Closing address at the ADF IX Donors' Meeting
By
Tadao Chino
President
Asian Development Bank
Copenhagen, Denmark
10 October 2003
Under Secretary of State Moseby,
Madame Chair,
Vice Chair,
Distinguished Delegates,
Members of the Board of Directors,
Colleagues:
I am pleased I came to Copenhagen. I came here to share with you progress in ADF VIII, to inform you of my initiatives for building on that progress, and more importantly, to listen carefully to your ideas for strengthening ADB, and for planning the ADF IX negotiations.
I have listened carefully to your central message that ADB must become a more effective development organization and partner, and that performance on poverty reduction in ADF borrowers must be improved and sustained. I agree with you. I also agree with you that to achieve this, ADB must focus on full and accelerated implementation of existing policies and strategies, and manage better its existing portfolio to get the best results. I also accept that ADB must demonstrate more clearly how it allocates scarce ADF resources on the basis of demonstrated performance, as well as need.
Many of you have also recognized that ADB's development effectiveness requires adequate resources: resources to strengthen the ADB's capacity to deliver high-quality programs, as well as resources to finance those programs, which are essential for achieving the MDGs in the Asia Pacific region.
I have noted your strong support for my commitments for further review of organizational change, for translating approved policies into operational mandates, for critical reviews of some key policies and strategies, for reforming ADB's human resource management, and for building a more integrated and effective Management Team. Regarding ADB's human resource management, I am committed to preparing and putting into place a new human resource strategy in ADB. Such a strategy should be centered on a performance management system and practices. These should clearly define responsibilities and accountability at all levels. It should recognize and reward performance.
Taken together, these initiatives will contribute toward our shared goal of ADB realizing its full potential as an effective development partner. I intend to lead these initiatives, and to have them undertaken in a resolute, coherent, and timely manner. I will work with the Vice Presidents to expedite them. At your next meeting in December, I will provide you with a report on the status of each initiative, and with a more comprehensive report at your meeting in March 2004.
I have noted your strategic interest in ADB using its comparative strengths to further promote and support good governance, economic cooperation, private sector development, and gender equality. We will contribute to these strategic objectives, and in partnership with others.
I have also noted your recognition and continuing endorsement of ADB's central role in addressing post-conflict needs in the region. We will continue this valuable and necessary work. But let me also reiterate, that in order to meet urgent needs for post-conflict assistance in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, ADB has had to reallocate ADF VIII resources away from legitimate needs in other ADF borrowers. This risks slowing down their progress towards achieving the MDGs. Therefore, ADF IX needs your strengthened support.
Much has been achieved during these two days. There have been valuable suggestions for improving the ADF IX work program, and for the issues and topics donors plan to discuss in the negotiations. I fully support your ideas for making the ADF IX process more inclusive by involving ADF-borrowing DMCs and civil society. And, in coordination with the Chair and Vice Chair, I will ensure that the ADF IX Secretariat continues to provide you with the necessary support to facilitate your deliberations. I am committed to working with you towards a successful ADF IX replenishment.
I would like to thank each and every delegate for your valuable comments and suggestions, and for guidance to the Chair and ADF Secretariat.
I would also like to thank my colleagues on the Board for joining us in Copenhagen, and I look forward to further discussions with you after we return to Manila.
I thank the Chair and Vice Chair for their hard work and the manner in which they have presided over the sessions.
Finally, a special thanks to the Government of Denmark for their fine hospitality and support during our stay in Copenhagen.
With that, I wish you all a pleasant and safe journey home. I look forward to seeing you again in Japan, in December.
Thank you, and good-bye.
News and Events 
Top of page
