Advances in Closing the ICT Connectivity Gap in Asia and the Pacific: Better Analysis, Understanding, and Solutions

Equitable ICT connectivity around the region remains a development bottleneck, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its long-term effects, which has accelerated digitalization trends. It has become crucial for policy makers, development partners, and investors to review their strategies, fiscal space, and investment priorities.

Understanding Hygiene Behavior and Hygiene Behavior Change

8:00–9:00 a.m. (London time) | 3:00–4:00 p.m. (Manila time) | via Zoom

With more than half of 2020 spent under the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic already, proper hand hygiene has become mainstreamed, if not ingrained, into public consciousness. Access to and sustainability of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are vital to protect human health.

Managing and Monitoring Air Quality in Ortigas

Outdoor or ambient air pollution is a critical environmental problem causing millions of premature deaths in Asia. At the same time, indoor air pollution is a major challenge also causing millions of premature deaths. The nature of indoor air pollution varies from one region or one country to another depending on the climatic conditions, type of housing, socio-cultural background and others.

Water Supply and Wastewater Detection, Warning, and Treatment in the Age of COVID-19

Under a One ADB approach, the Water and Health Sector Groups (led by the Water and Health Advisory Team), and the Procurement, Portfolio and Financial Management Department (PPFD) convened experts from the health, wastewater, and water supply industries and discussed the implications of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the wastewater and water supply systems and the potential of wastewater-based epidemiology.

Tourism: Respond, Restart, and Recover

The third Policy Actions for COVID-19 Economic Recovery (PACER) Dialogue on “Tourism: Respond, Restart and Recover” featured global good practice examples of effective tourism crisis recovery policies. Over 130 participants including 64 government officials from Southeast Asia and the People’s Republic of China participated in the Dialogue, sharing knowledge and country experiences and lessons on Travel and Tourism policies and measures taken to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerate recovery.

The third PACER Dialogue aimed to: