Budget of the Asian Development Bank for 2021

Abstract

The 2021 budget of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) supports the strategic and institutional priorities of the Work Program and Budget Framework, 2021–2023. The 2021 work program commitments comprise $21.2 billion and 135 projects for sovereign operations (from $29.1 billion and 159 projects estimated for 2020), $2.1 billion and 43 projects for nonsovereign operations (NSOs) (from $1.9 billion and 39 projects estimated for 2020), and $384 million and 239 new technical assistance operations (from $527 million and 266 operations estimated for 2020). In 2021, ADB will continue to focus on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response and helping its developing member countries (DMCs) achieve a green, resilient, and inclusive economic recovery. The implementation of Strategy 2030 and its seven operational priorities will also continue. ADB has adopted a scenario-based approach to planning the Work Program and Budget Framework, 2021–2023, which is based on a baseline scenario and considers an alternative scenario. ADB has introduced several policy variations and measures to enable ADB to provide faster, more tailored, and impactful responses to COVID-19. One of ADB’s goals is to support the rapid and equitable distribution of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines across its DMCs. ADB will focus on the quality and the impact of its operations. Differentiated approaches will be applied across DMCs as their transition to a “new normal” is expected to differ by country. Strategic priorities will include (i) strengthening the alignment of operations with Strategy 2030’s seven operational priorities; (ii) enhancing the role of NSOs and public–private partnerships; (iii) expanding knowledge solutions and innovative approaches; (iv) adopting integrated One ADB approaches; (v) enhancing communications and outreach; (vi) strengthening cofinancing, resource mobilization, and catalyzation; and (vii) improving project implementation.