Donald Lambert

Principal Private Sector Development Specialist, Southeast Asia Department, ADB

Donald Lambert leads the Private Sector Development Unit within ADB’s Viet Nam Resident Mission. The unit supports expanding the role of the private sector in contributing to Viet Nam’s socio-economic development. Previously at ADB, he worked on financial sector development in India and Sri Lanka, served as head of the corporate recovery unit, and was a credit risk management specialist covering ADB’s financial institutions portfolio. Employment prior to ADB included with the US Federal Reserve and as a US Army officer. Mr. Lambert holds a master’s degree from Harvard University, a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, and is a CFA® charterholder.

Viet Nam has set ambitious goals to address climate change. Photo: Peter Hammer

Four Ways To Fund Viet Nam’s COP26 Climate Commitments

Viet Nam is committing to ambitious goals to address climate change. Here’s how to fund them.

Mandatory credit ratings are needed for Viet Nam’s corporate bond market.

Debunking Viet Nam’s Credit Rating Misconceptions

Mandating public credit ratings for all publicly and privately traded bonds will improve the transparency and sustainability of Viet Nam’s corporate bond market.

With more capital, women-owned businesses in Viet Nam could spur both more profits and positive social change. Photo: ADB

How Banks in Viet Nam Can Empower Women’s Businesses

Bank boards can drive growth and profits while spurring positive social change by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises owned by women.

Expanded microfinance will give people in Viet Nam greater opportunities to improve their lives. Photo: ADB

Bold Reforms Can Unleash the Power of Microfinance in Viet Nam

For microfinance institutions in Viet Nam to flourish and grow their client base, regulatory changes are needed, beginning with their ownership.

Small businesses owned and operated by women are particularly vulnerable to pandemic lockdowns. Photo: ADB

Helping Viet Nam’s Small Businesses and Female Entrepreneurs Endure

Small businesses are the backbone of the Vietnamese economy. The government should take decisive action to help them, particularly those owned by women.

In Viet Nam, the government pays for most infrastructure spending. Private sector participation is needed. Photo: ADB

Viet Nam’s Public-Private Partnership Law is Up and Running. What’s Next?

Despite significant gains in the last decade, Viet Nam’s infrastructure lags regional peers such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Partnering with the private sector will help close the gap.

More investments such as the water treatment plant by the Binh Duong Water Supply Sewerage Environment Company Limited (BIWASE) are needed in Viet Nam. Photo: ADB

Water Pressure: Eight Reforms to Boost Investment into Viet Nam’s Water Sector

Viet Nam’s water sector is promising for investors but a bold reform agenda is needed to connect private capital to this crucial public service and unleash the development and economic growth that will follow.

Women entrepreneurs in Viet Nam face unique challenges, often made worse by the pandemic. Photo: ADB

Has Viet Nam’s Economy Recovered from COVID-19? Ask Women Entrepreneurs

On many levels, women in Viet Nam fare better than women living in countries at a similar level of economic development. Still, women-owned businesses face disproportionate barriers.

The establishment of a credit rating system is crucial to Viet Nam’s bond market development. Photo: Ashim D’Silva

Spurring Development of Viet Nam’s Corporate Bond Market

Reforms that drive the demand for credit ratings will support the development of the corporate bond market.

State-owned enterprises can be important sources of revenue for building roads, bridges and other types of infrastructure. Photo: Ngô Thanh Tùng

How to Drive the Economy by Reforming State-Owned Debt

The more Viet Nam’s state-owned enterprises can access capital through the strength of their own balance sheets, the more they can help fund infrastructure, social development and COVID-19 response.