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Careers at ADB

With employees from more than 60 countries, ADB is a place of real diversity. Join us to find fulfillment in sharing your knowledge and skills, and be a part of our vision in achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific.

What We Look For

Come work with us if you...

  • are committed to contributing to the development, cooperation and integration of countries in Asia and the Pacific
  • are a citizen of an ADB member
  • have a strong academic background, preferably with a postgraduate degree such as an MBA, Masters, or Ph.D.
  • have considerable expertise and experience in your profession
  • have experience in projects and programs for developing countries
  • are proficient in both written and spoken English
  • can work with individuals of different nationalities and cultures

We embrace diversity and value a wide spectrum of views, cultures, academic and professional backgrounds. Staff of different nationalities come together to work for a common goal regardless of age, gender, religion or disability. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Meet Our People

Making a difference in the world doesn’t have to be a choice between a successful profession or a fulfilling personal life. Women working at ADB, who share many of the same personal circumstances as others around the world, are given the benefits and opportunities they need to have both meaningful careers and rewarding personal lives. “I’m Every Woman” tells the stories of professional women working at ADB’s headquarters in Manila and in its 28 offices across Asia and the Pacific.

Emma Marsden, Senior Environment Specialist

Exposure to countries and cultures enriched her capacity

Agnes Surry, Senior Planning and Policy Specialist

Helping create sound policies to deliver the right solutions

Shaista Hussain, Results Management Specialist

Young family moved far from home in Islamabad, Pakistan

Cleo Kawawaki, Deputy Director General

Keeping family ties close from Japan to Manila

More profiles of ADB staff

We take pride in our highly qualified, experienced, dedicated, and motivated employees. At ADB, economists, engineers, lawyers, accountants, administrators, editors, statisticians, agriculturists, and various specialists with expertise and experience in different sectors of development come together to fight poverty in Asia and the Pacific.

Eleonora WindischEleonora

When the opportunity arose to work for the Asian Development Bank in 2004, I embraced it as it provided me with an opportunity to marry my personal interests with a compelling mission and cause.

Eleonora Windisch
Eleonora Windisch, Advisor and Head, Portfolio, Results and Quality Control Unit, South Asia Department

What made you join ADB?

I always wanted to work internationally and in development. My career as a diplomat in the Austrian Foreign Service brought me to Mexico and Indonesia in the 1990s, where I observed first-hand the fragility of economic success being threatened by global financial crises. At the same time, I was taken aback by the political oppression, extreme income disparity, and widespread poverty in the countries I worked in. These realities reawakened my interest in development work that had begun while I was studying political science in Vienna. When the opportunity arose to work for the Asian Development Bank in 2004, I embraced it as it provided me with an opportunity to marry my personal interests with a compelling mission and cause.

What do you enjoy about working at ADB?

No matter where you work in ADB you know that you are contributing to a larger cause. ADB’s mission is very compelling. When I joined the bank in 2004 in the Office of Administrative Services, I was tasked to build a community outreach program. It was a modest program but it gave me an entry point into working on larger corporate social responsibility matters, which then led to ADB’s first Sustainability Report in 2007. Even though I was part of a support department at the time, I was able to contribute to the bank’s core mission in a meaningful way. And this is what I value most about ADB: the opportunities it provides for professional growth and continued learning. Most colleagues enter ADB as specialists. I, on the other hand, was a generalist. I embraced the opportunities that I was given at each level and gained a wealth of new skills and knowledge, which helped me build my competency and reputation in a wide range of areas.

I also thrive in the diverse work environment at ADB. I find the cultural differences invigorating and stimulating. Working with colleagues from more than 50 nationalities forces you to constantly adjust your views and see problems from a different angle. But it is not always easy to ensure smooth collaboration. One way to build cohesion is through annual staff retreats which help to break down barriers and create a bond amongst staff.

