Special Evaluation Report: Inclusion, Resilience, Change: ADB’s Strategy 2020 at Mid-Term (Complete Report)

Abstract

The Asia and Pacific region has made striking progress in reducing income poverty over recent decades. At the same time, income disparities have widened, and environmental degradation has worsened markedly in many respects. The challenges of social inclusion, environmental care and regional integration—Strategy 2020’s threefold strategic agenda—are even more urgent today than they were in 2008, when the strategy was initiated. Meanwhile, as regional consultations have confirmed, expectations of countries regarding ADB support for their development have never been higher. As a premier regional public institution, ADB can and must rise to the challenge of meeting these expectations. This review by Independent Evaluation finds that to do so, ADB must adapt its business model—and most importantly, harness its financial and human resources as well as its partnerships—to reorient operations to better deliver on its 2020 agenda. In moving from stated goals to actual results, country partnership strategies ought to support operationally a blend of activities that drive inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and regional integration. Portfolio performance in infrastructure and other areas needs to help reach the institution’s target of 80% success, which has long remained elusive.