Sector and Thematic Groups in ADB
ADB's sector and thematic groups (formerly, communities of practice or CoPs) represent the institution's collective knowledge and expertise in specific development sectors and themes. As networks that draw on existing and evolving in-house expertise, sector and thematic groups promote knowledge management and learning within ADB and are committed to engaging more purposefully in external partnerships.
Currently, there are 7 sector groups and 8 thematic groups in ADB, each a diverse network of ADB staff that
- Provides strategic operational support
- Facilitates knowledge management and knowledge sharing
- Supports human resources and talent management within ADB
Sector groups
ADB's sector groups work towards pooling sector knowledge, including best practices and technologies, to realize the commitment to eradicate poverty.
Education
Plans and monitors ADB's support to the sector, conducts analytical studies on education issues, and promotes interagency coordination in education development to achieve universal access to education in Asia and related issues.
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Energy
Shares the knowledge, practices, and technologies in improving Asia’s energy sector, while addressing connected concerns such as hydropower generation, clean development mechanisms, climate change, and water and food security.
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Finance
Drives the development of Asia’s general financial market, small and medium enterprise, and payment system, while promoting regional economic and financial integration.
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Health
Improves knowledge management in the health sector by creating a strong community of health planners and practitioners, stimulating and facilitating relevant knowledge products, and monitoring sector-related issues and performance.
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Transport
Concentrates on scaling up urban transport, mainstreaming climate change and energy efficiency in projects, improving cross-border transport and logistics, and supporting road safety and social sustainability.
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Urban
Facilitates knowledge flow on holistic and integrated approaches to the development of Competitive, Inclusive, and Green Cities to maintain vital economic growth while creating sustainable, resilient, and liveable cities in Asia.
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Water
Ensures quality of projects on water supply, sanitation, and water resources management, supports pilot activities and knowledge sharing events, and enhances water partnerships toward the provision of water for all in Asia.
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Thematic groups
ADB's thematic groups focus on development issues and challenges that cut across sectors.
Rural Development and Food Security (Agriculture)
Conducts expert and peer reviews of project design and engages with IFAD, CGIAR, FAO, UNEP, USDA, and other agencies in research, peer reviews, workshops, and other activities to address Asia’s food security concerns and rural poverty.
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Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management
Provides technical support bank-wide to increase ADB investments in climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction, covering—among others—climate change impact assessment of critical infrastructure, disaster risk financing in developing member countries, urban resilience, and climate smart agriculture operations.
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Environment
Ensures mainstreaming of environmental sustainability in project designs, conducts peer reviews of environmental impact assessments of category, and develops new focus areas of work under environment.
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Gender Equity
Promotes and advocates increased attention to gender issues in ADB projects and forges links with development partners on gender-related issues to accelerate the integration of gender equity and women’s empowerment in ADB operations.
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Governance
Promotes attention to governance and public sector management issues in ADB operations, and is an important institutional platform for knowledge sharing, cross-departmental coordination, peer review, learning, and links to external networks and partners.
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Social Development
Promotes new initiatives and policies that aim to reduce poverty, inequality, and vulnerability among poor and marginalized groups by transforming social institutions toward inclusive and equitable social development.
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Regional Cooperation and Integration
Provides strategic directions in administering the Regional Cooperation and Integration Fund, Investment Climate Facilitation Fund, and People's Republic of China Regional Cooperation and Poverty Reduction Fund.
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Public-Private Partnership
Promotes PPP and private sector development in ADB’s core operational areas and pools knowledge toward the creation a unified approach amongst practitioners within ADB for implementing PPP options.
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Regional and global communities of practice
ADB supports and participates in similar regional and international CoPs for development effectiveness.
Asia-Pacific CoP on Managing for Development Results
Promotes learning and knowledge exchange among public managers and agencies from ADB developing member countries on achieving better results in country operations by introducing and institutionalizing MfDR in public management.
Evaluation Cooperation Group Network
Promotes more harmonized approach to evaluation methodology among multilateral development banks, including the development of guiding principles and standards, addresses issues such as the independence of evaluation offices, among others. MORE
Monitoring and Evaluation CoP
Aims to boost knowledge sharing and learning for M&E in the Asia and Pacific region, with an initial focus on the Greater Mekong subregion, for higher efficiency and effectiveness in public sector service provision.