Access to Information

ADB recognizes that eliminating poverty cannot be achieved without transparency and accountability. It shares information with people in Asia and the Pacific so they can participate in the bank’s development activities.

ADB’s commitment to empowering people by providing them with information was again recognized, retaining its position in the “very good” category for its sovereign and nonsovereign portfolios in the 2022 Aid Transparency Index.

The Access to Information Policy governs ADB’s sharing of information with a set of principles and exceptions. The policy went into effect in January 2019, superseding the rules-based Public Communications Policy, following a comprehensive 2-year review.

Access to Information Policy

ADB’s Access to Information Policy (AIP) reflects ADB’s ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and participation by stakeholders.

Implementation Arrangements

Operational Procedures that spell out procedural requirements and guidance on the implementation of the Access to Information Policy.

Information Requests

ADB recognizes the right of people to seek and receive information about its operations.

Requests should be made in writing and be specific to enable ADB to locate the information within a reasonable period. Requests may be submitted to ADB in English or in any of the official or national languages of ADB members. English is the standard language for ADB responses.

Requests for information may be sent to ADB through (i) the online request form, (ii) e-mail contact forms of staff, (iii) staff e-mail addresses, and (iv) mail or fax. Requests may be directed to ADB headquarters, a resident mission, a representative office, or any ADB department or office.

ADB acknowledges requests within 7 calendar days of receipt and responds within 30 calendar days of receipt. It either provides the requested information or the reason(s) why the request has been denied, indicating the exception(s) to disclosure in the Access to Information Policy (AIP). The requester has the right to appeal denied requests in accordance with the appeals process.

ADB will inform the requester if it uses the prerogative under paragraph 6 (positive override) or paragraph 7 (negative override) of the AIP. It will also notify the requester of any extension, if needed.

For complex requests—which include seeking information from multiple sources and/or large numbers of documents, collecting information over multiple years, collating and correlating raw data, and providing findings—ADB may ask the requester for an extension to the deadline for responding.

ADB is not required to comply with or respond to generic requests or any request that would require ADB to create, develop, or collate information or data that do not already exist or are not available in its records management system.

It is also not required to respond to requests for information on the same subject from the same person, organization, or group if ADB has already provided such information after a previous request or has given reasons why it cannot provide the information.

Request information Appeals process See all requests