$5 billion has been replenished for the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF) 8 and Asian Development Fund (ADF) 14 by donors and the ADB, with Pakistan being the beneficiary of the funds.
In Tbilisi, Georgia, during the ADB’s 57th annual conference, the promise was made, according to a news release issued on Friday.
Refilled every four years, the ADF is the main source of funding for ADB programs in its poorest and most vulnerable developing member nations.
During the 2025–2028 cycle, ADF 14, the fund’s thirteenth replenishment since its founding, will support award operations.
According to the announcement, qualifying ADB members will receive the highest amount of ADF grants to date with the ADF 14 replenishment, which is approximately 22% more than the $4.1 billion made available in ADF 13. Grants under TASF 8 will support project preparation, capacity building, and the provision of technical or policy assistance.
According to ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa, “grants are more important than ever as our poorest and most vulnerable members seek to reverse recent development setbacks and take urgent action to combat the climate crisis.”
“This incredible replenishment shows that ADF donors and ADB are still working together to address the most important development challenges facing the most vulnerable people.”
ADF 14 places a high priority on providing targeted support to small island developing states that are extremely vulnerable, notably to climate change, as well as to those that are in unstable or afflicted by war.
Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation will continue to be greatly aided by ADF 14. It will make it possible to provide more support for regional collaboration, regional public goods, and gender-transforming initiatives. Its crisis response window will also enable it to offer prompt support in case of an emergency.
The news announcement stated that contributions from donors, including two new nations, Armenia and Georgia, will cover more than $2.5 billion, or 51%, of the replenishment.
From little under $1.2 billion in ADF 13 to about $1.6 billion in ADF 14, an increase of 35%, ADB will dramatically raise its net income contributions to ADF.
The residual $0.9 billion will consist of profits from liquidity investments and transfers from previous ADF cycles. Concessional loans have very low interest rates and extended payback terms; ADB plans to disburse $16.7 billion in these loans concurrently with the ADF 14 period. For every $1 in donations, ADB will be able to offer more than $8 in grants and concessional loans.
The following donors announced contributions to ADF 14: Armenia; Australia; Austria; Canada; Denmark; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; People’s Republic of China; Philippines; Portugal; Republic of Korea; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Taipei, China; Turkiye; United Kingdom; and United States.
The following developing member countries are the primary recipients of grants from ADF 14: Federated States of Micronesia; Kiribati; Kyrgyz Republic; Maldives; Marshall Islands; Nauru; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tajikistan; Tonga; Tuvalu; and Vanuatu.
Additionally, grants will be available for transformational initiatives in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, and Uzbekistan, as well as for the people of Afghanistan and Myanmar
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.