This Insight Thursday event marked the International Day for People with Disabilities with a deep dive into the results of the disability inclusion assessment of ADB operations. With many of the estimated 690 million people with disabilities in the Asia and the Pacific region living in poverty, development finance was highlighted as a crucial tool not only to alleviate poverty but also to promote inclusion for people with disabilities. ADB Director-Generals Christine Engstrom and Yevgeniy Zhukov, together with international Disability Inclusion Consultant Joanna Rogers, shared insights on ADB’s performance. The discussion explored how individual sectors performed, which sectors led in promoting truly inclusive development, and which sectors still had a way to go. By sharing insights and easy wins, the session provided a timely and critical discussion.

Considerable progress had been made since the launch of the ADB Strengthening Disability Inclusive Development: 2022–2025 Road Map. Between 2019 and 2024, the percentage of disability-inclusive ADB operations more than doubled, increasing from 6% to 13%. However, the story behind the topline figures was nuanced, and sustainability was not guaranteed. This Insight Thursday event took a deep dive into the details, sharing good practices, missed opportunities, and practical tips. The session was essential for those working in the energy, transport, urban, and water sectors, as well as in development more broadly.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Global and regional priority: With over 690 million people with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, many facing poverty and exclusion, development finance plays a critical role in driving inclusive change.
    
2. ADB has made good progress on disability inclusion but the gains are uneven: ADB’s disability-inclusive operations have doubled from 6% in 2019 to 13% in 2024, yet sectoral disparities remain, with opportunities to improve disability inclusion particularly in finance and transport sectors.
    
3. Beyond the numbers: While indicators show progress, the session emphasized that data alone cannot capture the full story—good practices, missed opportunities, and quick wins must also be spotlighted.
    
4. Strengthening systems for accountability: ADB is establishing sector focal points and stronger reporting requirements.
    
5. Capacity building and partnerships: Sustained staff training, deeper collaboration with partners, and sector leadership are essential to embed disability perspectives into project design and implementation.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Christine Engstrom joined ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department in 2006 as a Senior Structured Finance Specialist. She was promoted to Director in 2013, leading transactions with financial institutions to support local financial sectors and capital markets. Following the implementation of ADB’s New Operating Model in 2023, she was appointed Senior Sector Director for the Finance Sector Office, overseeing policy development, regulatory programs, and technical assistance. A national of the United States, Ms. Engstrom holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the University of Virginia and a Master’s in Business Administration from Georgetown University. She has over 38 years of professional experience, including 19 years at ADB. This year, she was appointed as the Director General of its newly established department, Sectors Department 3 (SD3), which oversees the bank’s operations in finance, human and social development, and public sector governance. 

Yevjeniy Zhukov is Director General for its Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD). He leads and oversees ADB’s overall engagement on climate change, environment, gender, and other thematic areas. He will build stakeholder commitments as well as partnerships to develop operations that deliver strong development outcomes across Asia and the Pacific.  

Mr. Zhukov has over three decades of working experience, most of them at ADB. He was appointed Director General of the Central and West Asia Department in 2021. Previously, he served as the Secretary of the bank. He has also held senior positions at ADB’s Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships Department; Budget, People, and Management Systems Department; South Asia Department; and Pacific Department.  

Mr. Zhukov, a national of Kazakhstan, holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Claremont Graduate University in the United States, and a University Diploma with Distinction in Political Economy from Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan. 

Joanna Rogers holds an MSc in Social Work from Ersta Skondal University College in Stockholm and has over 30 years of experience in disability inclusion, social protection policy and programmes, social services development and social service workforce strengthening as well as child protection and care systems reform.  

She has extensive experience working with UNICEF country and regional offices, national and local governments, ADB, and NGOs to plan, implement and monitor national and sub-national programs in disability inclusion, social services development, child protection and social protection. She has undertaken assignments for UNICEF ECARO and EAPRO on social service workforce strengthening, public finance for children, and supported ADB HQ in Manila to develop a strategic framework for disability inclusion. 

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Louise McSorley is a Social Development Specialist at ADB. Originally trained as a lawyer, she has extensive experience in international development across Asia and the Pacific. She has served as a diplomat in India and Malaysia and held social policy leadership roles in the Australian civil service. Louise has qualifications in law, anthropology, and international development.