Eleonora Windisch
Bangladesh Resident Mission in Dhaka, 2014

Eleonora Windisch
South Asia Department staff retreat, 2016

ADB also provides ample opportunities to volunteer in the local community, in particular through the Staff Community Fund. As part of our benefits package, staff members are given one day of leave for volunteering. Our department took advantage of this and on 3 February 2017 a group of about 80 staff members, led by our senior management, collaborated with Habitat for Humanity to support a local backwater fishing community in Navotas, here in the Philippines.

Eleonora Windisch
ADB staff volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, 3 February 2017

Eleonora Windisch
With scavenger children on a dumpsite in Manila, 2006

Lastly, I like ADB’s physical work environment. Manila may not be the easiest place to live, but ADB makes huge efforts to create a working environment that is conducive for its staff. We have a wealth of services at our headquarters building (cafeteria, coffee shops, bakery, banks, medical clinic, dry cleaning, convenience store, library, fuel station etc.). Those who prefer to skip lunch and be active can go to the gym or attend yoga or Pilates classes. ADB also sponsors other club activities, such as diving, tennis, photography, hiking and biking, and others.

How does ADB support the development of its professionals?

ADB offers an incredible amount of learning opportunities to develop its workforce, no matter in which area of the bank staff work. It really depends on how proactive you want to be in taking advantage of what’s being offered. We are given ten days per year for training – be it in-house or at an external venue. In addition, there are many opportunities to attend conferences, seminars, and workshops where one can hone one’s skills. ADB even provides a subsidy for continued education. Many staff members are taking advantage of it when they want to maintain their professional certifications or pursue further studies. Aside from these more formal areas of development, ADB also offers plenty of opportunities to learn from colleagues, mentors and experts. The biggest impact on professional growth, I find, comes when going to the field to witness progress on projects.

What advice would you give to prospective candidates?

Eleonora Windisch
Working with the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong, Philippines, 2007

Prospective candidates should demonstrate passion for development and a genuine interest in the organization and its work in the region. While strong technical expertise and international experience are a prerequisite, a candidate’s soft skills are equally important. ADB looks for candidates who can work well in teams and are willing to be flexible and adaptable.

Candidates need to be patient when looking for a job at ADB. Often the first application or interview may not get them in. Managers have many constraints when hiring, such as expertise, regional experience, diversity of the team, etc. If candidates cannot get a regular staff position immediately, they should look for consulting opportunities. These tend to be an excellent opportunity for the candidate to get to know the work and how they can contribute to the organization.

Kelly HewittKelly

If you have innovative ideas and knowledge that can improve the lives of many and you want to work at a place where knowledge and ideas matter, then you must join ADB.

Kelly Hewitt
Kelly Hewitt, Senior Advisor to the Vice President (Administration and Corporate Management)

What made you join ADB?

I'm an optimistic realist. I believe that individual lives can be improved with focused joint effort, that we are globally interconnected, and that the challenge of one group of people is not to be borne in isolation or solitude. International development in its rawest essence captures this and more. As both a bank and an international development institution, ADB aims to improve the lives of the poor and vulnerable in Asia and the Pacific. ADB, and the people whom the bank serves, are diverse in nationality, ethnicity, and geography. I joined ADB because I wholeheartedly embrace its mission.

What do you enjoy about working at ADB?

I enjoy working at ADB because of the importance it places on knowledge. As a top tier knowledge institution, ADB provides continuous training and learning to its staff. Each ADB work day presents staff with the opportunity to apply knowledge and appropriately choose optimal instruments that support our clients in meeting a myriad of development challenges. ADB as a banking institution offers loans, grants, equity, guarantees, technical assistance, and transaction advisory services. Its knowledge base is solid and its fiduciary responsibilities are steadfast.

Kelly Hewitt
Kelly on an ADB mission to Sri Lanka

Kelly Hewitt
Attending a workshop on mitigating unconscious bias in the workplace

What makes ADB a great place to work?

ADB’s people make it a great place to work. They are your team members, mentors, co-leads, and community of knowledgeable practitioners. It is a place where life-long friendships are forged.

What advice would you give to prospective candidates?

