The document discusses ADB's engagement with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with a focus on using information and communication technologies (ICT). It provides background on ADB's mission to reduce poverty in developing countries and its recognition of CSOs role in strengthening development efforts through innovation, accountability, and participation. Examples are given of ADB partnering with CSOs to connect remote schools in Samoa and provide health education to ethnic minorities using ICT. The document emphasizes that adopting appropriate technologies along with enabling policies, capacity building, partnerships, and sustained support are needed to drive meaningful and lasting change.

1. Engaging Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs):
Focus on ICT
Presented by:
Suzanne Nazal
Asian Development Bank
NGO Connection Day

2. Asian Development Bank
Our vision - an Asia and Pacific Free of Poverty
• an international development finance
institution whose mission is to help its
developing member countries reduce poverty
and improve the quality of life of their people.
• owned and financed by its 67 members, of
which 48 are from the region and 19 are from
other parts of the globe.
• main instruments comprise loans, technical
assistance, grants, advice, and knowledge.

3. ADB works with CSOs
“…(to strengthen) the effectiveness, sustainability, and
quality of services that ADB provides”
Why CSOs?
•Innovation
•Accountability
•Responsiveness
•Participation
•Sustainability

4. 1998
NGO Cooperation
Policy
1987
NGO Cooperation

5. ADB’s Strategy 2020
• Our vision: "Eradicating Poverty"
• “ADB will engage in partnerships with a
more diverse group of institutions.
Partnerships with international
development agencies, multilateral and
bilateral institutions, the private sector,
NGOs, community-based organizations,
and foundations will become central to
planning, financing, and implementing
ADB operations.”

6. Integrating ICT in NGO Operations

7. ICT as a tool to fight poverty
ICT is a development enabler and tool in the fight
against poverty. It is critical for economic and
human development, as it:
• enables access to almost limitless information
• facilitates different modes of communication
• connects economies and communities
• aids in the fast and cost-effective delivery of
public services
- ADB ICT Strategy

8. ADB’s ICT Strategy,
2003
ADB assists developing member countries to
have “increased access to information and allow
the less privileged in society, and the less-
developed parts of the region to have wider
options and a greater role in determining their
future.”

11. ADB-NGO partnership in ICT
Some examples…
Samoa SchoolNet: Connecting Remote
Pacific Islands and Providing Community
Access

12. ADB-NGO partnership in ICT
Some examples…
Health Education: Reaching Remote Ethnic
Minorities in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Using Information and Communication
Technology

13. Access to ICT alone will not result in significant,
lasting change. It is the adoption of appropriate
technology, paralleled with an enabling policy
environment, a responsive and needs-based
approach, improved individual and institutional
capacity, nurtured partnerships with key
stakeholders, leadership by local champions,
effectively managed change, and sustained
support that make the difference.
-ADB, 2010

14. Thank you!
NGO & Civil Society Center
Asian Development Bank
ngocoordinator@adb.org
http://www.adb.org/ngos