Reform Agenda

Public Communications Policy

The public communications policy (2005) established a framework for proactive communications with all ADB stakeholders. Through more proactive communications, ADB envisages building strong partnerships with stakeholders. The policy guides ADB toward improved disclosure of information and external relations.

The new disclosure requirements provide ADB stakeholders with much better access to ADB information. More project information is available during project preparation and during implementation. Project appraisal reports of private sector operations are disclosed after excising confidential information, and all social and environmental information is released.

Minutes of all of ADB’s Board meetings and the chair’s summaries of Board discussions on ADB policies and strategies are posted on the ADB website. Moreover, country and subregional strategies are also posted, as are the core administrative documents, such as ADB’s budget. ADB was also the first multilateral development bank to disclose its country performance assessment ratings beginning in 2005.

The information on ADB-assisted projects that is disclosed on the ADB website has increased continuously since the adoption of the policy (from an average of 73 documents posted monthly in 2005, after the policy took effect, to 86 in 2006 and 104 in 2007). The public disclosure advisory committee has so far received no complaints or petitions to review denied requests.

ADB Management is leading the way toward a more robust program of external communications. All Management members are engaging audiences through speaking events and media outreach. In 2005–2006, Management participated in 97 such activities in donor countries and in developing member countries. In 2007, the figure was 107. This has led to a rapid expansion of media coverage of ADB activities.

Resident missions and representative offices play a frontline role in promoting open communications at the field level. Since 2005, ADB has strengthened RM and representative office capacity for communications by

• allocating additional staff resources
• implementing training activities
• promoting closer collaboration among resident missions, representative offices, and external relations staff at headquarters

Two resident missions—Indonesia Resident Mission and India Resident Mission—have developed strategic communication plans to maximize impact on stakeholder perceptions. All representative offices have prioritized their target audiences and means of outreach.

ADB along with 30 other organizations was recently assessed in the 2007 Global Accountability Report*, published by One World Trust, and received a perfect (100%) score for good practice in transparency because of its public communications policy.

View more initiatives under Reinforced Knowledge Management.

See also:

Website

• Information Sharing and Disclosure

Report

• Assessment of the Implementation of the Public Communications Policy September 2006–December 2007 [ PDF 141kb | 35 pages ]