Institutionalizing Gender Equality at ADB: The Experience of the Bangladesh Resident Mission

Abstract

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently prepared a report analyzing the factors that contribute to the higher-than-average proportion of gender-sensitive projects (i.e., loan and grant projects) approved for Bangladesh. Adopting a gender mainstreaming approach, as required under ADB’s Gender and Development Policy, can be influenced by many factors. The assessment consolidates learning regarding some of the most critical factors, as identified by ADB staff and other stakeholders. Compared with the whole ADB portfolio of loans and grants approved between 1998—2007, Bangladesh had a higher proportion of projects that either have a gender theme or were considered to be effectively mainstreaming gender issues: 50% for Bangladesh versus 32% for ADB. Key explanatory factors are: broad-based social changes taking place in the country, providing momentum to efforts to mainstream gender concerns; increasing commitment of line agencies (e.g. the Local Government Engineering Division) provided momentum to efforts to mainstream gender concerns; and Management support in South Asia Regional Department and the Bangladesh Resident Mission.