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Analyzing how the role of ASEAN economies in global value chains has helped spur their recovery and cut poverty, this publication shows the need to future-proof these critical networks to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and greener growth.It explains how the expansion of cross-border trade networks has helped Southeast Asian economies bolster manufacturing and spark a wave of job creation and innovation. On the flipside, it considers the associated environmental impact and social inequality. Highlighting systemic shocks to global trade, it explains how economic momentum, stronger institutions, and more inclusive growth can help mitigate risks and build resilient economies.

This report uses a broad range of indicators to assess the individual and collective development progress made by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).Building on a previous study released in 2014, it assesses 39 indicators that consider dimensions such as overall human development, gender equality, climate change, and living conditions. The report intends to help policy makers pinpoint priority development interventions and to align strategies to support regional recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the need for the 10 ASEAN member states to increase investments in areas such as skills development, education, health, and nutrition.

The new Asian Development Bank (ADB) Energy Policy, approved in October 2021, guides ADB's energy sector operations to support energy access improvement and low-carbon transition in Asia and the Pacific.It is consistent with ADB's Strategy 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement on climate change and anchored on five principles: (i) securing energy for a prosperous and inclusive Asia and the Pacific; (ii) building a sustainable and resilient energy future; (iii) supporting institutions, private sector participation, and good governance; (iv) promoting regional cooperation and integration; and (v) maximizing development impact through integrated cross-sector operations.

This guide provides practical tips for addressing menstrual health as part of urban development, water, and sanitation work in the Pacific to promote gender equality and well-being.It outlines the need to improve education about menstruation, eliminate stigma and discrimination, and boost access to sanitation facilities to support inclusive development and economic growth. It identifies how project design and implementation can immediately strengthen menstrual health. While the guide is intended to inform projects supported by the Asian Development Bank, it will also be relevant to other urban development and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.

This publication outlines why post-disaster needs assessments (PDNA) should provide comprehensive details of the economic and social impacts of disasters on countries to swiftly mobilize resources and support resilient recovery.Using a theoretical case study highlighting the aftermath of an earthquake and subsequent flooding, the publication shows how the cost to property, infrastructure, and production can be calculated and built into a PDNA. It illustrates why PDNAs should consider key sectors such as health and energy, and factor the macroeconomic and personal impacts of catastrophic events into the total estimate of post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.

This report reveals how state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Asia's emerging economies can play a key role in helping to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, by using green bonds to upgrade their economic activities from polluting to green. The report explores how SOEs can develop and deploy sustainable financial instruments, in particular green bonds, to help finance their green transition. To accelerate the successful adoption of green finance tools in Asia's emerging economies, the publication examines how their SOEs can improve operations to make better use of green capital markets, enabling a healthier environment and a more resilient future.

As fast-evolving education technology (EdTech) revolutionizes learning, this report examines the evidence for effective digital learning, the key interventions and innovations in education technology, and how best to implement effective digital transformation initiatives in the education sector.Outlining how rapid technological advances are disrupting the employment landscape and creating a skills gap challenge, it sets out ways EdTech can be rapidly scaled up and integrated into national education strategies. Explaining how education technology is already driving a shift away from teacher-centric learning, the report offers tools to assess digital education readiness and shows why the ecosystem approach is essential to transform and reimagine learning.

For tackling complex global challenges, this publication advises how a Gateway Process (GP) can help the Asian Development Bank's developing member countries channel scarce public resources into viable, sustainable, efficient infrastructure investments.Supporting ministries of finance and related agencies, the publication explains how GPs can enhance the preparation, procurement, and execution of public-private partnership projects, as well as traditional public investment projects. To advance the environmental, social, and fiscal priorities of diverse economies and build institutional capacities, the publication describes an adjustable GP model-allowing policymakers to develop bespoke GPs within broader public investment management strategies.

This publication is designed as a field kit to help Nepal's Kathmandu Upatayaka Khanepani Ltd. (KUKL) follow standard environmental planning, monitoring, and reporting in its work to supply water and sanitation to the Kathmandu Valley.Practical and detailed, the kit will support the Project Implementation Directorate of KUKL as it works to prepare the environmental safeguard documents and build structured monitoring tools to ensure sustainable infrastructure development practices. Including outlines for environmental assessments, management plans, and bidding documents, it offers readily accessible forms and templates to support overall project implementation uniformity and quality, and will serve as a useful resource for other stakeholders.

This publication examines well-being across Kazakhstan's regions. It suggests how a deeper understanding of regional differences can help policymakers tailor interventions and promote more equitable development. The publication shares findings from a study that used data from a 2022 survey of well-being across Kazakhstan to create two indices. One index measures people's subjective well-being and the other combines perceptions data with objective socioeconomic data to build a broader picture of well-being. The authors analyze regions' index scores and suggest how policymakers can use an understanding of regional differences in well-being to contribute to more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development in Kazakhstan.

