Description

ONGOING EVALUATION. Inequality is a rising concern among policymakers in developing Asia and the Pacific, with a consensus emerging that economic growth must be both rapid and equitable to be sustained. Despite strong economic growth, the proportion of people in the region living on below $1.25 a day—although falling from 53% in the 1990s to 34% in the late 2000s—is still unacceptably high. The development community has an important role to play in helping develop policy measures and programs that can ensure sustainable and pro-poor growth and accelerate poverty reduction.

This evaluation study assesses the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) inclusive growth agenda, which is one of the main pillars of ADB’s long-term Strategy 2020, and it reviews international evidence on inclusive growth. The study also aims to identify lessons from ADB’s support in promoting inclusive growth in developing member countries, and make recommendations for ADB’s future operations in this crucial area.

Because ADB adopted its inclusive growth agenda quite recently, in 2008, its definition and operationalization of inclusive growth are still evolving and may need to be strengthened. The study will also carry out a portfolio review of closed and ongoing projects related to inclusive growth from 2000 to 2012, review sector work, and conduct six country studies.