ADB Clean Cities Urban Development

Enriched UN / Multilateral · Found: 2026-03-11 11:10

ADB urban development and environmental sustainability work encompasses initiatives related to solid waste management, pollution reduction, and circular economy principles within cities, including strengthening resilient waste management systems and reducing marine debris.

Source: https://adb.org/what-we-do/topics/urban-development/overview

Funding Details

Funder

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Funding Goal

To support sustainable and resilient urban development in Asia and the Pacific, including livable cities with improved infrastructure, solid waste management, pollution reduction, climate resilience, and inclusive urban services.

Funding Amount

ADB's urban development portfolio varies widely, from small technical assistance grants (typically $0.5-2 million) to large sovereign loans ($50-500+ million). Total urban sector lending has historically been several billion USD per year across ADB's developing member countries.

How to Apply

ADB does not operate a traditional open grant application process for NGOs. Instead, ADB provides sovereign and nonsovereign loans, grants, and technical assistance to its developing member countries (DMCs) in Asia and the Pacific. Projects are typically initiated through country partnership strategies and government requests. For urban development projects, ADB works with national and local governments to design and finance infrastructure investments. NGOs and civil society organizations may participate as implementing partners or consultants within ADB-funded projects, but they do not apply directly to ADB for funding in the way typical grant programs work. Technical assistance projects may involve procurement of consulting services where organizations can bid.

Target Region

Asia and the Pacific (ADB's 68 developing member countries including Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, and Pacific Islands)

Contact

Asian Development Bank, 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City, 1550 Metro Manila, Philippines. General inquiries: information@adb.org. Urban development sector contacts available through ADB's Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department (SDCC).

Official Page

https://www.adb.org/what-we-do/topics/urban-development/overview

Last Checked

2026-03-11 21:22

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a developing member country (DMC) government or government agency in Asia and the Pacific region

Project Scope

• Projects must align with ADB's Strategy 2030 operational priorities including livable cities, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability
• Urban development projects should address infrastructure needs such as water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, urban transport, or flood management

Required Documents

• Feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessments required for project approval

Constraints

• Country partnership strategy must include urban development as a priority sector
• Projects require government co-financing and counterpart funding commitments

Summary

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) supports urban development across its developing member countries in Asia and the Pacific. This thematic area encompasses a wide range of interventions including water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, urban transport, flood management, and pollution reduction. ADB's urban work increasingly incorporates circular economy principles, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability, including efforts to reduce marine debris and strengthen waste management systems. ADB provides financing through sovereign loans, nonsovereign operations, grants, and technical assistance to national and local governments. Unlike traditional grant programs, ADB does not accept open applications from NGOs or civil society organizations. Instead, projects are developed through country partnership strategies in collaboration with member governments. The bank's Strategy 2030 identifies livable cities as one of its seven operational priorities. ADB's urban development work is particularly relevant in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands, where rapid urbanization creates pressing needs for infrastructure investment. The bank supports both hard infrastructure (waste treatment plants, drainage systems) and soft components (institutional strengthening, capacity building, policy reform). While NGOs cannot apply directly, they may participate in ADB-funded projects as implementing partners or through procurement processes for consulting services.

Historical Context

ADB has been investing in urban development since its founding in 1966. Urban development is one of ADB's key operational sectors under its Strategy 2030 framework. ADB's urban sector portfolio includes hundreds of projects across Asia and the Pacific. The bank has increasingly focused on green and resilient cities, integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation into urban projects. ADB launched initiatives like the ASEAN Australia Smart Cities Trust Fund and various urban climate change resilience trust funds.

Why it was added

World Bank/dev bank waste management program

Sources

• https://www.adb.org/what-we-do/topics/urban-development/overview

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