About ADB

The Asian Development Bank aims for an Asia and Pacific free from poverty.
Approximately 1.7 billion people in the region are poor and unable to access essential
goods, services, assets and opportunities to which every human is entitled.
Since its founding in 1966, ADB has been driven by an inspiration and dedication to improving
peoples lives in Asia and the Pacific. By targeting the investments wisely, in partnership with its
developing member countries and other stakeholders, ABD can alleviate poverty and help create
a world in which everyone can share in the benefits of sustained and inclusive growth.
Whether it be through investment in infrastructure, health care services, financial and public
administration systems, or helping nations prepare for the impact of climate change or better
manage their natural resources, ADB is committed to helping developing member countries
evolve into thriving, modern economies that are well integrated with each other and the world.
The main devices for assistance are loans, grants, policy dialogue, technical assistance and equity
investments.
ADB focus on the forefront of development thinking and practice, spreading information through
regional forums, a growing online presence and the publication of specialized papers, serials and
books.
Economists, sociologists, engineers, gender experts and environmental scientists are amongst the
hundreds of professions at the bank working together to reduce poverty, and ensure growth
across the Asia and Pacific region is sustainable and inclusive.

Bangladesh and ADB

Bangladesh has succeeded in achieving a steady reduction of poverty incidence, with the
population living below the national poverty line steadily falling over the past 2 decades. The
country is now on track to achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals.
Under the country partnership strategy for 2011-2015, ADB supports the efforts of the
government to make growth more inclusive and greener by improving connectivity, promoting
skills, improving financial markets, boosting energy efficiency and access, promoting publicprivate partnerships, making cities more livable, improving the management of water resources,
and reducing flood risk.

Bangladesh-ADB Partnership:
Economic growth in Bangladesh has been largely inclusive and broad-based. The country has
halved the national poverty rate to 31.5% in 2010 from 59% in 1991, and the urban poverty rate
to 22% from 45% in the same period.

Bangladesh is on track to achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals, including

improved child health, gender equality in primary and secondary education, and wider access to
finance.
ADB assistance
From the start of assistance in June 1973 until the end of 2012, ADB provided 234 loans totaling
$14.1 billion and 389 technical assistance projects to support project design and capacity
enhancement totaling $221.7 million.
Projects supported the development of physical and social infrastructure, such as:
The Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement Sector Project, which benefited
about 1.85 million people across 30 towns, representing 6% of the total urban population;
The Urban Primary Health Care Project, a public-private partnership which benefited
more than 6 million people through 180 urban health care centers;
The Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge and railway link, which helped lift more than one
million people out of poverty by improving access to economic opportunities and social
services;
The Second Primary Education Development Program, PEDP II, which recruited or
trained more than 140,000 teachers, built 40,000 classrooms, and helped increase student
attendance from 75% to 90%; the multi-donor-supported Power System Expansion and
Efficiency Improvement Investment Program, approved in 2012, which will connect
450,000 households to the power grid and reduce carbon emissions by almost 2.5 million
tons per year; and
The Emergency Flood Damage Rehabilitation Project, which helped restore infrastructure
and the livelihoods of people, particularly the vulnerable poor.
Private sector operations
ADB began its private sector operations in Bangladesh in 1989. At the end of 2012, cumulative
approvals in 12 projects amounted to $297.2 million. ADBs largest private sector initiative for
infrastructure was the 450-megawatt gas-fired combined cycle Meghnaghat Power Project
approved in 2000. ADB provided a direct loan of $50 million, a B-loan (complementary
financing scheme) of $20 million, and a partial credit guarantee of $70 million.
Under its 2011-2015 country partnership strategy, the overarching objective of ADB support is to
contribute to the governments Sixth Five-Year Plan priorities of enhancing growth and cutting
poverty. ADB will provide assistance within its Strategy 2020s development agenda of inclusive
economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.

