Asian Development Bank - Fighting Poverty in Asia and the Pacific
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Priorities

Dynamic economic development has substantially helped reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific. Despite some spectacular progress over the last few decades, the region remains home to two thirds of the world's poor. The number of people living in absolute poverty remains high at 903 million (2005).

While growth between 2005 and 2008 has further reduced poverty, the food and fuel price crisis in 2008 and the global recession starting 2009 has slowed down progress in poverty reduction substantively.

The region's economic growth has been accompanied by widening disparities both within and between countries. Such disparities, together with climate change and the mounting environmental costs of growth, threaten to undermine the region's development and stability. Partner governments therefore emphasize the need to make growth and social development in the region more inclusive.

To fulfill its mission and realize its vision of an Asia and Pacific free of poverty, ADB will follow three complementary strategic agendas, as set out in Strategy 2020 [ PDF ], ADB's long-term strategic framework: inclusive growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.

Inclusive growth and social development, addressing the environments of the poor, and ensuring that the vulnerable and poor benefit from regional integration are ADB's specific contributions to poverty reduction in the Asia-Pacific region.

In this context, it will focus on five core areas of operation:

ADB will continue to operate on a more selective basis in health, agriculture, and disaster and emergency assistance.

ADB will focus its efforts on five drivers of change in the region:

Developing Asia's Poverty Challenge
70% have no access to improved sanitation
60% lack safe water
Half of the world's undernourished live here
40 out of every 100 children die before the age of 5

Read more about poverty