Learning Curves: The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction

Abstract

The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction was set up in May 2000 to provide grants for innovative poverty reduction activities in ADBʹs . developing member countries Grants from the Fund are not for technical assistance but for direct relief that also builds capacity for self‐help and income generation. They finance small investments linked to ADB loans to pilot‐test approaches that can later be expanded into loan projects and incorporated into ADBʹs operations. ADB is thus to gain opportunities to work more directly with communities as well as nongovernment organizations and civil society. As of end‐December 2006, 90 grants had been approved in 20 countries. How well have they fared? How can future operations deliver more?