As Bangladesh builds on a decade of strong economic growth, this executive summary explains why creating an economic corridor can drive the massive structural transformation it needs to ensure its development is sustainable and equitable.Detailing the reasons behind its growth, it explains how a Bangladesh Economic Corridor (BEC) would benefit its northeast and southwest regions, which have long suffered from poor economic development and inadequate infrastructure. It outlines how a BEC would help develop core industries, boost connectivity, and improve critical infrastructure, as Bangladesh looks to harness technology to create millions of new jobs and accelerate its economic growth.

This publication and accompanying summary materials highlight key messages from current research and data on women's economic empowerment in Pacific island countries. The analysis focuses on entrepreneurship and on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises owned by women. Drawing on over 200 published papers and studies and 11 quantitative datasets, it looks at what fosters and what hinders women's economic empowerment in the Pacific. It considers business ownership, formalization, and expansion; violence against women and girls; and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The materials include recommendations for research, policy, and programming.

This report shows how embracing digitalization can boost jobs in Pakistan's textile, garment, and information technology-business process outsourcing sectors and explains why policies should ensure the benefits are equitably distributed. Part of a wider Central and West Asia report on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), this report focuses on Pakistan's Punjab province where literacy levels are low and explains why workers will have to continuously reskill to get quality jobs. It recommends Pakistan adopt industry-specific 4IR roadmaps, strengthen training, and increase the number of women in technology as it targets inclusive, knowledge-based economic growth.

This report explains how Azerbaijan's fast-growing agro-processing, transportation, and storage industries can benefit from the adoption of digital technologies and outlines how to train the skilled workforce it needs for the new economy. Part of a wider Central and West Asia report on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), this report explains how greater digitalization will affect jobs and how Azerbaijan's government, industry, and the education sector can work together to spur growth. To help Azerbaijan capitalize on 4IR's benefits, the report offers recommendations that include helping businesses adopt technology, incentivizing them to train employees, and creating programs targeted at women.

This report analyzes how Uzbekistan's key textile, garment, and construction sectors will be impacted by its adoption of digital technologies and shows how better training can help offset potential job losses and boost economic growth. Part of a wider Central and West Asia report on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), this report outlines recommendations for Uzbekistan including developing online learning platforms and strengthening ties between industry and training institutions. Emphasizing the need to support small and medium businesses, it shows why ensuring workers acquire new digital skills and adapting national policies can help Uzbekistan capitalize on 4IR's potential benefits.

This report explains how the rapid adoption of digital technology in Central and West Asia can help unlock growth and shows why economies need to invest in training to build the skilled labor force needed for the jobs of the future. Focusing on Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, the report outlines how the pandemic sped up use of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technology and draws on policy reviews and employment data. It explores how fresh policies can help offset the challenges posed by 4IR and recommends ways to harness technology to increase growth, employment, and inclusive development.

This publication highlights brighter economic prospects for Asia and the Pacific amid ongoing challenges. It forecasts growth across the region's developing economies of 4.8% this year and in 2024, up from 4.2% in 2022.The reopening of the People's Republic of China (PRC) will boost regional economic growth through supply chain linkages and demand for goods and services. Growth in the PRC is expected to rebound to 5.0% this year from 3.0% in 2022. Healthy domestic demand in India will also support regional growth: India is forecast to grow by 6.4% in 2023. Growth in the Caucasus and Central Asia, the Pacific, and Southeast Asia will be lifted as tourism recovers. Meanwhile, headline inflation is expected to decelerate from 4.4% in 2022 to 4.2% this year and 3.3% in 2024.However, higher debt and interest rates have magnified financial stability risks, as evidenced by recent banking sector problems in the United States and Europe. An escalation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine could cause renewed surges in commodity prices, stoking global inflation and inducing further monetary tightening. Further, climate change and global fracturing remain persistent challenges. To confront these challenges, policy makers need to strengthen policies to ensure financial stability and actively support multilateralism to deepen regional cooperation.

Infrastructure in the region of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the People's Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (collectively known as ASEAN+3) will continue to be a key driver of economic development as its members work toward addressing the underinvestment in healthcare, education, and digital and social infrastructure, as exposed by the coronavirus disease pandemic. The ASEAN+3 region must also deepen investments in renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure to support a fair, affordable, and secure energy transition and address the effects of climate change. However, traditional sources of government financing alone are insufficient to meet the widening demand for infrastructure financing. This report presents a practical toolkit of ways to merge public, private, institutional, and other forms of capital to deliver resilient, sustainable, and future-ready infrastructure in the ASEAN+3 region. It provides companies, investors, and policy makers a range of innovative financing models, along with critical success factors based on actual case studies from within and outside the region, that can be adapted, replicated, and upscaled for implementation in developing Asia.

