The Civil Society Program at the 58th ADB Annual Meeting in Milan underscored the importance of ADB's engagement with civil society and its role in facilitating and improving development outcomes across Asia and the Pacific. The program included 11 events held over four days, with over 200 civil society representatives attending in person and over 130 joining online.

Highlights of the program included a dialogue between President Kanda and ADB senior staff with civil society representatives during the Meeting between Civil Society Organizations and ADB Senior Management where social inclusion, climate, energy policy, investments in energy transition, and critical mineral value chain were discussed.

Unpacking the Risks in ADB’s Just Transition Agenda shared grassroots perspectives on the realities of vulnerable communities, emphasizing the need to address inequities and build sustainable economies at an appropriate pace and scale. Featuring a youth panel, Dual Pathways to Economic Inclusion: Equipping Underrepresented Youth for Digital and Sustainable Futures shared young people’s experiences navigating digital and ecological evolution, and discussed recommendations to policymakers for supporting underrepresented youth. Digital Technology: A Lifeline to Building a Resilient Tomorrow showcased partnerships between civil society and the private sector, focusing on digital innovations that build resilience of vulnerable groups within communities. Civil Society Organizations Networking and Reception provided an opportunity for civil society organizations to come together with other development partners to build connections and exchange ideas for collaboration.

Ground-up Perspective on the Effectiveness of ADB Accountability Mechanism and Safeguards Delivery discussed the critical role of ADB’s Accountability Mechanism in ensuring that environmental and social safeguards are actively enforced on the ground and grievances are effectively addressed. Infrastructure in a Changing World: Financing Resilience in Infrastructure Strategies explored practical tools for integrating resilience into infrastructure planning and design, along with innovative financing mechanisms for infrastructure projects. Protecting Workers’ Rights Towards a Just Transition discussed how a Just Transition can be incorporated into ADB’s agenda in a way that protects human and workers' rights, and explored opportunities for collaboration in implementing ADB’s new safeguards policy. Engaging Stakeholders Meaningfully on Sustainable Development Projects: Lessons from Community Participatory Approaches highlighted the importance of community participation and monitoring in enhancing the effectiveness of activities, finances, and climate change adaptation outcomes in ADB-supported programs. How ADB can Enhance its Support to Women and Girls in Asia and the Pacific gathered insights from civic groups on key areas for enhancing cross-cutting support for women and girls in the region. The Civil Society Program ended with the annual Dialogue Between ADB’s Independent Evaluation Department and Civil Society Organizations, which discussed past and current evaluations and recognized civil society’s vital role as stakeholders and partners in development.

About the Civil Society Program, 58th ADB Annual Meeting:

The Civil Society Program (CSP) is a key segment of the 58th ADB Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors. CSP is a venue for civil society organizations to dialogue with ADB and representatives of its developing member countries on key development topics in Asia and the Pacific.

ℹ️ For more information, visit https://www.adb.org/annual-meeting/2025/csp

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