ADB's OCR operations are diverse, covering agriculture and natural resources; education; energy; finance; health and social protection; industry and trade; public sector management; transport and information and communication technology; multi-sector; and water supply and other municipal infrastructure and services. OCR loans are generally made to DMCs that have attained a higher level of economic development.

From its establishment through 31 December 2010, ADB had approved loans, net of terminations and reductions, aggregating $126,366.9 million in its ordinary operations. At 31 December 2010, the total amount of ADB's loans outstanding, undisbursed balances of effective loans, and loans not yet effective in its ordinary operations was $70,509.9 million. Of this total, 94.3% represented sovereign loans, that is, loans to the public sector (member countries and, with the guarantee of the concerned member, government agencies or other public entities). About 5.7% represented nonsovereign loans, that is, loans to private sector enterprises, financial institutions, and selected nonsovereign public sector entities.

ADB established a $3 billion equivalent Countercyclical Support Facility in June 2009 to provide additional assistance for a limited period to crisis-affected DMCs. The authority to grant loans under the facility expired on 31 December 2010. Five sovereign loans totaling $2.5 billion were approved and fully disbursed as of 31 December 2010.

OCR Funding

Funding sources for OCR include paid-in capital, retained earnings (reserves), and proceeds from debt issuance. To finance its OCR lending operations, ADB issues debt securities in the international and domestic capital markets.

ADB's debt securities carry the highest possible investment ratings from major international credit rating agencies.