ADB's Work on Governance and Development
ADB’s work on governance includes helping governments operate more efficiently and equitably, as well helping societies strengthen their capabilities to achieve their development goals. It supports the strengthening of government institutions from within, while assisting them in the improving the delivery of their services to the public.
Governance as public sector management. ADB focuses on 7 areas: public expenditure and fiscal management; economic affairs management; public administration; reforms of state-owned enterprises; decentralization; law and the judiciary; and social protection. Between 2013-2015, ADB invested $4.1 million in loans and grants to improve how governments in Asia are managed.
Governance as capacity development. In 2015, about 80% of ADB projects included some degree of capacity development, defined as developing the skills, experience, technical and management capacity of an organization.
ADB also supports countries in addressing issues such as corruption, e-governance, information and communications technology, decentralization, and others.
Because of the broad scope of work needed in the area of governance, ADB prioritizes its work based on areas where it is most needed. This is done by assessing where the risk is greatest that development and social goals will not be met.
A commitment to good governance
In a region with historically diverse economic and political systems, an uneven pace of progress and a wide development gap among countries is to be expected. In Asia, however, successful development has taken place in countries of different political persuasions or economic policies. Their common denominator: good governance.
ADB recognized this early on and in 1995 became the first multilateral development bank to adopt a Governance Policy to help enhance governance quality in its member countries, while considering the uniqueness of each country’s governance institutions and cultures. The policy became the basic building block for a cluster of good governance policies, which now includes policies on procurement, law and policy reform, participation of civil society, and anticorruption. Good governance has since also been established as one of the three pillars of ADB’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.
More recently, ADB’s Strategy 2020, which reaffirms ADB’s mission of a poverty-free Asia-Pacific, identifies governance as a key driver of change.
ADB’s Governance Thematic Group takes the lead in promoting governance issues in ADB’s development work and coming up with initiatives that strengthen the plan’s implementation.
Governance Thematic Group
ADB’s Governance Thematic Group is the in-house network of experts on governance, public financial management, anticorruption, public sector management, e-governance, and institutional and capacity development.
The Governance Thematic Group plays a crucial role in promoting governance issues in ADB and delivering quality operations in developing countries in Asia through hands-on analytical and advisory support, peer review, and knowledge and innovative solutions.
The Governance Thematic Group is a network of about 200 ADB staff that fosters discussions and knowledge-sharing on governance and related issues and themes. The group runs a seminar series and other learning and development events showcasing operational experiences and lessons, and providing a forum for global thought leaders to discuss emerging trends, practices, and innovations. It also establishes partnerships and maintains links with like-minded organizations and networks.
The Governance Thematic Group is led by a technical advisor who heads a small Committee of directors, leading specialists, and senior staff, which acts as a think tank that provides advice on strategic directions in governance and public management related areas. A secretariat provides technical and administrative support.
ADB Governance Policies Timeline
1998
ADB adopts Anticorruption Policy.
1999
Anti-corruption Unit, now the Office of Anticorruption and Integrity, is established.
2001
- Governance and Capacity Development Committee is established.
- Governance Cooperation Fund is established.
- Governance Briefs series is launched.
- NGO and Civil Society Center is established.
2004
Anticorruption Unit is upgraded to an Integrity Division with expanded functions.
2006
Governance and Capacity Development Committee supports the development of the Second Governance and Anticorruption Action Plan (GACAP II).
2007
The Governance and Capacity Development Committee supports the development of ADB's first Capacity Development framework and action plan.
2008
The Governance and Public Management CoP is established.
2009
- ADB supports engagement in Fragile and Conflict-Afflicted Situations.
- Office of Anticorruption and Integrity is established.
2010
Fragile and Conflict-Afflicted Situations online resource center is launched.
2011
ADB revises and approves Public Communications Policy.
2012
ADB approves revised Accountability Mechanism Policy.
2013
- The Governance and Public Management CoP provides substantial inputs to the Implementation Review of the Second Governance and Anticorruption Action Plan (GACAP II).
- The Governance and Public Management CoP prepares Guidance Note on Political Economy Analysis.
2014
- The Revised Staff Guidance for Implementing GACAP II was developed, with support of Governance and Public Management CoP.
- ADB participates as a multilateral partner of Open Government Partnership.
2015
Governance Thematic Group takes over the Governance and Public Management CoP.
