Poverty Reduction

Sector Areas of Poverty Reduction

Poverty is multidimensional. It manifests differently in rural and urban areas and for different social groups.

Poverty reduction programs can either target poor people or address more systemically vulnerability and social inclusion, economic equality, and improved living conditions. Poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs as highlighted in ADB’s enhanced Poverty Reduction Strategy requires a more systemic approach to promote pro-poor growth, inclusive social development and good governance.

Depending on the partner countries' strategic priorities and ADB's comparative advantages, all sectors can contribute to reduce

• income poverty
• social poverty
• environmental poverty

ADB's Medium Term Strategy 2006-2008 identifies infrastructure (economic, urban, rural), education, and finance as core operational sectors where ADB will build up a critical mass of expertise to act as a leading provider of assistance. ADB has developed knowledge products and operational experience particularly in the sector areas of

• economic infrastructure
• urban services
• rural development
• human development, and
• finance.

The regional and country section of this website provides examples of ADB financial assistance and programmatic work on poverty reduction.

This sector area chapter describes specific poverty relevant approaches and strategic expertise. Broader sector issues are discussed elsewhere and linked to the respective sector websites of ADB.

View sector specific knowledge products and operational expertise of ADB under the above mentioned sector areas.