Despite some progress, women's share in senior management is still poor. Closing the gender gap in leadership leads to better business and financial outcomes. ADB's Trade Finance Program—which guaranteed or funded 3,500 transactions in 2017 valued at $4.5 billion—conducted a gender audit among several of its partner banks. The objective of this study was to develop specific, practical and implementable recommendations to attract, retain, and promote more women in banking. This study was a joint effort between ADB's Private Sector Department and the Gender Equity Thematic Group, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This report assesses how Bangladesh is cutting gaps in gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in financial services and shows how support for women entrepreneurs alongside better technology access can boost sustainable development. It explains the rapid growth of Bangladesh’s financial sector, analyzes policies, and explores how the rise of mobile financial services is improving inclusion for women and vulnerable groups. Outlining steps including better access to cheap mobile phones and internet, it shows how increasing credit to women-owned small businesses and targeting insurance products can help mainstream GESI and incorporate it into the design and implementation of ADB-funded projects.

This book documents ADB’s knowledge management journey since 1966 and looks at how the bank has emerged as an increasingly valuable knowledge advisor to its developing member countries. It tracks the evolution of ADB as a platform for sharing ideas, knowledge, and experience on key development challenges in Asia and the Pacific and beyond. To showcase some of ADB’s knowledge management successes, the book presents 42 knowledge solutions across 10 sectors.

Trade can dramatically improve women’s lives, creating new jobs, enhancing consumer choices, and increasing women’s bargaining power in society. It can also lead to job losses and a concentration of work in low-skilled employment. Given the complexity and specificity of the relationship between trade and gender, it is essential to assess the potential impact of trade policy on both women and men and to develop appropriate, evidence-based policies to ensure that trade helps to enhance opportunities for all. Research on gender equality and trade has been constrained by limited data and a lack of understanding of the connections among the economic roles that women play as workers, consumers, and decision makers. Building on new analyses and new sex-disaggregated data, Women and Trade: The Role of Trade in Promoting Gender Equality aims to advance the understanding of the relationship between trade and gender equality and to identify a series of opportunities through which trade can improve the lives of women.

This publication provides insights on how trade can be leveraged for greater economic empowerment of women in the Pacific. It includes an analysis of how gender mainstreaming in Aid for Trade interventions could catalyze greater donor support to help the region benefit from truly inclusive trade-driven growth. In the Pacific, the labor force participation gap between men and women has narrowed, but women there are still less likely to be in work than men. Women are also more likely to be working in low-paid, low-skilled jobs, or informal, vulnerable employment. To tap into the full potential of the female labor force and entrepreneurial potential, much more needs to be done.

Under the CAREC 2030 framework, a regional trade strategy will provide a more coherent approach to strengthen trade and enhance growth potential of CAREC countries. The CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA) 2030 aims to support CAREC countries in integrating further with the global economy through trade expansion from increased market access, greater diversification, and stronger institutions for trade. Taking into consideration the countries' capacities and varying levels of progress, CITA 2030 will be implemented in a phased and pragmatic approach including through a three-year rolling strategic action plan.

This publication explores how international trade is promoting economic empowerment through the increased participation of women and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. It highlights the roles of services and digital connectivity in facilitating diversification and inclusive economic transformation. The report examines recent trends in aid for trade in Asia and the Pacific and how it can do more to boost inclusive growth.

The Europa Directory of International Organizations 2022 serves as an unequalled one-volume guide to the contemporary international system. Within a clear, unique framework the recent activities of all major international organizations are described in detail. Given alongside extensive background information the reader is able to assess the role and evolving functions of these organizations in today's world. The contact details, key personnel and activities of more than 2,000 international and regional entities have again been thoroughly researched and updated for this 24th edition. Highlights in this edition include: - a fully revised Who's Who section with biographical details of the key players in the international system. - the response of the international community to crises and conflicts throughout the world. - specially-commissioned introductory essays cover topics including global environmental governance, transboundary water management, and multilateral governance and global action on health.

Asia and the Pacific continues to embrace financial technology advances that are reshaping the traditional banking and financial services industry. This is being done through the digitalization, decentralization, and disintermediation of economic transactions. This report tracks the progress of financial innovation in the region, and discusses its implications for financial inclusion and stability as well as its challenges. It also identifies key policy issues for central banks, financial regulators, and international financial institutions.

This publication presents a gender equality and social inclusion (GeSi) analysis of six priority sectors in Nepal: agriculture and natural resources management, energy, skills development, urban development, transport and water, and sanitation and hygiene. The publication identifies practical ways in which gender equality, social inclusion, and women’s empowerment approaches can be integrated into each of these sectors. The diagnostic aims to inform the GeSi initiatives of the Government of Nepal, the Asian development Bank, and other development partners of the country.