Yunnan is a remote, mountainous province in the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC). Many of its residents are from poor, minority groups that rely on subsistence farming. Lack of connectivity exacerbates their poverty.

In 2003, PRC, with assistance from the Asian Development Bank, launched the Western Yunnan Roads Development Project, which aimed to connect Western Yunnan to the country’s regional centers and to the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The natural resources of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) have been experiencing severe pressure from unsustainable farming practices coupled with a surge in foreign agricultural investments. Without proper intervention, Lao PDR’s environment and natural resources will no longer be sustainable and hundreds of marginalized communities in the country will be pushed further into poverty.

Bhutan’s steep mountains, deep valleys, and its people’s scattered settlements pose serious challenges to health care service delivery. Medical facilities are generally more than an hour’s walk away from the nearest village, and the capital of Thimpu, where more extensive health services can be found, could be more than 20 hours away for many residents, particularly those from the east. In addition, the country has a limited healthcare workforce.

Smoking is a global health hazard. According to the World Health Organization, around 5-6 million people from around the world died because of tobacco use in 2010. Without effective interventions, this number could double by 2030.

Information and communication technology (ICT) is one of the forces shaping the world today. The expeditious way it has facilitated communication, knowledge sharing, and transactions has provided unparalleled benefits to society.

Bangladesh had the highest proportion of gender-sensitive projects in the whole portfolio of loans and grants approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) from 1998 to 2007.

Building a railway system with a length of 75 kilometers within 11 months in a war-torn country would seem impossible to many. For those behind the Hairatan to Mazar-e-Sharif Railway Project in Afghanistan, detailed planning and efficient coordination can make this impossible feat possible. This publication highlights how they did it.

Seventy-five (75) million households in India lack access to energy, while another 80 million are under-served. This situation has pushed many people to use expensive and hazardous means to light up their homes. Households spend half of their incomes on kerosene, charcoal, firewood, paraffin, candles, and disposable batteries for lighting and energy needs.

The majority of the poor in the Philippines are in rural areas. Many of them are hand to mouth, or subsistence farmers. They are beset with limited water sources and lack of access roads.

Producing more food using less water is possible with the use of modern and innovative technology. This video focuses on how remote sensing and satellite technology can be used to improve crop water productivity and irrigation systems planning.