The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is establishing a new ADB Center of Excellence, a learning platform designed to enhance knowledge sharing and capacity building across its developing member countries (DMCs). The initiative will help governments and institutions tackle complex development challenges through tailored programmes grounded in real-world project experience.
“The ADB Center of Excellence is a natural evolution of what we have long aspired to do—to place ADB as a trusted knowledge partner for Asia and the Pacific,” said ADB President Masato Kanda. “The Center will promote long-term learning among member countries, deepening their ability to identify, design, and implement the solutions they need to improve the lives of people across the region.”
A coordinated, bank-wide learning platform
The Center of Excellence will act as a bank-wide coordination platform, channeling ADB’s in-house expertise and knowledge from key partners, including the ADB Institute, to DMCs. Its focus will be on operationally critical areas such as procurement, environmental and social safeguards, financial management, and sector-specific operational practices that directly affect project outcomes.
Beginning in the second half of 2026, the Center will roll out programmes for government officials, project implementers, and participants from the private sector and civil society. The curriculum will be customised and built around ADB project case studies, practical tools, and training materials designed to strengthen the development impact of ADB-supported operations.
Long-term capacity building and peer learning
Unlike short-term training initiatives, the Center will adopt a programmatic, long-term approach to capacity development. This will allow for sustained engagement with DMCs, systematic skills development, and continuous learning over time.
A strong emphasis will be placed on peer-to-peer learning and collaboration between member countries and partner institutions, helping to expand access to new ideas, innovations, and practical expertise across the region.
Anchored in ADB’s new technical assistance policy
The establishment of the Center is aligned with ADB’s new policy for its technical assistance (TA) programmes, which places capacity building at the core of TA operations. By streamlining how technical assistance is delivered, ADB aims to provide more effective and efficient support to DMCs in preparing, financing, and implementing high-impact development projects.
ADB, founded in 1966 and owned by 69 members—50 from the Asia-Pacific region—continues to position knowledge, alongside finance, as a central pillar of its mission to support inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific.
