ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
ORGANIZATION
ACCOUNTABILITY
ADB supports projects in developing member countries that create economic and development impact, delivered through both public and private sector operations, advisory services, and knowledge support.
Development Issues in Asia and the Pacific
The global development challenges facing our world, such as climate change, water security, inequality and poverty, can only be resolved at an international level. ADB provides its member countries in Asia and the Pacific with the knowledge and expertise to tackle these problems promoting sustainable development, a commitment to social progress, environmental balance and economic growth.
Browse by development issue
Agriculture and Food Security
Despite growing prosperity, hunger and malnutrition persist in Asia and the Pacific. Half of the world's 600 million hungry people live in the region.
Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management
Disasters triggered by natural hazards and escalating climate change impacts seriously threaten economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific.
Digital Technology
Digital technology boosts growth, expands opportunities, and improves government services, but also brings new challenges, including effective regulation.
Education
Promoting equity and inclusivity in education, particularly for women and the marginalized, is critical to education for sustainable development.
Energy
Around 150 million people in the region lack access to electricity, while many more cook using unhealthy, polluting fuels, stunting economic growth and social development.
Environment
Nature-positive investments are cost-effective and sustainable ways to address the urgent problems of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Finance
Financing developing Asia’s infrastructure needs as economies expand and climate change impacts, remains a huge challenge and must include the private and public sectors.
Fragility and Vulnerability
As of the end of 2020 in Asia and the Pacific, 6.4 million people were internally displaced because of conflict and violence.
Gender and Development
COVID-19 and the climate change crisis are disproportionately affecting women and deepening inequality, highlighting the need to reduce gender gaps.
Governance
Quality governance is closely linked to economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific.
Health
Affordable, high-quality health services need to be widely available to ensure no one is impoverished by paying for medical care.
Public-Private Partnerships
Asia’s huge infrastructure needs, about $1.7 trillion a year, cannot be financed by the public sector alone.
Regional Cooperation and Integration
Closer regional trade and financial integration in Asia and the Pacific has huge benefits that drive economic growth and development.
Social Development and Poverty
In 2017, more than 200 million people in the region lived on less than $1.90 a day and around one billion on less than $3.20 a day. Inequality continues to grow.
Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are ambitious and wide reaching, achieving them requires massive financing from both public and private sources.
Transport
Developing Asia needs $1.7 billion a year for infrastructure if the region is to maintain growth and tackle climate change. More than 30% of that needs to be in transport.
Urban Development
More than half of Asia's four billion people live in urban areas and a billion more will join them in the next 30 years.
Water
Two billion people in Asia and the Pacific lack adequate water and sanitation. Equitable water access is critical to ADB's support for economic growth and social well-being.