Social Development and Poverty

ADB’s central mission is working to reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific and to ensure the benefits of economic growth and social development are equitably spread.

Human Mobility and Migration

The Asia and the Pacific region is home to a growing number of migrants moving from their communities to others in the same country or to other countries. Migration can be a powerful contributor to economic and social development. At the same time, migration can add to overcrowding in cities, strain social cohesion in migrant receiving areas, and be tied up with human trafficking.

Passengers from Kunming to Lijiang arrives at Dali Railway Station.

Passengers from Kunming to Lijiang arrives at Dali Railway Station.

Greater connectivity between and among countries has promoted human mobility within the region. Migrants can bring needed labor skills, trading networks, and an entrepreneurial spirit to destination communities. Migrants also send remittances to their places of origin, providing financial resources that can reduce poverty and be used for productive purposes. ADB supports its developing member countries to facilitate human mobility while maximizing its benefits.

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Experts

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Wendy Walker

Director, Human and Social Development

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Yukiko Ito

Principal Social Development Specialist

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Meredith Wyse

Senior Social Development Specialist (Aging and Care)

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Oleksiy Ivaschenko

Senior Social Protection and Jobs Specialist

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Other Social Development Topics

Adapting to Aging Asia and the Pacific

Adapting to Aging Asia and the Pacific

Rapid aging in Asia and the Pacific has put the region at the forefront of one of the most important global demographic trends.

Graduation Approach

Graduation Approach

The graduation approach is an innovative, holistic and proven approach to addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequality, Strategy 2030's first operational priority.

Inclusive Growth and Poverty Reduction

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Reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific, even in countries with relatively high per capita income, remains an unfinished agenda. Despite major progress, the region was home to 326 million people living in extreme poverty (or below the $1.90/day poverty line) in 2013.

Social Protection and Labor

Social Protection and Labor

Social protection is set of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets, diminishing people’s exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and interruption/loss of income.