If you have innovative ideas and knowledge that can improve the lives of many and you want to work at a place where knowledge and ideas matter, where action delivers effective results, where the desire to improve lives matters, and where the vulnerable are the primary concern, then you must join ADB.

Hisaka KimuraHisaka

I'm making my dreams come true at ADB. When I joined ADB there were no private sector clean energy projects in the PRC. Over the past 6 years, thanks to strong support from the management and team, we built a wide variety of green projects in the PRC.

Hisaka Kimura
Hisaka Kimura, Private Sector Operations Department

When did you join ADB and what is your current role?

In 2006, I joined ADB as a “green banker,” and have since focused on environmental infrastructure projects, including clean energy and energy efficiency. In the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Mongolia, I'm responsible for exploring opportunities for ADB's involvement in new technologies, structuring and implementing projects.

I’m making my dreams come true at ADB. When I joined ADB there were no private sector clean energy projects in the PRC. Over the past 6 years, thanks to strong support from the management and team, we built a wide variety of green projects in the PRC.

What brought you to ADB? Did it turn out as you expected?

Previous to joining ADB, I worked in London for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Ernst & Young. The first International Conference for Renewable Energies inspired me about the green market potential of Asia, the PRC in particular. I find, because I was looking at the Asian market from outside, that I appreciated it more and was excited by the opportunity to do something that might make a difference.

I’m making my dreams come true at ADB. When I joined ADB there were no private sector clean energy projects in the PRC. Over the past 6 years, thanks to strong support from the management and team, we built a wide variety of green projects in the PRC.

What are you currently working on?

I'm currently processing municipal environmental projects based on public-private-partnership. In addition to ADB's direct loan and equity, I also try to mobilize commercial co-financing for our projects through syndication. Evolving technologies and emerging contractual structures are challenging the tolerance of commercial banks’ credit committees. While the challenges of the current financial market are enormous, I believe that by addressing issues through supporting a wider structure, we have an opportunity to fundamentally restructure the traditional financing approach to development and bring about a more substantial impact.

What's it like for you to work in ADB's Manila HQ and Resident Mission (RM)? What kind of adjustments did you need to make, if any?

I worked in HQ in the first two years and then was seconded to PRC Resident Mission (PRCM) in Beijing. HQ and RM have different roles to play, but work together as a team. My core work remains same. The main difference between working in HQ and RM is in whom I primarily interact with during office hours.

At HQ, I benefited from the close mentoring of senior bankers inside the department. I also enjoyed a wide range of interdepartmental networks though various brown bag workshops arranged by sector experts. It has helped me deepen my understanding on what ADB can do and what’s our priority.

In PRCM, I'm more exposed to the market. Many people just drop by my office without prior appointments. My typical day is filled with back-to-back meetings for project development and project implementation. It’s quite busy, but as a technology geek, it is a lot of fun to learn what’s new in the market. I also participate in the country partnership strategy formulation process to understand the government’s future direction.

How do you see your future in ADB?

Realizing our member countries’ vision for green development will require constant innovation. I view ADB’s future role as that of a regional hub which will help the member countries’ innovation by supporting cutting-edge clean technologies, game changing business models, and new processes to do things differently.

Furthermore, I think we can act as a curator – we have been very selective. That in itself is a creative process. Thus each of our projects has a great story, and the project portfolio embodies our vision. We can exhibit Asian model projects for current and future reference for the private sector and government stakeholders beyond the region. It would be great if we can create a butterfly effect from Asia.

Marzia LorenzoMarzia

Because of the passion and motivation that inspire me to work with ADB, I derive a lot of satisfaction from my job. I really believe in the overall objective of ADB of poverty reduction and improvement of lives of people in Asia.

Marzia Lorenzo
Marzia Lorenzo, East Asia Department

What makes ADB a great workplace?

I have been in ADB for 10 years and time has gone by quickly because of the job I’ve been doing. I have been working for 9 years on designing and implementing projects in the field for rural development and for the empowerment of women in several countries. Because of the passion and motivation that inspire me to work with ADB, I derive a lot of satisfaction from my job. I really believe in the overall objective of ADB of poverty reduction and improvement of lives of people in Asia.

