ADB Backs Formal Regional Network to Share Knowledge on Poverty Reduction

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a project to support a regional network of research institutions and policy makers in Asia and the Pacific to share knowledge on poverty reduction and inclusive growth.

The three-year technical assistance, Regional Knowledge and Partnership Networks for Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Growth, will enable quick and cost-effective dissemination of policy briefs, working papers and poverty studies and inclusive growth. This will be promoted by using websites, e-newsletters, virtual seminars, and other technology.

The Asia and Pacific region has made remarkable strides over the past decade in sharply reducing levels of extreme poverty. But recent studies suggest that the scale of poverty is larger than previously estimated, while new threats loom in the form of climate change and global surges in the price of food and other commodities. Swapping information on poverty has been hampered by a lack of available material in readily shareable form, as well as limited, or inadequate, channels for exchanging it.

“The poverty network will enhance regional knowledge sharing on poverty reduction and inclusive growth in Asia and Pacific. We hope to work closer with regional bodies such as the ASEAN Secretariat and raise relevant poverty and inclusive growth discussions back to back with high-level meetings,” said Armin Bauer, the coordinator for the project.

The costs of the regional assistance are equally financed on a grant basis by the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund, and the People’s Republic of China Regional Cooperation and Poverty Reduction Fund. The project will also be parallel financed through an additional grant of the ASEAN Foundation for poverty discussion in the ASEAN region.

The project aims to link with other regional knowledge networks on poverty such as the Poverty Analysis and Development Initiative (PADI).

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