Corporate Governance (CG) principles provide guidance on how corporations should operate. Adoption of international CG best practices leads to long-term sustainability and resilience, and can be a competitive tool to attract foreign investments. The Asian Development Bank in partnership with the...

This sector assessment, strategy, and road map highlights the Government of Viet Nam’s plans and strategies for addressing priority needs for the financial sector and identifies possible preliminary areas of international assistance. It assesses key sector development needs by analyzing...

The People’s Republic of China is a highly decentralized unitary state with local governments having a dominant share of public service delivery responsibility. Local governance is critically linked to a local public finance system that creates incentives and accountability mechanisms. To...

This brief gives an overview of women’s entrepreneurship in the region, and describes (i) how information and communication technology (ICT) can be used to support business activity and overcome challenges specific to women, (ii) the barriers preventing women from enjoying the full benefits...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported the provincial authorities of Quang Nam in Viet Nam to scale up the implementation of payments for forest environmental services (PFES) through a technical assistance financed by the Governments of Sweden and Norway. The project pilot-tested two...

The Central Mekong Delta Region Connectivity Project aims to enhance connectivity across provinces of southern Viet Nam and Ho Chi Minh City. It includes two major bridges, a 15-kilometer road connecting the two bridges, and approach roads. Given the high exposure of the Mekong Delta to severe...

This paper presents the results of ADB's study on Social Protection Index in Asia and the Pacific from the poverty dimension perspective. The Social Protection Index is a compact, simple indicator designed to help governments assess social protection programs. The paper analyzes the impact on...

Located at the apex of the Coral Triangle, the Philippines is an integral part of this global center of marine biodiversity. Unfortunately, climate change and human activities have taken a heavy toll on the country’s coral reefs, mangrove forests, and endangered species, threatening the food...

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) energy policy focuses on maximizing energy access, promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, and promoting improved governance and capacity in the energy sector to strengthen the capacity of developing member countries to meet critical energy needs....

This paper presents the findings from a research project on the Social Protection Index, which assesses the extent to which gender has been incorporated in social protection programs. The Social Protection Index is a measure of central government social protection expenditures relative to all...