Urban Development

ADB supports cities in Asia and the Pacific to become more livable.

  • Urban development challenges
     

    Asia-Pacific cities face challenges to provide adequate infrastructure and services to the growing population and, at the same time, can become the engines for economic growth.

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  • Integrated solutions
     

    Cities need enhanced capacities of urban planning, municipal finance, technologies, and governance and private sector engagement to provide integrated solutions.

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  • Infrastructure needs
     

    Developing more livable cities begins with inclusive urban and regional planning.

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Urban population
and growth

In 2022, urban population reached 56.9%, with the growth of the population going down to 1.55%.

Commitments supporting urban
climate resilience

In 2021, at least $200 million helped mitigate urban climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific.

Coverage of public transport and
share of population in urban areas

Despite development in urban cities, there is still 48% of the population that lack access to public transport.

Urban development

ADB’s Strategy 2030 identifies "Making Cities More Livable" as one of its seven operational priorities for achieving its vision of a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific.

By cutting across sectors and themes, ADB helps cities in the region to become more livable. ADB supports cities by improving urban infrastructure and services, and fostering inclusive, participatory and integrated planning. This approach spans the spatial, transport, economic, and natural capital sectors. ADB also promotes regional value chains and global production networks, along with strengthening municipal finance, governance, and citizen engagement. ADB supports cities to become resilient to not only disasters and climate change, but also to shocks and stresses such as pandemics.

 

Our Impact

Results delivered in 2023 from ADB projects.

35.4 million

People benefiting from improved services in urban areas

210

Urban infrastructure assets established or improved

24

Enhanced urban environment solutions implemented

Source:
2023 Development Effectiveness Review

Your Questions Answered

  • What’s the formula for ensuring Asia’s expanding cities continue to drive economic growth while providing good services and quality of life?

    Developing more livable cities (green, healthy, safe, and inclusive) begins with inclusive urban and regional planning. So, governments must prioritize investments that contribute to the general socioeconomic welfare of people and provide a safe, clean urban environment with good public transport.

  • What special development challenges are posed by expanding megacities and metropolitan areas across Asia and the Pacific?

    In Asia and the Pacific, besides megacities (those with at least 10 million residents), many urban areas are home to more than one million residents. Despite being physically connected, these places are far from efficient. In these places, cities compete rather than cooperate for residents, investment, companies, and quality jobs. This leads to uneven development.

  • Can you cite an ADB urban development project that has a major impact on people’s lives and could be readily replicated elsewhere in Asia?

    ADB’s Dhaka Water Supply Network Improvement Project helped improve the supply to 8 million people with at least 15% of the additional supply going to low-income communities. This inclusive approach provided slum areas with 2,000 communal metered connections, each one serving 15 to 25 households.

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