An evaluation by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Independent Evaluation Department has concluded that while the bank has contributed significantly to urban livability across Asia and the Pacific, greater progress will depend on stronger cross-sectoral collaboration, enhanced staff capacity, and deeper engagement with local governments. The review, covering ADB’s livable cities portfolio from 2017 to 2024, assessed the bank’s readiness to deliver integrated and locally responsive solutions for addressing urban challenges.
Independent Evaluation Director General Emmanuel Jimenez emphasized that improving urban livability is a priority for ADB, particularly as cities confront rapid urbanization, infrastructure gaps, and environmental pressures. He noted that stronger urban diagnostics are needed to ensure that priorities reflect local contexts and are grounded in governance, sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience.
The evaluation highlighted operational shortcomings, including unclear project indicators that hindered effective progress tracking and limited integration of results with country strategies or corporate frameworks. Team leader Sung Shin added that ADB’s evolving institutional structure and limited internal incentives have restricted its ability to deliver integrated solutions. Unlike some multilateral development banks, ADB has yet to fully leverage direct engagement with subnational governments.
To boost impact, the evaluation recommends that ADB strengthen its urban diagnostics, improve alignment between project design and national strategies, and enhance monitoring systems to better measure outcomes. It also calls for organizational changes to support collaboration across sectors and for scaling up direct engagement with subnational entities through lending and technical assistance.
ADB’s Independent Evaluation Department, which reports to the Board of Directors through the Development Effectiveness Committee, provides independent assessments of strategies and operations to help improve development results across the region.
