Defining an Agenda for Poverty Reduction

Abstract

In November 1999, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) adopted poverty reduction as its principal objective. The Poverty Reduction Strategy that resulted from that decision committed ADB to host an international forum on poverty issues every three years. In February 2001, the Asian Development Bank hosted the first-ever Asia and Pacific Forum on Poverty (the Forum), one of the largest international meetings ever undertaken exclusively by ADB: more than 300 delegates from all over the world met in Manila, Philippines, for a week of presentations and discussions of poverty issues.