Nongovernment Organizations and Civil Society

How Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Can Work with ADB

ADB has a strong record of collaboration with ADB. However, ADB does not allocate any funds exclusively to NGOs, but instead to its client governments. Therefore, civil society organizations in a developing member country wishing to work with ADB should familiarize themselves with the Country Partnership Strategy of the country where they are working and identify if there are contributions that the organization can make to ADB's work. ADB seeks to work with organizations with expertise relevant to ADB's work.

Consulting assignments

ADB employs consultants regularly in a wide range of positions. Consultants may be individuals or organizations, including NGOs. NGOs can lend skills and experience to plan, implement and evaluate projects. Therefore, if ADB is funding a project in the geographical area and sector where your organization has expertise, please register in the ADB consultant's database and monitor new opportunities as they are posted.

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Partnerships

ADB lends to governments of its member states, so the most direct way is to partner with an ADB recipient government of the country where your organization operates in a sector addressed in the joint ADB-host nation Country Strategy Partnership. ADB funds projects as well as technical assistance, and both often involve civil society support. NGOs can represent marginalized groups and communities and NGO projects can serve as models for similar programs that will have a wider scope. Often partnerships are established at the project design phase, not during the project. Although it may seem challenging for an NGO to work with optimally with the government, approximately 75% of ADB's loans to governments include some level of civil society participation. ADB engages in a variety of partnerships with a range of development actors. Learn more about ADB and partnerships.

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Consultation, feedback, meetings

ADB regularly seeks comment from civil society on its country strategy partnerships, policies, and strategies. NGOs can provide alternative perspectives on development issues. Monitor the ADB website and post comments or look to join upcoming consultative meetings in your country. An easy way to do so is to register on the E-mail Notification Service on the ADB home page to receive new postings that match your organization's interests. Upcoming consultative events are posted on the NGOC website under News and Events. ADB also encourages NGOs to be a voice for people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects to voice and seek solutions to their problems and also report alleged violations of ADB's operational policies and procedures. Learn more about ADB how ADB seeks advice from CSOs.

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ADB Annual Meetings

By attending the ADB Annual Meeting, CSOs can engage with ADB on a variety of issues, contribute to policy discussions, and network with many other CSO participants from across the region. ADB welcomes the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) including NGOs, labor unions, foundations, professional associations, and other nonprofit organizations. CSOs attending for the first time are required to go through an accreditation process that is coordinated by ADB's NGO and Civil Society Center (NGOC). View information on the accreditation and registration process. Please note that the accreditation process is only open from January-April of each year, however.

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Country coordination and sector meetings

Other collaboration develops on the ground when ADB and another organization are working in the same sector and/or geographical area. In country coordination and sector meetings are opportunities to get to work together and build relationships. Find contact details for NGO coordination bodies in your country.

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Applications to sector funds

From time to time, different sector funds are open to NGO applications. The NGOC does not monitor or operate these funds, but all of the relevant information is available on the websites of each topics. Sectors who have, in the past, had funds available to NGOs include water, gender, and climate change. Again, the E-mail notification service is a useful way to monitor new postings that may be applicable to your organization. ADB also provides links to other funding sources.

Questions about how your CSO can work with ADB? Email us at ngocoordinator@adb.org.