DUSHANBE, July 21, 2010, Asia-Plus — Organized by the Asia Development Bank (ADB), two-day consultation workshops were launched in Tajikistan on July 20 to review the Bank’s Public Communications Policy (PCP).
According to ADB’s Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM), representatives from the government, project executing agencies and project implementation units, non-government organizations, media, and people affected by ADB projects are taking part in the workshops, which are part of the consultation process ADB is doing in 12 countries.
The PCP, which took effect in September 2005, provides a framework to enable ADB to communicate more effectively. It protects the right of people to seek, receive, and impart information and promotes improved access to operational information, and accountability and transparency in ADB operations, among others. It also promotes awareness and understanding of ADB and its work, policies, strategies, objectives, and results.
“As an international development institution, we have a responsibility to keep the public informed about our work,” said Makoto Ojiro, ADB’s Country Director for Tajikistan, who opened the workshops. “The ultimate goal of the consultations is to give all interested stakeholders the opportunity to improve the effectiveness of ADB”s Public Communications Policy.”
Delphine Roch, ADB”s Public Information and Disclosure Specialist, and Shyamala Abeyratne, Communications Specialist, arrived in Tajikistan to facilitate the consultations.
The review process started in February this year, and final approval of the new policy is expected by next February. A special page has been developed on ADB”s web site regarding the policy review process.
Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998, and to date has received around $570 million in concessional loans, grants and technical assistance from ADB. In 2010, ADB plans to provide $150 million in grant assistance to Tajikistan. The assistance program is expected to support energy and private sector development.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific region through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2009, it approved a total of $16.1 billion in financing operations through loans, grants, guarantees, a trade finance facilitation program, equity investments, and technical assistance projects. ADB also mobilized cofinancing amounting to $3.2 billion.
