Managing for Development Results Central to Global Development Agenda, ADB President Tells Bangkok Forum

BANGKOK, THAILAND (20 October 2004) - Managing for development results is central to the global development agenda and an integral part of development effectiveness, ADB President Tadao Chino told the opening of a regional workshop in Bangkok yesterday.

"All of us, as development partners, need to be fully accountable to our respective constituencies for achieving results," Mr. Chino said in his speech to the Bangkok Regional Workshop on Harmonization, Alignment and Managing for Development Results.

"We need to be accountable to our member countries for demonstrating that we are being effective in fighting poverty. And ... many of you, as Government officials, also need to be equally accountable to the constituencies in your respective countries."

Representatives from 14 developing countries are attending the two-day workshop to share their perspectives in preparation for the Second High-Level Forum on Harmonization and Alignment to be held in Paris in March 2005.

"It is important for the countries of Asia and Pacific to be well prepared, and to make substantive contributions to the Forum in Paris," Mr. Chino said.

"This regional workshop in Bangkok, in particular, is designed to reflect the unique experience of Asia and Pacific, and will provide an opportunity for each of you to learn from each other's experience, and to identify best practices for harmonization and alignment."

The workshop is hosted by the Government of Thailand and sponsored by ADB and the Government of Japan. Participants also include representatives of civil society and donor agencies.

On the agenda are such topics as capacity development, sector approaches, national level initiatives for achieving management for development results, harmonization and alignment of business process, and post-conflict situations.

"The outputs here will provide essential guidance for participants in Paris as they seek to expand and solidify the harmonization and alignment agenda," Mr. Chino said.

Read his full speech.

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