Urban poor housing development is an investment and does not only constitute social expenses. The Community Organizations Development Institute in Thailand, through the Baan Mankong program, has adopted a demand-driven and holistic development approach to empower the urban low-income community.

While Asia continues to show remarkable development and poverty reduction and expands its role significantly in the global economy, water security becomes a growing concern. Increasing water security will require mobilization of new levels of cooperation among all economic sectors and sections of society.

Tam Ky, Han Tinh, and Buon Ma Thuot are recognized as rapidly developing urban areas in Viet Nam, but can be hampered by weak infrastructure and urban services. Developing these secondary cities is vital to addressing spatial and economic disparities, which can constrain the country’s sustained economic growth.

There is a large gap in financing discussions: costs of services that people want and are willing to pay for, costs of asset management regulation, and public finance towards a long term vision beyond latrines. Looking at financing in the long-term is seen as a crucial move to fill in existing gaps.

This presentation provides examples of equal opportunity practices in companies. It describes programs of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development that provide access to credit lines for women in Turkey and the Balkans. It also discusses other initiatives that support women’s access to finance.