Water

Postcard snapshots of tranquil Asian rural scenes can be deceptive—golden harvests, stately mountains, smiling faces. Reality is much harsher, made more so by the lack of water for irrigating agricultural fields, better drainage to prevent floods, or clean drinking water and sanitation facilities in people’s homes.

Governments and private-sector investors tend to give these kinds of improvements low priority, likely because of perceived low returns on investments. However, the return is huge for the individuals who are spared from dry fields, floods, hours of walking for water, and unsanitary environments around their home.

ADB’s Water Financing Program 2006-2010 promotes investments in water supply and sanitation, and irrigation and drainage to improve health and livelihoods in Asia’s rural communities.