Asian Development Blog

For many in Indonesia, direct contact is needed in order to make a living. Photo: ADB

To Survive the Pandemic, Indonesia’s Urban Poor Need Economic Support and Help with Basic Services

For many of Indonesia’s urban poor who work in the informal sector, social distancing is nearly impossible if they want to maintain their income. Two key policies can help.

Joris van Etten, Tiffany M. Tran

Tracking People’s Movement After Disasters Can Save Lives

Based on a case study in Indonesia, these charts illustrate how privacy-compliant human mobility data – such as mobile phone and GPS information – can provide rapid information to understand the impact of a disaster and how best to respond.

Madhavi Pundit, Priscille Villanueva

Trade Connections Expose Asia and the Pacific to the Global Slowdown

These charts illustrate how developing economies in Asia and the Pacific face significant growth challenges due to their exposure to declining demand from major markets in Europe, the United States, and the People’s Republic of China.

Jules Hugot, Homer Pagkalinawan

Changing landfill management can arguably make the greatest impact on solid waste in Asian cities. Photo by Lyndsay Chapple.

Waste Management in Asia: 1 Goal, 5 Cities, 5 Lessons

Managing solid waste remains a low priority for most Asian cities. Here’s what we have learned needs to change.

Andrew McIntyre

The SDGs are bringing a new era to development. Photo: ADB

We Need to Break Silos for the Sustainable Development Goals

The transition from the Millennium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals will require partnerships and a new view on development.

Susann Roth

Countries across Asia and the Pacific have re-opened to tourism with varying degrees of success. Photo: Stelios Katakalos

What Emerging Bright Spots Tell Us About Reviving Тourism in Asia

Tourism has yet to recover in Asia and the Pacific, but a few green shoots can help us understand how best to heal the sector.

Jules Hugot, Reizle Platitas

Women, particularly the poor, were among the hardest hit by job losses during the pandemic. Photo: ADB

What Policies Saved Jobs During the Pandemic? Five Key Findings from Southeast Asia

Women and young people were hit the hardest by job losses during the pandemic but some governments used innovative policies to improve the situation.

Sameer Khatiwada

In Southeast Asia, monetary policy is doing the heavy lifting during times of trade tensions. Photo: Gede Suhendra

Why are Interest Rates Falling in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asian economies are starting to feel the pinch of trade tensions, recession fears and other global trends.

Thiam Hee Ng

Why are More Women Dying in Childbirth in Indonesia?

As the world marks International Day of Action for Women's Health, maternal deaths are an uncomfortable reminder that much work still needs to be done. Indonesia is a case in point. While it is one of the fast growing economic powerhouses in Asia it is also experiencing a worrying rise in maternal deaths.

Susann Roth