Asian Development Blog

A city is healthy only when people living in it enjoy a sense of participation and fulfillment.

5 Ways to Make Asian Cities More Inclusive

To go beyond infrastructure, we must empower people.

Girls today have role models and advantages not enjoyed by previous generations, but major challenges remain. Photo: Mi Pham

A New Day for Women and Girls in Asia and the Pacific

Girls and women today have far more opportunities and role models than their mothers and grandmothers, but there is much more to be done.

Sonomi Tanaka, Zonibel Woods

In Central Asia, the impact of high energy costs cascades across national economies. Photo: ADB

A New Era of Clean Energy Cooperation Along the Old Silk Road

The historic spirit of cross-border trade in Central Asia is being revived in the energy sector.

Ashok Bhargava

Solar energy could one day replace the smokey fuels being used in many area for cooking. Photo: ADB

Asia Needs to Get Cooking When It Comes to Solar Energy

Solar power is helping Asia get electricity to people, particularly in rural and remote areas, but it has fallen behind in its use as a clean energy cooking source.

Yongping Zhai (翟永平)

Southeast Asia’s coastal areas captures and stores vast amounts of carbon. Photo: Tanushree Rao

Asia's Coastal Areas Are More Than Just Carbon Credits

The emergence of ‘blue carbon’ in the global carbon markets could help protect Southeast Asia's coastlines, but these habitats should be valued for more than their carbon.

Audrey Tan, Francesco Ricciardi

Infrastructure and planning are key to the success of Asia’s cities. Photo: Sven Scheuermeier

Asia’s Growth Engines Need a Tune Up

Asian cities act as engines of economic growth, providing jobs, expertise, and the sharing of resources. But in some cases, these powerful engines are sputtering due to insufficient infrastructure, inadequate planning, and poor governance.

Glenita Amoranto, Liming Chen, Eugenia Co Go

In many parts of Asia the poor and disadvantaged receive little assistance from the government. Photo: ADB

Asia’s Poor Need Stronger Social Protection

Well-designed and targeted social protection programs, and particularly safety nets for the disadvantaged, deliver high returns in terms of poverty reduction.

Vinod Thomas

Bond Markets and Borrowing: How Asia’s Developing Countries are Managing the Pandemic

The pandemic has shown central bankers and public debt managers that innovation and creativity are needed to maintain borrowing opportunities and keep local currency bond markets functioning.

Jonathan Grosvenor