The handbook serves as a useful reference guide for developing member country borrowers and officials, project staff from executing agencies and project management units, as well as ADB staff in designing and operating an efficient disbursement operation that will support project implementation.

The four pillars of an efficient disbursement operation are:

• funds flow structure
• disbursement arrangement
• staff capacity and systems, and
• internal controls

A good understanding of ADB's disbursement policies, guidelines, procedures, and practices is instrumental for building these pillars. The handbook endeavors to complement this need and thereby support project implementation.

The handbook applies to loan and grant investment projects funded by ADB, and provides a separate chapter for disbursement of policy-based loans and grants funded by ADB.