Governance Issues in Asia and the Pacific
For Asia, embracing good governance to build economies that are socially inclusive and environmentally sound will be vital for achieving sustainable development. Despite the region’s success in producing fast-growing economies, many countries still face a host of governance issues, including poor public services, weak government institutions, and corruption.
With the region’s diverse political systems and institutional cultures, addressing these governance challenges becomes doubly difficult since it requires determining appropriate approaches or strategies applicable in particular country contexts. ADB assists countries in Asia and the Pacific to improve governance at national, local, and institutional levels.
Anticorruption

ADB is working to reduce the burden that widespread, systemic corruption exacts upon the people of the region. In addition to detecting and preventing fraud and corruption in its projects, ADB also supports countries in combating corruption at national and local levels.
Corruption is the abuse of a public or private office for personal gain. It involves officials in the public and private sectors improperly and unlawfully enriching themselves and/or those close to them, or inducing others to do so.
ADB is reducing the burden that widespread, systemic corruption exacts upon the people of the region, by helping to strengthen key government institutions that advance transparency and accountability in developing member countries. These may include supreme audit agencies, procurement agencies, regulatory agencies, ombudsman offices, and the like. ADB also supports regional initiatives and research on advancing accountability and transparency in Asia and the Pacific region.
Read the publication A Practical Approach to Combating Corruption
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Corporate Governance in South Asia: Trends and Challenges
This report analyzes four core areas of corporate governance in South Asia in light of global trends and best practices. It assesses the necessary regulatory preconditions for strong financial and economic development. -
Beware of business scams using ADB’s name
ADB's Office of Anticorruption and Integrity (OAI) advises the public to be aware of scams using ADB’s name, the names of its officials, or the addresses of its offices. -
The Role of Geography in Shaping Governance Performance
This paper demonstrates that good governance in one country can influence governance improvements in neighboring countries and highlights that regional political and economic cooperation can benefit institutional development across borders. -
International Anticorruption Day: Strengthening Governance Systems to Combat Illicit Financial Flows in the Time of COVID-19 - Masatsugu Asakawa
Speech by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, at International Anticorruption Day: Strengthening Governance Systems to Combat Illicit Financial Flows in the Time of COVID-19, 9 December 2020 -
International Anticorruption Conference - Masatsugu Asakawa
Speech by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, at the International Anticorruption Conference, 1 December 2020
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Corporate Governance

Good corporate governance helps an organization achieve its objectives; poor corporate governance can speed its decline or demise. In Asia, many public institutions and state-owned enterprises can benefit from corporate governance practices that help foster sustainable development.
Governments across Asia and the Pacific have established policy, legal, and institutional frameworks to promote sustainable development. Most of ADB's developing member countries are also parties to major multilateral environmental agreements. However, even in cases where policy frameworks are sound, actual reforms and implementation often do not materialize due to limited institutional capacity, lack of technical expertise, insufficient funding, and fragmented institutional arrangements.
In developing Asia, ADB is helping countries promote green justice through knowledge sharing and capacity building. ADB's Environmental Justice Program is supporting several initiatives that aim to strengthen environmental regulatory frameworks and enforcement capacities of public institutions, including the judiciary, as well as promote regional cooperation.
Decentralization

Decentralization, as a reform measure, reconfigures power relationships between and among governance institutions. ADB supports countries in implementing decentralization reforms, such as in public services delivery, infrastructure development, and financial management.
Decentralization, as a reform measure, reconfigures power relationships between and among a country’s governance institutions for more effective and efficient public management. Over the last three decades, numerous countries of the Asia and Pacific region have engaged in decentralization and local government reforms due to regime transformation, state rebuilding in the aftermath of internal unrest and war, or to strengthen sub-national governments in order to improve their service delivery for citizens.
The international community has supported such reform initiatives by means of capacity development and advisory services, as well as training. Development partners have increasingly sought a common approach to decentralization reforms. In line with the global debate on aid effectiveness they have made visible efforts to harmonize their support amongst themselves and to align external support with the partner country’s strategies and systems.
ADB supports countries in implementing decentralization reforms, such as in public services delivery, infrastructure development, and financial management.
