Books published by Asian Development Bank

Explores how Nepal could boost its exports by addressing non-tariff barriers to trade. The report focuses on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade, and identifies export products that have the potential for an increased market share in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

Explains how to use remote sensing technology to estimate rice crop area and production to support food security policymaking in Asia and the Pacific. The publication outlines methods and tools developed for generating statistics on paddy area and production using remote sensing and GIS techniques.

Drawing extensively on knowledge generated by the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum, the publication looks at the essential building blocks and the enabling environment for local currency bond markets, as well as the roles of government, relevant authorities, and market participants.

The trade patterns of Maldives within South Asia are examined and a gap analysis conducted on relevant legal structures, institutional frameworks, and infrastructure. Specific trade-hindering nontariff measures applied to the potential export products are identified and prioritized recommendations to address them are also proposed.

Explores the current application of disaster risk financing solutions by government, businesses, and individual households; related demand and supply constraints; and opportunities for improvement. This assessment forms one of a series of country diagnostics undertaken using a common methodology.

Presents a biodiversity baseline assessment of areas at the Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Bhutan. The assessment confirmed the presence of 27 protected species. Mammals accounted for the majority at 74%. Camera trapping over 5 months yielded 4,300 individual mammals and 28 species.

Shows progress in expenditure, primarily driven by social insurance and coverage between 2009 and 2015. Spending on women has improved in several countries, yet others continued to favour the non-poor over the poor, and men over women.

Provides updates on social protection indicators for 13 Pacific developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank. The publication presents an analysis of 2015 data on social protection programs, particularly the substantial progress in expenditure and benefit size between 2009 and 2015.

Provides analysis and recommendations to support the Yangon Region Government to implement its affordable housing agenda and related policies. After assessing the current housing market situation in Yangon, the publication identifies reform options and offers practical recommendations.

Provides an overview of international and regional economic developments. The publication features 13 articles and policy briefs that explore socioeconomic development in the Pacific, particularly on social protection, education, elderly care, health care, pension schemes, water and sanitation, nutrition, employment, and financial inclusion.

Discusses the development potential of solar district heating in the People's Republic of China. The publication explores the significant potential of solar district heating to accelerate the integration of renewable energy into heating systems in the PRC. This will be important in promoting low-carbon cities and reducing urban air pollution.

Explores the views of stakeholders in the two decades of partnership between ADB and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in India. Essential lessons provided in this publication may be useful for other megacities in the region seeking to become more livable.

Provides insights on how trade can be leveraged to enhance economic opportunities for women in the Pacific. The book includes an analysis of how gender mainstreaming in Aid for Trade programs could catalyze greater donor support to help the region benefit from gender-equitable and truly inclusive growth.

Provides an update of developments in Pacific economies and explores topical policy issues to date. This 10th edition features policy briefs focusing on the effects of climate change, impacts of natural hazards, income and purchasing power, service delivery, economic empowerment of women, and labour markets in the region.

Reviews 85 impact evaluations of energy interventions in developing countries, summarizes findings on outcomes, identifies evidence gaps, and proposes ways forward. The report notes that impact evaluation has so far focused on rural electrification and improved cookstoves, while most investments are in power generation and transmission.

Reviews 91 impact evaluations of transport interventions in developing countries, summarizes findings on outcomes, identifies evidence gaps, and proposes ways forward. Most of the studies reviewed find significant effects on at least one of the outcomes investigated.

Reviews Cambodia's progress in fiscal decentralization since passing the Law on Administrative Management of the Capital, Provinces, Municipalities, Districts and Khans and commencing the National Program for Democratic Development, 2010-2019 (which was extended to 2020).

Presents the rationale for and design of a city government disaster insurance pool in the Philippines. The Philippine City Disaster Insurance Pool utilizes a parametric insurance structure, basing payouts on the occurrence of earthquakes and typhoons according to their physical features, rather than actual losses.

Presents a step-by-step guide on how to rehabilitate mangroves. The initiative addresses the impacts of climate change, particularly coastal flooding which is prevalent in Papua New Guinea. The idea was to design a handbook on planting mangroves for all purposes, including carbon absorption, nature conservation, fisheries, and ecotourism.

Presents a series of technical specification reference guides that ADB prepared regarding the design of training facility norms and standard equipment lists based on industry standards. Provided here are examples and guidance on how to establish training facilities for precision engineering training programs.

In pursuit of its results-based lending policy, the Asian Development Bank commissioned this independent third-party tracer study for the Skills Sector Development Program in Sri Lanka. This tracer study examined job placement rates by tracking graduates from seven public technical and vocational education and training institutions in the country.

Provides an overview of the textbook production chain and suggests ways in which policy makers can make improvements. With evidence from a range of countries, mainly in Asia, the study is intended as a resource for policy makers and as a reference and benchmark for education systems.

Tracks the progress of financial innovation in Asia and the Pacific, and discusses its implications for financial inclusion and stability as well as its challenges. The report also identifies key policy issues for central banks, financial regulators, and international financial institutions.

This guidance note underscores the importance of scaling up resilience-building measures through community-driven development projects. It proposes a framework that recommends five key considerations that should be factored in the design of community-driven development projects to ensure they deliver on scaling up of resilience-building measures.

A guide to support women's entrepreneurship in Asia and the Pacific. The three parts of the report cover the key barriers that women in Asia and the Pacific face when trying to establish or grow a business, case studies of projects supported by the ADB and The Asia Foundation, and proposed areas for further research.

Measures the skills gap among tourism industry workers and the resulting opportunity costs along the Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor in Central Asia. The skills gap analysis identifies an annual lack of about 8,500 trained professionals in the tourism industry along the region which is causing opportunity costs of more than $30 million per year.

Assesses the plant health, animal health, and food safety measures of member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program. The assessment covers laws and procedures governing the oversight and application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, laboratory infrastructure, and border services management.

Examines the development assistance of the Asian Development Bank since Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002. Milestones in nation-building and activities of development partners from around Asia and the Pacific are chronicled.

Documents the process and materials needed to conduct interventions to support the transition to local government-led Community-Driven Development in the Philippines.

Provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up, use, and maintain the statistical business register of the Asian Development Bank. This publication also outlines the key technical considerations that guided ADB's development of the software.