Why We Should Buy Earthquake Insurance
After the recent catastrophe in Nepal, it’s time for homeowners in Asia and the Pacific to decide whether or not to purchase earthquake insurance. On one hand it could happen tomorrow, on the other it may not happen for another 80 years – so is it a gamble we are willing to take?
Community-Driven Development for Effective Disaster Response in the Philippines
Poverty and natural disasters are intertwined. Both, however, can be addressed together through the community-driven development approach to disaster preparedness, as we have learned in the Philippines.
Is Asia Ready to Face a ‘Grey Tsunami?’
On World Population Day, it's time to reflect on how we choose to address the challenges and maximize the opportunities of a growing older population, which will determine the future of developing Asia.
5 Reasons for Getting CSR in Your Workplace in Asia
CSR brings so many benefits to the bottom line of a business and organization that is no longer an issue for debate in Asia, where the tipping point has been reached.
Fiscal Policies, Inequality and Climate Change: How They Make or Break the Rich-Poor Divide
Do fiscal policies respond appropriately to reduce vulnerabilities, or actually widen the pre-existing inequality that is exacerbated during disasters?
Why People Don’t Buy Insurance in Asia
Insurance is often viewed as a product of the sophisticated, capitalistic system of the West, and those who are outside this cultural group are less likely to value insurance protection. Asians, who rely on informal insurance such as a family network, are thus typically less focused on buying insurance.
Actions for Inclusion Amid Rising Inequality
A focus on inclusion in the new SDGs is vital for Asia and the Pacific, where inequality has risen some 20% in the past two decades, and around 1.4 billion people live under $2 a day.
Working in Conflict-Affected Areas – The Myanmar Experience
ADB is committed to finance the last stretch of a regional transport corridor that includes a road passing through Myanmar’s restive Kayin State. It would have been easier for ADB to simply avoid a conflict-affected area, but we did not shy away from the challenge.
Extending the Reach of Flood Insurance
Disaster preparedness should include extending the reach of insurance to cover flooding to help individuals, businesses and governments to get back on their feet more quickly after a disaster strikes.
Infrastructure and Safeguards
As multilateral development banks gear up to fill serious gaps in infrastructure in Asia, attention also focuses on safeguards, which should be a top concern for established lenders such as the World Bank and ADB as well as new players like the AIIB.