Suchergebnisse

Asia's record of economic growth and improvement in the quality of life during the past three decades is one of the most remarkable achievements of the 20th century. The developing countries have led these advances, but their efforts received significant support from Donors - directly and through the Asian Development Fund (ADF). In the early 1970s, half the Region's population was poor, average life expectancy at birth was 48 years, and only 40 percent of the population was literate. Today, less than one third of the population is poor, life expectancy averages 65 years, and 70 percent of the adult population is literate. Despite an increase in population from 1.8 billion to 3.0 billion, the number of poor in the Region has fallen by roughly 100 million.

The prerequisite to designing a good poverty reduction program is a sound understanding of the nature, sources and causes of poverty. There are many ways to define poverty. However, the most complete definition takes a holistic view that considers the state of deprivation of the basic entitlements of an individual, his/her capabilities for maintaining a minimum standard of living, the lack of protection to his/her vulnerability as well as his/ her social exclusion. The complex linkage between growth and poverty reduction is best explained not entirely by the aggregate rate of growth but by the nature and sources of growth in an economy. Analysis of rates and patterns of sectoral growth sheds further light on what kind of growth is conducive to poverty reduction in a particular country. Empirical evidence shows that because of relatively high return to labor, agriculture development-based and export-led growth from labor-intensive industries contribute significantly to reducing poverty in poor countries.

This report first reviews the long-term objectives and strategy for ADF in general, and the policy and financial framework for ADF VII in particular. It emphasizes that ADF is, first and foremost, a long-term development assistance process for poverty reduction in the Region. The long-term vision of ADF comprises two complementary goals: (i) catalyzing and accelerating the pace of poverty reduction in the Region by supporting broad-based and equitable growth in developing member countries (DMCs), and (ii) accelerating the pace at which ADF becomes self-financing.

This report provides an overview of the key issues emerging from the consultations and is intended to serve as a basis for discussion of their potential implications for the poverty reduction strategy being prepared by the Bank. For each country, a summary analysis was also produced, copies of which are available from the Social Development Division of the Office of Environment and Social Development of the Bank.

For ADB, a poverty-free region is not mere rhetoric. Reducing poverty in Asia has always been one of ADB's fundamental aims. Now, ADB has rededicated itself to the fight: it has made poverty reduction its overarching goal rather than just one of five strategic objectives. ADB believes the most powerful weapons in the fight against poverty are pro-poor, sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. These are the three pillars on which ADB's poverty reduction strategy is built. This single-mindedness of approach is radically changing how ADB does business, with all ADB staff members making poverty reduction their priority.

As part of the preparation of a poverty reduction strategy for the Asian Development Bank, consultations on strategies for reducing poverty were held between November 1998 and April 1999 in Bangladesh, People's Republic of China (PRC), India, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam. These countries are major borrowers from the Bank and represent three groups of developing member countries–East and Southeast Asia, South Asia, and countries undergoing transition to market economies–that have common characteristics in terms of their needs and opportunities for reducing poverty. Extensive meetings were held with government officials, development agencies, academics, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and donor communities in each country except in Bangladesh.1 In most countries, a formal consultation was conducted to bring key stakeholders together in an interactive situation. The major focus of the consultations was on the lessons that had been learned from poverty reduction efforts in each country, the strategies now emerging, and the manner in which the poverty reduction strategy of the Bank might best support national efforts and priorities.

This report provides an overview of the key issues emerging from the consultations and is intended to serve as a basis for discussion of their potential implications for the poverty reduction strategy being prepared by the Bank. For each country, a summary analysis was also produced, copies of which are available from the Social Development Division of the Office of Environment and Social Development of the Bank.

For ADB, a poverty-free region is not mere rhetoric. Reducing poverty in Asia has always been one of ADB's fundamental aims. Now, ADB has rededicated itself to the fight: it has made poverty reduction its overarching goal rather than just one of five strategic objectives. ADB believes the most powerful weapons in the fight against poverty are pro-poor, sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. These are the three pillars on which ADB's poverty reduction strategy is built. This single-mindedness of approach is radically changing how ADB does business, with all ADB staff members making poverty reduction their priority.

As part of the preparation of a poverty reduction strategy for the Asian Development Bank, consultations on strategies for reducing poverty were held between November 1998 and April 1999 in Bangladesh, People's Republic of China (PRC), India, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam. These countries are major borrowers from the Bank and represent three groups of developing member countries–East and Southeast Asia, South Asia, and countries undergoing transition to market economies–that have common characteristics in terms of their needs and opportunities for reducing poverty. Extensive meetings were held with government officials, development agencies, academics, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and donor communities in each country except in Bangladesh.1 In most countries, a formal consultation was conducted to bring key stakeholders together in an interactive situation. The major focus of the consultations was on the lessons that had been learned from poverty reduction efforts in each country, the strategies now emerging, and the manner in which the poverty reduction strategy of the Bank might best support national efforts and priorities.

This report first reviews the long-term objectives and strategy for ADF in general, and the policy and financial framework for ADF VII in particular. It emphasizes that ADF is, first and foremost, a long-term development assistance process for poverty reduction in the Region. The long-term vision of ADF comprises two complementary goals: (i) catalyzing and accelerating the pace of poverty reduction in the Region by supporting broad-based and equitable growth in developing member countries (DMCs), and (ii) accelerating the pace at which ADF becomes self-financing.