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.

Social Protection and Labor

Trainer conducts class at the UCEP school in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Trainer conducts class at the UCEP school in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Social protection is central to ADB's inclusive growth agenda. ADB defines social protection as a "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."

Social Assistance

Social assistance programs help ensure income security and access to basic services for poor and vulnerable populations. Key sectors that may serve as entry points for social assistance programs include education, finance, health and public sector management.

Social assistance interventions may include:

  • Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional)
  • Social pensions
  • In-kind transfers, such as food-for-work, school feeding programs, etc.
  • Asset transfers
  • Scholarships

Social Assistance

Social Insurance

Social insurance programs mitigate risks by providing income support in the event of illness, disability, work injury, maternity, unemployment, old age, and death. Key sectors that may serve as entry points for strengthening sustainable social insurance schemes include financial sector development, health, and public sector management.

Social insurance programs may include:

  • Pensions, social security systems, provident funds
  • Health insurance
  • Micro-insurance, small-farmer agricultural insurance, weather index-based crop insurance
  • Unemployment insurance

Social Insurance

Labor Market Programs

Labor market programs support the development of job-relevant skills and workers' retraining, particularly the low-skilled and marginalized. They also facilitate employment. Key sectors that may serve as entry points for promoting and expanding labor market programs include education and infrastructure (energy, information and communication technology, water, and transport).

Labor market programs may include:

  • Active labor market policies and programs (pre-employment training, skills development and upgrading, public works, matching supply and demand for labor)
  • Passive labor market policies and programs (compliance with core labor standards, job security provisions, improving working conditions)

Labor Market Programs

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Social Protection to Support the Poor and Vulnerable in Asia and the Pacific

In the past decade, social protection has become a key instrument of public policy in many developing countries in Asia and the Pacific region.

Experts

Profile Photo: Wendy Walker
Wendy Walker

Director, Human and Social Development

Profile Photo: Yukiko Ito
Yukiko Ito

Principal Social Development Specialist

Profile Photo: Meredith Wyse
Meredith Wyse

Senior Social Development Specialist (Aging and Care)

Profile Photo: Oleksiy Ivaschenko
Oleksiy Ivaschenko

Senior Social Protection and Jobs Specialist

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