ADB Scales Up Support to Displaced People from Myanmar and Host Communities in Bangladesh

ADB has approved a $58.6 million grant from the Asian Development Fund and a $28.1 million concessional loan to improve infrastructure and essential services for displaced people from Myanmar and their host communities in Bangladesh. This financing will scale up ADB’s ongoing support in the Cox’s Bazar District, where hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals have sought refuge since 2017.

The additional funding will help address critical gaps in water supply, sanitation, health care, and disaster-resilient infrastructure. It will also support community facilities and livelihood opportunities, aiming to improve the well-being of both displaced populations and local residents.

This initiative reflects ADB’s continued commitment to development and regional stability. By strengthening infrastructure and service delivery in vulnerable areas, the project contributes to long-term resilience and social cohesion between displaced people and host communities in Bangladesh.

GENDER EQUALITY | SOUTH ASIA

ADB Announces $350 Million for Pakistan to Boost the Role of Women in the Economy

ADB has approved a $350 million loan to enhance women's access to finance in Pakistan.

The initiative aims to reach over 2 million women, supporting inclusive legal and policy reforms, expanding financial services, and strengthening entrepreneurship. This effort is part of ADB’s commitment to supporting women and girls and promoting inclusive economic growth.

CLEAN AIR | PARTNERSHIPS

Development Finance Institutions Launch New Air Quality Toolkit

Poor air quality is now the second leading cause of premature death worldwide after cardiovascular disease, but it receives only about 1% of total international development assistance. 

To address this imbalance, ADB has joined the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Clean Air Fund, and other partners to launch a new Air Quality Toolkit for Development Finance Institutions. 

This toolkit provides practical guidance in understanding air pollution, integrating air quality improvements into development projects across different sectors, and tracking air quality outcomes. It is designed for project officers to help them integrate air quality considerations into their projects.   

CLEAN ENERGY | CENTRAL ASIA

Türkiye, Uzbekistan tapped to join CIF’s $1 billion program to cut GHG emissions 

Türkiye and Uzbekistan were among seven countries chosen to participate in the Climate Investment Funds’ $1 billion Industry Decarbonization Program.  

ADB will work with the governments to prepare investment plans aligned with their priorities to be submitted to CIF’s Trust Fund Committee for endorsement. 

Türkiye, ADB’s newest regional member, presented its ambition to decarbonize its steel, cement, aluminum, and fertilizer sectors, which account for a significant share of its greenhouse gas emissions. Uzbekistan was chosen for its strong decarbonization vision that identifies opportunities in emission reduction across priority sectors—chemicals, cement, metallurgy—as well as in green hydrogen and circular economy.  

“Decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors is critical to achieving global climate goals, as these sectors are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions,” said Bruno Carrasco, ADB Director General for Sustainable Development and Climate Change.  

BLOG OF THE WEEK | ECONOMIC RESEARCH

Larger Capital Markets Are Powering Job Creation and Investment

Expanding domestic capital markets is unlocking new opportunities for growth in low- and middle-income countries across Asia and the Pacific.

Recent research highlights how easing financial constraints through capital markets leads to measurable gains in productivity, investment, and employment. By enabling a more efficient allocation of resources, these markets play a vital role in driving sustainable economic development.

ACCESS TO WATER | EAST ASIA

Herders of Change in the Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert is a harsh environment with long distances, sand migration, and prolonged dry periods. The livelihoods of pastoralist communities depend on access to reliable water sources for livestock.

A small grant from the ADB supported a rural water supply pilot project in Jaran Bogd soum to address critical water scarcity in high-elevation pastures.

The project sources water from a perennial mountain spring, which has been enclosed using a cement-reinforced traditional well structure to protect and stabilize the intake. From there, a pipeline transports water by gravity to open pasturelands. To ensure consistent availability, an elevated storage tank has been installed, significantly reducing the time and effort herders previously spent fetching water.

This system not only improves water access but also reduces livestock pressure on sensitive spring areas, encourages sustainable pasture rotation, and supports the recovery of degraded vegetation. Herders like Togookhuu Khasag are reporting decreased labor burdens and improved water availability thanks to the project.

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