Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific ADB

05/05/2026

ADB has prioritized advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Asia and the Pacific.

Through our operations, technical assistance and knowledge work, ADB has contributed to closing some of the critical gender gaps in the region. Yet, we also recognize that there are many stubborn gender inequalities that require renewed commitment and new approaches to accelerate progress.

ADB is currently preparing a new Policy to govern our operations on gender equality and women’s empowerment, with the aim to develop a forward-looking framework that can more effectively achieve poverty reduction, inclusive growth and other development goals of the region.

Learn more about the new policy and consultation process and timeline: https://bit.ly/adbnewgenderpolicy

Asian Development Bank

05/05/2026

🟣 ADB’s new Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy

ADB led a side event on its new Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy together with CSOs, development partners, and government representatives during the Women Deliver Conference in Narrm, Melbourne, Australia.

The session aimed to inform and guide strategic directions and operational implications, and generate practical, experience-based recommendations for the new policy.

Keiko Nowacka, Director for Gender Equality, ADB, emphasized that the new policy on gender equality and women’s empowerment sets the framework for ADB’s guidance and corporate targets and is the foundation for ADB’s work on gender equality.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/adbnewgenderpolicy

Asian Development Bank |

📸 UNFPA

05/05/2026

Nearly 60% of women and girls have experienced some form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

But there are solutions. They start with designing and deploying technology with safety and rights at the core.

Join the Asia Safety Showcase Virtual Event on May 7 ⤵️

The Asia Safety Showcase virtual event is almost here!

Did you know that, globally, nearly 60 per cent of women and girls have experienced some form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence?

But there are solutions. They start with designing and deploying technology with safety and rights at the core.

Join us on Thursday to hear directly from innovators from our region pioneering solutions to prevent and respond to this rising challenge.

Date: Thursday, 7 May 2026
Time: 10:30am (Bangkok time)
Register: Webinar Registration - https://unf.pa/4t9CJNr

The Asia Safety Showcase, the first of its kind in the region, is led by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the support of Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Digital Rights Foundation and Numun Fund.

02/05/2026

How can we engage women and youth to participate in good governance?

🗓️ 5 May 2026
⚪ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (UTC+5, Samarkand)
⚪ 2:00 – 3:30 PM (UTC+8, Manila)

🔗 Register to join online: https://bit.ly/AM59CSP

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

📅 5 May 2026
🕒 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (UTC+5, Samarkand)
🕒 2:00 – 3:30 PM (UTC+8, Manila)

This session will explore how open data and open governance can strengthen participation and accountability for women and young people. It will highlight how CSOs are using third-party monitoring, participatory budgeting, and AI-driven tools to deepen engagement, improve transparency, and support public accountability.

👉 Register to join online: https://bit.ly/AM59CSP

ℹ️ Learn more: https://www.adb.org/annual-meeting/2026/events/learning-partners-3

30/04/2026

How can we make roads and transport systems work for women and girls across Asia and the Pacific?

An ADB-financed project in Papua New Guinea will improve five district roads, of 120 km and 19 bridges, and support women’s livelihoods through:

✅ capacity building
✅ seed grants
✅ 15 women’s cooperatives formed

The result? 200 women with increased income and decision-making power.

Check our Gender Equality in Transport digital tool to discover more practical tools and insights to inspire your own work: https://bit.ly/gendertransportcases

28/04/2026

What makes a city cool?

A lot of things contribute to a city’s appeal, from vibrant streetscapes to character-filled cafés and laneways. But beyond these visible features, a truly cool city understands that when temperatures rise, what matters most is how it protects and responds to the needs of its people, including women and groups disproportionately affected by it.

During our recent study visit to Melbourne, we spoke with city leaders and planners who are working to make urban environments more livable and resilient in the face of extreme heat.

Asian Development Bank

28/04/2026

📢 Happening tomorrow ⤵️

At the Women Deliver conference, ADB is inviting CSOs, development partners, and government representatives to share feedback and practical, experience-based recommendations to refine the strategic directions of the new Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment policy.

Asian Development Bank | Women Deliver

🌏 Change calls us here. ADB is joining

Be part of the important work of shaping ADB’s new Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy. On April 29, at the sidelines of the Women Deliver conference, ADB is inviting CSOs, development partners, and government representatives to share feedback and practical, experience-based recommendations to refine the strategic directions of our new policy.

Meet our speakers:
🟣 Keiko Nowacka
🟣 Leyla Sharafi
🟣 Elizabeth Cowan
🟣 Nalini Singh

🔗 Register and join in-person: https://bit.ly/registerWD2026

🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/adbnewgenderpolicy

Asian Development Bank | Women Deliver

27/04/2026

Effective heat mitigation depends on how we design the built environment, ensuring that natural systems can function and deliver cooling where it is needed most.

Thami Croeser, Research Fellow at the Centre for Urban Research, RMIT, highlights that trees can only provide cooling when they have sufficient water and space to thrive.

Dom Blackham, Green Infrastructure and Cities Specialist at Mosaic Insights, points out that water can be integrated into city design to support more heat-resilient urban ecosystems.



Asian Development Bank

27/04/2026

ADB and UN Women jointly launched a Papua New Guinea Country Gender Assessment report in Port Moresby.

This marks a significant milestone in strengthening evidence-based action on gender equality in Papua New Guinea.

ADB’s Takafumi Kadono, Country Director of Papua New Guinea, and Ken Wai, Deputy Secretary of the National Department of Health, highlighted the importance of coordinated national and institutional commitments to advancing gender equality.

A panel discussion featured representatives from Bank of PNG, Kumul Consolidated Holding, and the Department of Transport.

Read and download the publication: https://bit.ly/adb-pngcga

Asian Development Bank | ADB in the Pacific

24/04/2026

Building heat-resilient cities begins with connected communities.

Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins, Climate Coordinator at Span Community House, shares how everyday conversations and information-sharing can make the difference between risk and safety.

Daniela Failla, Team Leader for Health at the Community Wellbeing Branch of the City of Melbourne, explains how working through local services and trusted community networks helps reach those most at risk, providing them with the information they need to stay safe.

Eilish Maguire, Program Lead of the Urban Climate Resilience Program at the Australian Red Cross, highlights the impact of community-based actions, such as heat preparedness workshops and personalised emergency planning.

Dheepa Jeyapalan, Lead Convener for Food Systems at Regen Melbourne, claims that even food is often overlooked in heat planning, making it harder for communities to stay nourished.



Asian Development Bank