This report explores what a global transition to net zero could mean for Asia and the Pacific under a range of climate policy scenarios and provides recommendations. Developing Asia faces a climate policy crossroads. The region is highly vulnerable to climate change, even as it is an increasing contributor to the global climate crisis. This report models emission pathways based on commitments and pledges under the Paris Agreement and compares them with more optimal routes to net zero. It examines required transformations in the energy sector and land use and assesses socioeconomic implications. The report looks at policy costs, climate benefits, air quality co-benefits, and labor market outcomes, and discusses policies for an efficient and equitable transition.

This manual aims to support the implementation of grid-connected rooftop photovoltaic (PV) projects in Maldives.The manual provides information to assist utility engineers and rooftop solar service providers with the installation, operation, and maintenance of grid-connected solar PV systems, and reflects the latest industry best practices. It highlights the importance of observing safety requirements when dealing with all the elements of a new PV system.

This guide provides advice on setting up logistics centers in Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) member countries to support trade.A logistics center is a complex specifically designed to accommodate warehouses, transport facilities, and associated services. This guide examines how to design, establish, and operate such centers, and what policies can support them. It looks at the potential impacts of logistics centers, and at related trends, opportunities, and challenges in Central Asia.

This report provides an analysis of Indonesia's state-owned enterprises (SOEs), explores their prominent economic and social role, and explains how further reforms can unlock their commercial and developmental potential. Acting as a diagnostic to help inform the government's SOE reform agenda, the report emphasizes the need to strengthen governance and refine incentives. Explaining how SOEs have the potential to help solve core challenges around building infrastructure or tackling climate change, it shows how strengthening SOEs through targeted measures can ensure they better support Indonesia's pandemic recovery and drive stronger economic growth.

Focusing on Indonesia's economy, this report assesses five economic corridors within the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and explores ways to boost their development, as well as potential advantages of a new, sixth corridor.The IMT-GT comprises five economic corridors that are key geographic zones for its subregional economic cooperation. Analyzing data on physical connectivity, cross-border trade, and value chains-in the context of Indonesia's development strategies-this publication reviews the four economic corridors directly connecting to Sumatera. The report reveals where existing corridors could be reconfigured, and how a sixth economic corridor could also benefit additional Indonesian provinces.

This publication highlights how Bangladesh can diversify its participation in trade and global value chains to help promote economic growth. Textiles and textile products dominate Bangladesh's exports, but such concentration poses risks to the economy. This publication explores how the country can build on its recent economic success by unlocking productivity gains from technology adoption, narrowing the digital divide, and expanding its participation in global value chains. It identifies high-potential industries with deeper domestic linkages that offer opportunities to broaden the base of economic growth. It is published jointly with the Islamic Development Bank Institute.

Designed to identify and tackle sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) in ADB-financed projects with civil works, this Good Practice Note sets out recommendations to prevent, mitigate, and manage SEAH risks in the workplace and project communities. This document defines SEAH and outlines how to prevent and respond to SEAH risks in the workplace and communities in the context of projects with civil works. It provides recommendations and sets out roles and responsibilities for ADB and project partners in addressing SEAH risks throughout the project cycle and responding to incidences of SEAH should they occur.

This country sector assessment shows how rapid economic growth and climate change are impacting Bangladesh's agriculture, natural resources, and rural development sector, and outlines ways the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is helping foster greater food security. With agriculture generating over 40 percent of jobs, it analyzes changing demand patterns, shows how the pandemic and food price rises have hit the sector, and explores how increasing production and adding value can help reduce rural poverty. It outlines how ADB is focusing on deepening value chains and agricultural commercialization, plus improving rural connectivity and natural resource management, to help improve livelihoods and bolster resilient rural development.

This edition notes slowing growth in the last quarter of 2022 in emerging East Asia's local currency (LCY) bond market, though aggregate issuance of LCY bonds by these economies reached a record high in 2022. The publication explains how improved financial conditions in emerging East Asia have been clouded by uncertainty over the path of monetary tightening in the United States and other risks. It includes findings from the latest LCY bond market survey, noting that liquidity weakened overall in 2022. Growth in the sustainable bond market moderated.

This publication shares lessons on reducing integrity risks in projects in the energy sector. It draws on reviews of six projects that were financed by the Asian Development Bank. The publication outlines how to identify and address control weaknesses that give rise to integrity risks in procurement, contract and asset management, and financial management. It aims to help stakeholders and those engaged in designing and implementing development projects learn from past vulnerabilities and effectively mitigate integrity risks. The publication is part of a series from the Asian Development Bank's Office of Anticorruption and Integrity that shares insights from reviews of work in various sectors.

This publication reviews the financial performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in nine Pacific island economies and looks at how policy makers can help state-owned power utilities address climate risk. It identifies climate-related risks and assesses policy mechanisms that could improve the utilities' resiliency and sustainability. The publication shows how commercializing and partnering with the private sector is helping SOEs to respond to climate change and facilitate inclusive economic growth. It is the seventh in a series of comparative studies of SOEs in the Pacific.