Asian Development Bank – 11th Replenishment of the Asian Development Fund 2017-2020

This contribution represents Canada’s institutional support to the eleventh replenishment of the Asian Development Fund (AsDF) of the Asian Development Bank. Established in 1973 by the Asian Development Bank (AsDB)’s member countries, the Fund provides grants to the poorest countries in the Asia-Pacific region. These funds are used to: build, expand and improve green and sustainable infrastructure, such as building or upgrading roads and providing better water and clean energy to more households; promote greater food security; strengthen preparedness and response to climate change and disasters; support the development of a vibrant private sector while also improving good governance and capacities (such as public sector management); promote regional public goods (such as cross-border health security or the implementation of COP21 commitments); mainstream gender across AsDF operations (including by increasing direct programming towards women and girls); expand interventions in the social sectors (such as improving people’s access to quality health and vocational education); and strengthen support for the most vulnerable countries of Asia and the Pacific, namely the Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCAS) and the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Canada is currently the 7th largest shareholder of the AsDB and is the one of the principal contributors to the AsDF.