Guidance Notes

Urbanization will become one of the defining trends of Asia's transformation in the coming decades. Investments in urban areas have a strong potential to contribute to inclusive growth, reduce urban poverty, and strengthen social resilience. The Guidance Note on Poverty and Social Dimensions in Urban Projects aims to assist Asian Development Bank (ADB) staff, including practitioners and specialists working on their behalf, to effectively address the poverty and social dimensions of ADB's urban operations. It provides practical guidance in strengthening the link between urban investments and poverty reduction by making better use of poverty and social analysis as a resource for successful projects. The guide complements the Handbook on Poverty and Social Analysis (2012) which provides general guidance on incorporating poverty and social dimensions in ADB operations.

The road transport subsector tends to be vulnerable to risks. This is due to large budgets that often comprise a sizable percentage of a country's national budget (20%-30%), an unclear strategic vision, nontransparent policy decisions that lead to inappropriate priorities, procurement contracts for goods and services that lend themselves to corruption, and political interference. Additional factors include weak business processes and control systems, weak capacity of subsector agencies, and fragile links across agencies and stakeholders. This guidance note aims to explain key features of the road transport subsector and identify entry points for mapping governance risks.