Read the Governance brief on Managing Decentralization
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Mapping Property Tax Reform in Southeast Asia
This report presents an analysis and recommendations to improve the efficiency of tax systems in developing Asia in mobilizing domestic resources to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. -
Strengthening India's Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers: Learnings from the Asian Experience
This publication assesses India’s fiscal federalism framework and recommends improvements based on learnings from the experiences of Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of Korea. -
The Role of the East Java Innovation Hub in Fostering Good Local Governance
This governance brief examines how innovation hubs, such as one in East Java, can help improve the delivery of basic public services in Indonesia. -
Fiscal Decentralization Reform in Cambodia: Progress over the Past Decade and Opportunities
This report reviews Cambodia’s progress in fiscal decentralization since passing the Law on Administrative Management of the Capital, Provinces, Municipalities, Districts and Khans. -
Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals to Accelerate Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
This brief elaborates on the concept of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) localization and analyzes to what extent localization is considered in the implementation of the SDGs in Asia and the Pacific.
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Domestic Resource Mobilization

The challenge for many governments in Asia is finding financial support for development projects, while managing debt and creating more opportunities for private sector investments. ADB supports countries in improving domestic resource mobilization for inclusive growth.
Public services delivery can be costly and require a steady source of financing. For many developing countries in Asia, one of the biggest challenges is how to pool more resources to improve public financial management and enhanced government capacity, while managing debt and creating more opportunities for private sector investments.
Domestic resource mobilization involves measures to support fiscal consolidation, improve revenue management, strengthen public expenditure management, enhance the generation of domestic savings, and increase private resource mobilization for investment opportunities, especially for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. ADB supports client countries in improving domestic resource mobilization for inclusive growth.
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Exit Strategy to Ease or Eliminate Tax Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
This brief examines tax stimuli applied by Asia and the Pacific countries to address the economic impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and provides guidance on how these can be appropriately exited. -
Supporting a Strong, Inclusive, and Sustainable Recovery in ASEAN - Masatsugu Asakawa
Speech by Masatsugu Asakawa, ADB President, at the ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting (AFMM)’s Special Session with ASEAN Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors, and Heads of International Financial Organizations, 30 March 2021 -
Asia Bond Monitor – March 2021
This edition reviews financial conditions in East Asia and risk implications to the global economic recovery, including the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine rollouts and liquidity conditions in regional bond markets. -
Strengthening Domestic Resource Mobilization in Southeast Asia
This brief looks at how Southeast Asian countries can improve tax yields after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. -
Innovation through Collaboration: Planning for Inclusive Post-COVID-19 Recovery - Masatsugu Asakawa
Speech by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, at the Southeast Asia Development Symposium, 17 March 2021
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E-governance and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Information and communication technology can help improve the delivery of public services, allow greater public access to information, and play an important role in public administration reforms in many countries in Asia and the Pacific.
Information and communication technology (ICT) can help improve the delivery of public services, allow greater public access to information, and play an important role in public administration reforms in many countries in Asia and the Pacific. E-governance refers to ICT-enabled reform measures to promote more efficient and cost-effective government, more convenient government services, and more government accountability to citizens.
E-government applications vary widely in the Asia-Pacific region, and can yield many benefits, including lower administrative costs, faster and more accurate response to requests and queries, direct access to transaction or customer accounts held in different parts of government, and the ability to harvest more data from operational systems, thus increasing the quality of feedback to managers and policymakers. ADB supports client countries in implementing e-governance reform strategies and systems in government institutions and national and local agencies.
Read the governance brief on E-government in Asia and the Pacific
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Using Technology to Improve Civil Service Talent
This brief presents digital and online platforms for civil services in Asia and the Pacific, along with recommendations for holistic government interventions and reforms in policies, business processes, and management systems. -
The Role of the East Java Innovation Hub in Fostering Good Local Governance
This governance brief examines how innovation hubs, such as one in East Java, can help improve the delivery of basic public services in Indonesia. -
Government at a Glance Southeast Asia 2019
This joint ADB-OECD report uses 34 indicators to assess government performance in 10 Southeast Asian countries. -
Functional Requirements Specifications for e-Government Procurement System Implemented in Software as a Service (SAAS) Model: Technical Assistance Consultant’s Report
Consultants' reports describe activities by a consultant or group of consultants related to preparing a technical assistance project. This document dated October 2018 is provided for the ADB regional project 47192-001. -
Cross Border Trade in e-GP Era - Challenges and Way Forward: Technical Assistance Consultant’s Report
Consultants' reports describe activities by a consultant or group of consultants related to preparing a technical assistance project. This document dated October 2018 is provided for the ADB regional project 47192-001.
