poverty reduction through inclusive growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Its implementation is a challenge requiring substantial resources, knowledge, and expertise. In May, ADB concluded the ninth replenishment of the Asian Development Fund and started discussion on a general capital increase. In September, ADB became the first multilateral development bank to adopt a corporatewide results framework with specific performance indicators and targets. The framework will serve as a key management tool to monitor ADB's performance in realizing its vision of a region free of poverty by 2020.
Long-Term Strategic Directions
Strategy 2020
On 7 April, ADB adopted a new long-term strategic framework for 2008-2020. Known as Strategy 2020, the framework is based on a thorough examination of the region's challenges, a comprehensive review of ADB's past and ongoing operations, and extensive stakeholder consultations. Strategy 2020 reaffirms both ADB's vision of an Asia and Pacific free of poverty and ADB's mission to help developing member countries reduce poverty and improve living conditions and quality of life. It also lays out clear directions for planning ADB's operations and its organization and business processes to 2020.
To achieve its mission, ADB will focus on three strategic agendas: inclusive growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. ADB operations will emphasize five key drivers of change: private sector development and operations, good governance and capacity development, gender equity, knowledge solutions, and partnerships.
Strategy 2020 recognizes that ADB cannot and will not attempt to meet all needs of all developing member countries. To maximize results, efficiency, and impact, ADB will focus its financial and institutional resources in five core areas that best support its agenda, reflect developing member countries' needs and ADB's strengths, and complement the efforts of development partners. These five core operational areas are infrastructure; environment, including climate change; regional cooperation and integration; finance sector development; and education. In other areas, ADB will continue operations selectively and in close partnership with other agencies.
Approved in October, ADB's work program and budget framework for 2009-2011 outlines how ADB will align its operations, organization, and resources with Strategy 2020 over the medium term. Alignment of 80% of ADB operations with the five core operational areas will be achieved by 2011. Strategy 2020 also sets specific operational and institutional goals, which have been incorporated into ADB's corporate-wide results framework, which was formally adopted in September (Toward Greater Institutional and Development Effectiveness, ADB Results Framework, page 18).
Streamlining and Realigning ADB's Policies and Strategies
In tandem with refocusing its operations, ADB will promote greater coherence across its entire operational policy framework by streamlining its policies and strategies. A comprehensive inventory of all existing strategies and policies has begun, starting with the review of policies and strategies with substantive implications for achieving Strategy 2020's operational goals. Depending on the degree to which they are relevant to Strategy 2020, ADB's policies and strategies will be revised, consolidated, or retired. This will enhance ADB's operational efficiency, improve client responsiveness, and optimize the use of institutional resources, resulting in greater development impact.
|
ADB will pursue its vision of an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty through three strategic agendas: inclusive growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration
|
Top of page