ADF X Donors' Meeting
Closing Remarks by
Haruhiko Kuroda
President, Asian Development Bank
2 May 2008
Madrid, Spain
Introduction
Secretary of State of Economy, Mr. David Vegara; Mr. Chairman; distinguished delegates; members of the Board of Directors; and colleagues at ADB:
This is indeed an occasion to celebrate. Your collective contribution brings the ADF X program to the level of approximately US$11.3 billion-a significant increase over the previous replenishment. More importantly, it will allow our ADF countries to make substantial progress toward meeting their targets under the Millennium Development Goals.
The rich debates we have held throughout these negotiations reflect a strong commitment by each of you to make ADB a more relevant and trusted development partner for the poorer countries in the Asia and Pacific region. We fully share that commitment, and look forward to effectively implementing the ADF X program in the years ahead.
Moving Forward
Beginning now, my Management team and I will focus on ensuring that we deliver on our commitments and your expectations from us under ADF X.
We will ensure that our country and sub-regional programs are focused on the priorities we have agreed upon. This process has already begun and we are well placed to start implementing the program beginning in 2009.
We will reinforce management of the ADF program through our improved results management system, supported by the results framework, and report on development effectiveness. With strong leadership by Management and the active involvement of senior staff, we will manage the necessary institutional arrangements-including changes in staff incentives-to accelerate integration of the managing for development results (MfDR) agenda across the organization.
We will continue to implement reforms to make our institution more effective. We will further streamline our business processes and continue to foster partnerships in line with Paris Declaration commitments. Based on the ongoing review, we will further strengthen the independence and effectiveness of our operations evaluations function. We will further strengthen management of our most important asset, our people, based on the comprehensive review of our human resource strategy.
I recognize that you have shown enormous generosity toward supporting this replenishment, enabling us to scale up ADF operations in this critical period. I also recognize that this will require building ADB's institutional capacity to ensure effective delivery of the expanded ADF X program. We will assess the resource implications for implementing the ADF X program successfully as part of the annual budgetary process and in the broader context of the LTSF.
While our negotiations have been concluded, our dialogue must continue. In addition to the mid-term review, we will report to you annually our progress on ADF through the new development effectiveness reviews. You have also proposed to meet annually on the sidelines of ADB's Annual Meeting. I welcome your proposal and look forward to fruitful discussions on progress and issues that may emerge.
Conclusion
Earlier, I said that this is indeed an occasion to celebrate-but it is in fact, a beginning. The true celebration will be when we are able to demonstrate the value of ADF resources in improving the lives of millions of poor people and reducing poverty in the Asia and the Pacific region.
Let me close by thanking the Chair for effectively managing the negotiations; Spain for hosting this session; and Australia, Laos PDR, and the Philippines for hosting earlier sessions of the ADF X negotiations.
Above all, I thank each and every one of our donors for your strong support of ADB and the Asian Development Fund. Your contributions will bring better opportunities-and most importantly, hope for a brighter future-to the women, children and men of Asia's poorest developing countries.
Thank you, and have a safe and pleasant trip home.
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