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Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations (FCAS)

Many of the region’s poor and most vulnerable live in areas affected by fragility and conflict. Countries experiencing fragility and conflict face multitude of challenges including weakened governance capacity, economic and social disruption, geographic isolation, and insecurity. Public services delivery systems seldom function well, and the government's ability to guarantee the basic security of its people is often limited. Conflicts and fragility not only impact countries where they are happening but also neighbouring countries and the global community. Asian Development Bank’s Strategy 2030 recognizes that countries with fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS) and small-island developing states (SIDS) require special attention, given their high degree of fragility and considerable need for institutional strengthening.
Classifying countries as FCAS
The ADB approach in FCAS is governed by its 2013 Operational Plan for ADB’s Effectiveness in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations (FCAS Operational Plan). Under the FCAS Operational Plan, ADB uses the harmonized Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) FCAS classification methodology.
The classification of a country as FCAS means that it is eligible for additional funding under the Asian Development Fund 13 (ADF) and the Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF7).
ADB conducts a country performance assessment using the country policy and institutional assessments questionnaire. Each country's performance is assessed based on the coherence of its macroeconomic and structural policies, quality of its governance and public sector management, the degree to which its policies and institutions promote equity and inclusion, and performance of its portfolio of ongoing projects and programs.
A country is considered FCAS if it has an average rating of 3.2 or less based on the ADB country performance assessment and the World Bank Group country policy and institutional assessment. A country is also considered FCAS if a United Nations and/or regional peace-keeping or peace-building mission has been present during the past 3 years.
2020 List of countries classified as FCAS
Based on 2020 CPAs, ADB’s approved list of 11 FCAS countries listed are as follows: Afghanistan, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu.
The Lao PDR joins the list as of December 2020, based on its average score from the World Bank’s country policy and institutional assessment and ADB’s country partnership assessment. Vanuatu, while not officially listed, will remain under monitoring based on its most recent score.
The next fragile and conflict-affected countries classification will be conducted in 2022 following the completion of the next CPA.
A differentiated approach for FCAS and SIDS
The challenges of countries experiencing fragility and conflict require long-term solutions, and building capable and legitimate institutions is critical. Refining ADB’s approach to context sensitive situations is an important element in implementing Strategy 2030. Focusing on FCAS and defining the necessary adjustments in SIDS operations will be key part of the ADB’s support for the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Consistent with the broader global dialogue on the peace-humanitarian nexus and aid effectiveness, ADB is adapting its approach to FCAS and SIDS developing and strengthening linkages with the seven operational priorities and the private sector plan that support the implementation of Strategy 2030.
Visit the FCAS and SIDS Approach (FSA) page for updated information.
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Building a differentiated approach for Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations and Small Island Developing States
ADB continually finds ways to update its approach to some of the most difficult development challenges in Asia and the Pacific. -
Statement at the Small States Forum: World Bank Spring Meetings - Ingrid van Wees
Statement by Ingrid van Wees, ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management, at the Small States Forum: World Bank Spring Meetings on 19 April 2018. -
Vulnerability and Resilience: A Conceptual Framework Applied to Three Asian Countries—Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal
This paper presents a conceptual framework for the study of the vulnerability of Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal with a particular focus on the structural vulnerability. -
Fragile States in the Pacific: 12 Things to Know
Assisting these fragile states requires new and innovative thinking, according to the ADB publication Mapping Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations in Asia and the Pacific: The ADB Experience -
Mapping Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations in Asia and the Pacific: The ADB Experience
This study maps out the major weaknesses of each fragile situation on the latest country performance assessment exercises and identifies overall common issues that need special attention.
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Local Governance

Improved local governance is crucial for transparent, accountable, efficient and effective delivery of public services at the local level. ADB supports client countries in implementing local governance reforms, such as in local government finance, accountability in public expenditure management and service delivery, policy and regulatory reforms, and institutional development.
Improved local governance is crucial for transparent, accountable, efficient and effective delivery of public services at the local level. Increasingly, decentralization has put the spotlight on local government performance in the delivery of development agendas. Multilateral financial institutions, including ADB, have opened doors to local government projects through subsovereign lending mechanisms.
ADB supports countries in implementing local governance reforms, such as in local government finance, accountability in public expenditure management and service delivery, policy and regulatory reforms, and institutional development.
Related
- Document: Capacity Development in ADB Operations: Review of the Medium-Term Framework and Action Plan for Capacity Development
- Infographic: Asian Development Outlook 2013 Update - Asia's Governance Gap
- Infographic: Fighting Corruption in Asia - Good Governance Encourages Development
- Governance briefs
- ADBlog: governance and public management