$9 Billion ADB Facility to Help Members Access and Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a $9 billion vaccine initiative—the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX)—offering rapid and equitable support to its...
COVID-19 crisis, a wake-up call on social protection for workers
The need for universal social protection in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has been underlined at a virtual conference of trade union leaders...
Developing Asia to Contract 0.4% in 2020, Grow by 6.8% in 2021
Economic activity in developing Asia is forecast to contract by 0.4% this year, before picking up to 6.8% in 2021 as the region moves...
Finland: boost employment and productivity growth to avoid lasting scars from COVID-19 crisis
The COVID-19 crisis has plunged Finland into its deepest recession since the early 1990s even though swift government support has cushioned the shock, making...
ADB Approves 2021 Administrative Budget
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today approved a 2021 administrative budget (internal administrative expense budget) of $771.2 million. This represents a 4.7% increase over...
WFP chief uses Nobel speech as call for action to avert ‘hunger pandemic’
With 270 million people – more than the entire population of Western Europe – “marching toward starvation”, the head of the World Food Programme (WFP) called for greater action to avert a “hunger pandemic”, in...
$500 Million ADB Loan to Expand Financial Inclusion in Indonesia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to support the Government of Indonesia’s efforts to expand financial access among...
World Bank: Opportunities for Maldives to Build Back Better from COVID-19
Faris Hadad-Zervos, the World Bank’s new Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, completed his first visit to the Maldives last week. The...
ADB Approves $500 Million Loan to Expand Metro Rail Network in Bengaluru
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million loan to construct new metro rail lines in Bengaluru, India.
Bengaluru is the capital city...
ILO Governing Body calls for urgent action on seafarer COVID-19 crisis
The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization has taken the exceptional action of adopting a Resolution to address the dire situation of seafarers...