Members

Projects:
Sectors
Agriculture, natural resources, and
rural development
Production and markets irrigation,
drainage, flood protection fishery
forestry
Education
Pre-primary, basic secondary, tertiary,
higher non-formal

Industry and trade

Larger, small-scale industries trade, services

Information and communication technology

ICT infrastructure ICT industries and ICTenabled services ICT strategy and policy, and
capacity development
Energy
Public sector management
Conventional, renewable efficiency,
Economic, public expenditure, fiscal
conservation transmission, distribution
management public administration
decentralization law, judiciary
Finance
Transport
Banking systems money, capital markets Air, water, rail, road, urban transport
housing, microfinance trade finance
management, policies
Health
Water supply and other urban infrastructure
Programs, systems health finance
and services
nutrition early childhood development
Supply, sanitation waste management slum
upgrading, housing urban development
Multisector
Projects tagged to more than one sector

Focus Areas:
Infrastructure:
Energy - Energy demand is projected to almost double in the Asia and Pacific region by 2030.
There is an urgent need for innovative ways to generate power in a socially, economically, and
environmentally sustainable manner. Compounding the problem is widespread energy poverty
across Asia, with almost a billion people still without access to electricity.
Information and Communications Technology - Rapid advances in information and
communications technology (ICT) have created tremendous opportunities for economic and
social gains in the world's poorest areas. A key infrastructure of knowledge-based economies,
ICT is a driving force for rapidly growing new sectors including electronics and software
development, business process outsourcing and various internet services.
Transport - Transport is an integral part of most of the activities, goods and services required for
supporting and improving peoples lives. ADB assists member countries in developing Asia to
building transport infrastructure and services which contribute towards low-carbon, safe,
accessible and affordable transport systems.
Urban Development - ADB has been assisting its developing member countries (DMCs) meet
this challenge with about $15 billion in funding for 200 urban development projects, which have
improved urban transport, waste management, and access to clean water and sanitation.
Water - Water is one of our most precious resources, but it is threatened by growth, misuse, and
pollution. In Asia and the Pacific, many countries are in a water crisis and the demand for water
is huge and growing. "Water for All" is ADB's vision and policy for Asia and the Pacific. ADB's
Water Financing Program works to increase investments and support reforms in cities, rural
communities, and river basins.

Other Focus Areas

Agriculture and Food Security - Two-thirds of the worlds one billion hungry reside in Asia
and the Pacific. Rising food prices are bringing the specter of food shortages and undernutrition
to millions more of the regions poor. Supplying growing populations with adequate and
affordable food is a major challenge, requiring massive investments in food distribution, storage,
and marketing facilities.
Education - Most developing countries in Asia and the Pacific have earned
high marks for a dramatic rise in primary education enrollment rates in the
last three decades, but daunting challenges remain, threatening economic
and social growth. With over $8.2 billion in loans and grants to the education
sector over the past forty years ADB has a long track record in assisting its

developing member countries (DMCs) achieve the goal of quality education

for all.
Environment and Climate Change - Environmental sustainability is a
prerequisite for economic growth and poverty reduction in Asia and the
Pacific. ADB's long-term strategic framework for 2008-2020 (or Strategy
2020) identifies environmentally sustainable growth as a key strategic
development agenda, and environment as a core area for support.
Finance Sector Development - ADB has been supporting Financial Sector
Development of developing member countries in the Asia and Pacific region
in many ways. Financial sector operations since 1966 have accounted for
about 10% of total ADB operations.
Gender and Development - Gender equality and womens empowerment are
essential for meeting Asias aspirations of inclusive and sustainable
development. Gender equality needs to be pursued in its own right for a just
and equal society, and for better development outcomes - inclusive growth,
faster poverty reduction and accelerated progress towards Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) attainment.

Governance and Public Management - Poor governance holds back and

distorts the process of development, and has a disproportionate impact on
the poorer and weaker sections of society. Assisting developing countries in
improving governance is therefore a strategic priority of ADB in its work to
eliminate poverty in Asia and the Pacific.
Health - Health is a human right and is essential to development. Good
health improves learning capacity, worker productivity, and income. ADB is
committed to improving health in Asia and the Pacific by supporting better
governance and spending, infrastructure development, and regional
collaboration to control communicable diseases.
Regional Cooperation and Integration - Regional cooperation and integration
(RCI) is a process by which national economies become more interconnected
regionally. RCI plays a critical role in accelerating economic growth, reducing
poverty and economic disparity, raising productivity and employment, and
strengthening institutions.