Poverty Reduction in ADB

Tools and Innovations
Effective Poverty Reduction Requires Special Tools

After adopting poverty reduction as its overarching goal in 1999 and further specifying its poverty reduction framework, ADB introduced various tools and innovations to more effectively reflect its contribution to pro-poor growth, inclusive social development, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

• Special poverty funds promote new approaches for further upscaling and mainstreaming in ADB operations.
• Capacity building support to formulate country poverty reduction and inclusive growth strategies.
• Poverty and inclusive growth impact analysis help in estimating contributions of operations at the country, sector and project level in achieving the overarching goal.
• A project classification system monitors ADB's contributions to sector outcomes, strategic development goals and poverty impact.
• Handbooks on poverty reduction and social development guide staff in preparing projects, sector roadmaps and country strategies.
• A poverty database and assessments on MDG progress (in partnership with ESCAP and UNDP) help oversee development results in the region.
• Annual poverty reduction reports monitor ADB's progress towards effective poverty reduction contributions in Asia and the Pacific.
• To measure and operationalize inclusive growth, ADB commissioned four studies on its
  
  
  1. conceptual framework and methodological background [ PDF ],
  2. contributions at country level [ PDF ]
  3. contribution in rural development projects,* and
  4. contribution in infrastructure projects [ PDF ].

The EPRS also supports retooling for poverty reduction including organizational realignment, the introduction of a relevant classification system, staff training and personnel development.

View ADB's knowledge products and operational expertise on special tools and innovations.