The Asian Development Outlook (ADO) envisaged tepid growth in the major industrial economies over the forecast horizon.

Managing solid waste is one of the major challenges in urbanization. A survey conducted in all 58 municipalities of Nepal in 2012 found that the average municipal solid waste generation was 317 grams per capita per day. This translates into 1,435 tons per day or 524,000 tons per year of...

This report presents the outputs of the Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Study in the Mekong Delta. The study focuses on vulnerability assessment of two provinces in the Mekong Delta region: Ca Mau and Kien Giang. Using climate change modeling, socioeconomic data, geographic information...

This synthesis report is the result of close, collaborative research initiated by the Asian Development Bank in partnership with Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada; the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation; and the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia....

The burden of poor maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) remains unacceptably high in many developing member countries (DMCs). To understand the barriers facing households in accessing MNCH care, the ADB technical assistance project RETA-6515 analyzed data from routine national household...

There is a strong relationship between gender-based discrimination and the different channels through which households and individuals access food—through own-production, access to waged employment, or social protection. The report shows that while equality of treatment between women and men...

This publication explores the option of outsourcing the procurement function to specialized agencies. Through selected case studies, it discusses the various benefits and issues surrounding two major approaches, namely a market-based system and a centralized procurement agency model. In...

Guided by its philosophy of gross national happiness, Bhutan achieved strong growth during 1981–2011, and its per capita gross domestic product more than quintupled, with hydropower as the main growth driver. The government’s conscious efforts to invest in socioeconomic programs have helped...

The Office of the Ombudsperson was established in 2012 to provide staff of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with confidential, impartial, informal, and independent assistance to resolve workplace conflicts and issues. Its first annual report describes the operations of the office in fulfilling...