Publications

Environment Program 2003 - 2007

ADB Environment Program 2003–2007 was prepared as an update of the 2006 report to provide an overview of ADB actions that are promoting environmental sustainability in Asia and the Pacific. The report presents information on relevant projects and technical assistance approved from 2003 to 2007, current initiatives, programs, and partnerships, and links to ADB’s environmental operations guided by the recently approved Strategy 2020.

2007 MIX Asia 100: Ranking of Microfinance Institutions

The Microfinance Information eXchange (MIX) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) present the first set of rankings of Asian microfinance institutions (MFIs) - the 2007 MIX Asia 100. The report draws on year 2006 outreach and financial performance results of 392 MFIs across 23 countries to highlight the achievements of the microfinance industry within the region.

Private Sector Finance: Catalyzing Private Investment in the Asia and Pacific Region

This Publication about ADB's nonsovereign operations explains ADB's approach to catalyzing and strengthening private sector investments in the Asia and Pacific Region.

National Workshop on Participatory Irrigation Management and Integrated Water Resource Management

Over the past few years, large investments in irrigation infrastructure have resulted in substantial irrigation potential, which, however, remains largely underutilized in the absence of effective irrigation management reform initiatives.The Department of Water Resources, Government of Orissa, and the Asian Development Bank organized a National Workshop on Participatory Irrigation Management and Integrated Water Resource Management as part of the design process for the proposed Orissa Integrated Irrigated Agriculture and Water Management Project. The objective of the workshop was to share experiences from around the country regarding major issues in water management.

Consulting Services Operations Manual

In April 2006, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) issued a revised edition of its Guidelines on the Use of Consultants by Asian Development Bank and Its Borrowers, (the Guidelines), incorporating significant changes resulting from the harmonization of policies and procedures with those of the World Bank.

While the Guidelines set basic policies and procedures, further guidance on using consultants is provided to ADB staff through the project administration instructions (which are updated periodically). A third reference, which provides information on practices and procedures in even greater detail and to a wider audience, has been the Handbook for Users of Consulting Services (the Handbook). The last edition of the Handbook was produced in 2002. Thus, when the new Guidelines were issued, a substantial amount of updating was needed, both because of the changes to the Guidelines themselves and because of incremental changes in policies, practices, and procedures over the years.

In considering the type of document needed to replace the Handbook, it was decided to aim at a broader utilization and a wider audience than the Handbook had served, and to produce a publication that could be used for training purposes as well as a reference. It was thus decided to produce a somewhat different document with a more practical and pragmatic focus that would be aimed at all users and providers of consulting services for ADB. This current Consulting Services Operation Manual (the Manual) is the product of that decision.