Asian Development Fund (ADF)

ADF provides grants to ADB's lower-income developing member countries. Established in 1974, the ADF initially provided loans on concessional terms. Activities supported by the ADF promote poverty reduction and improvements in the quality of life in the poorer countries of the Asia and Pacific region.

In the Spotlight

Asian Development Fund

How is ADF funded?

ADF resources mainly come from contributions of ADB's member countries, mobilized under periodic replenishments, and net income transfers from ADB's ordinary capital resources. The twelfth replenishment (ADF 13) will support grant operations between 2021-2024 and is the first ADF to support the implementation of ADB’s corporate strategy—Strategy 2030—during its full cycle.


Who is eligible for ADF grant assistance?

ADB uses a three-tier developing member country classification system determined by two criteria: gross national income per capita (Atlas method) and creditworthiness.

 

50 Years of Meeting Asia and the Pacific’s Most Urgent Need

The past 50 years have been a time of rapid change for the region and the ADF.

From being the poorest region of the world, Asia and the Pacific has become one of the key engines of global growth. As a result, the number of poor living on less than $2.15 a day in the region was reduced drastically from over a billion in 1973 to around 200 million today.

The ADF is proud to be a steadfast partner in this process of growth and development. As ADB’s largest Special Fund and ADB’s main source of grants, the ADF remains critical to building resilience and sustainability in ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable DMCs.


Focus on Small Island Developing States

Small island developing states (SIDS) in the Pacific are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, often facing severe funding gaps to ensure sustainable infrastructure and services. ADF is a steadfast partner in building resilience for its communities in areas including accelerating energy transition, building climate resilience, and strengthening disaster response and resilience.