- Dengue toll in BD rise to 179; DGHS warns of alarming spike |
- Stocks fall again as DSE turnover hits two-month low |
- Anger in Egypt as pharaoh’s stolen gold bracelet is melted down |
- Many would-be participants fear they can’t afford to attend Brazil climate talks |
- Illegal LPG cylinder trade in Lalmonirhat ups accident risks |
ADB to boost collaboration, local ties for urban livability
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has made important contributions to urban livability in Asia and the Pacific while greater impact will require stronger cross-sectoral collaboration, enhanced staff capacity, and deeper engagement with sub-national governments.
A recent evaluation by the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Independent Evaluation Department reviewed ADB's livable cities portfolio from 2017 to 2024, and thus assessed the bank's readiness to deliver integrated and locally responsive urban solutions for enhancing urban livability.
"Improving urban livability is a priority for ADB, especially as cities across the region face mounting pressures from rapid urbanization, infrastructure gaps, and environmental challenges," said Independent Evaluation Director General Emmanuel Jimenez.
"To deliver greater impact, ADB must strengthen its urban diagnostics to better identify locally relevant livability priorities that are grounded in strong governance, sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience," Jimenez added.
The evaluation found that while ADB's livable cities agenda broadly aligned with the needs of developing member countries, there were several operational gaps.
Specifically, project results indicators often lacked clarity, making it difficult to track progress and measure impact, and they were not well-integrated with country partnership strategies or corporate results frameworks.
Evaluation team leader Sung Shin noted that ADB's institutional structure is still evolving and limited internal incentive mechanisms have posed challenges for delivering integrated urban solutions.
"Some multilateral development banks have advanced direct engagement with local authorities, but ADB has yet to fully leverage such approaches," Shin said.
"Strengthening staff capacity and working more directly with local governments could enhance ADB's support for cities and help translate livability goals into more tangible outcomes," Shin added.
To strengthen its impact, the evaluation recommends that ADB sharpen its urban diagnostics, improve alignment between project design and country strategies, and enhance monitoring and evaluation systems to better track project outcomes.
It also calls for tailoring organizational arrangements to support cross-sectoral collaboration and for scaling up engagement with sub-national entities through direct lending and technical assistance.
About Independent Evaluation at ADB:
ADB's Independent Evaluation, reporting to the Board of Directors through the
Development Effectiveness Committee, provides objective assessments of ADB's strategies, operations, and results to help improve development outcomes across Asia and the Pacific, reports BSS.