12 Things to Know about MDGs in Asia and the Pacific

Two years before the 2015 deadline, developing Asia shows mixed progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Income poverty has been slashed by half, but the region still faces challenges such as rising inequality and environmental sustainability. Here are 12 things to know about the status of MDGs in the region. Read More

Cambodia's Road to Development

An improved road to Cambodia's Sambor Prei Kuk is creating opportunities for local women and the rural poor. Watch Video

Empower Women and Feed the World

Giving women greater access to land and the tools of agriculture could mean up to 100 million fewer people living in hunger. Read More

Empowering Enterprising Women in Asia

Women make up more than half the population of Asia. The region would earn an additional $89 billion annually if women were able to achieve their full economic potential. Read More

Closing the Gender Gap

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential for meeting Asia’s aspirations of inclusive and sustainable development. Gender equality needs to be pursued in its own right for a just and equal society, and for better development outcomes - inclusive growth, faster poverty reduction and accelerated progress towards Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) attainment.

ADB has placed gender equality at the “front and center” of its development agenda. Promoting “gender equity” is included as one of the 5 drivers of change in ADB's Strategy 2020. ADB recognizes that without harnessing the talents, human capital and economic potential of women, Asia’s goals of poverty reduction and sustainable development will not be met.

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Key Statistics

1 billion
1 in 3 women will be raped or beaten in their lifetime

531 million
Women make up more than two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate people

2%
Of land in the developing world is owned by women on their own. In 1995 it was 1%.

Features

29 Jul 2013
Public Services in Asia and the Pacific
18 Jul 2013
Empowering Enterprising Women in Asia: 12 Things to Know
11 Jul 2013
Maternal and Child Health – ADB's Take
10 Jul 2013
Microfinance in the Philippines: Report Card

More Features

Publications

Sep 2013
Asia-Pacific Aspirations: Perspectives for a Post-2015 Development Agenda

Jul 2013
Gender Statistics in Development Planning for Central and West Asia

Jul 2013
Gender Equality and Food Security—Women’s Empowerment as a Tool against Hunger

Jul 2013
A Story within a Story: Gender and Water in Uzbekistan


More Publications

Gender Activities

ADB Hosts Regional Conference on Gender and TVET in the PRC
Southeast Asia Judges and Gender Justice
Korea Minister on Gender Equality at Eminent Speaker's Forum
Gender Equality, Secret Weapon against Hunger

More Activities

Sights, Sounds, People