I have been working on a special project which I consider a very important project for ADB. It is for a country in South Asia aimed at helping low-caste women to empower themselves in terms of social issues, economic issues, and legal issues. I designed the project and unfortunately, only partially implemented, but that was a great achievement for myself in my career and it made coming to work every day very self-fulfilling and made my effort less of a burden than it would be if you do not believe in what you do.

Because of the passion and motivation that inspire me to work with ADB, I derive a lot of satisfaction from my job. I really believe in the overall objective of ADB of poverty reduction and improvement of lives of people in Asia.

What made you decide to work for the Asian Development Bank?

I wanted to work in development to change the world, to improve the world. Because I’ve seen there are some countries, some people that are luckier than others. I believe that everybody should have a decent life and a good life. I studied poverty reduction and development in university because I really believe that we need to change something in this world.

How does ADB encourage and support the development of its professionals?

I came here as a Young Professional and was quite young. I had some work experience, but basically I grew with the institution mainly by learning-by-doing. There is a lot of mentoring in the field during missions – and that’s where you learn the tools of the trade. I also attended several courses for specific subjects that I was interested in based on my work plan. For instance I went to Holland for a couple of weeks to do a specialization course on agri-business because that was main focus starting from 2006. There is a mix of learning-by-doing and courses which are not really formal. You select the topics you wish to deepen your knowledge on by attending courses either internally or externally. ADB allows you to take a few weeks off per year to attend external training courses.

What is the role ADB plays in the career development of its professionals?

When I joined, I was assigned a formal mentor who helped me understand the institution and help me with more logistical issues with respect to adjusting to living in Manila, which is a big city. Initially there was some adjustment to the living environment.

However, the mentors I consider most valuable are the ones I encountered when I started going on missions – senior mission leaders. They really helped me understand the project cycle, the way ADB does business, how to do business with government officials in the field – key things you need to know when preparing for and implementing projects.

How do ADB’s employee benefits help the Bank’s female professionals?

ADB just approved the extended maternity leave which allows employees to use an additional 3 months of leave without pay but inclusive of all other benefits. I took advantage of this and think it is a very important benefit for women because the 12-week official maternity leave may not be enough depending on the situation that you have at home.

In addition, when I came back to work, I was allowed to work half-day. This is not an official benefit but it can be arranged internally and I thought it was an excellent arrangement. Until my child turned 8 months old, I was either at home or working half day. So that was very useful for me.

How has your work specifically created an impact in the countries ADB serves?

We had a specific project which had a condition for the government. We were only going to grant the loan if the government was willing to change 118 laws which discriminated women and contradicted portions of their own constitution. When the government was ready to pass the changes, I already felt it was a huge achievement. It was more a change at the framework level but I thought it was the first step in improving the lives of those women.

When the project was approved and implemented, it changed the lives of women in many small ways. For instance, the project trained police officers to be more gender-sensitive so women would feel safe to report crimes or report to the police. We trained judges to learn how to treat women in sensitive cases.

The project also funded the establishment of pathways – we are talking about a country with a number of remote areas – women were forced to walk for hours to fetch water (which is a classic in remote rural areas). By establishing the footpath, we were able to cut the time to fetch water by a few hours, which gave women more time to spend with their families or initiate a small economic activity.

The project funded a series of small things but made a big difference in the lives of those women living in remote areas. I am very proud of the project although it took a long time to start. But in the end, the results were quite impressive.

Ayako InagakiAyako

By working with the clients, I learned how to understand and match their needs with what ADB can do as a lending agency. At the same time, I'm learning a lot from my colleagues. So it helps me grow everyday as a development professional.

Meet Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) staff

Aniruddha PatilAni

In addition to financial returns, the returns to society are an important consideration for ADB.

Aniruddha Patil
Aniruddha Patil, Principal Investment Specialist, Office of the Director General, Private Sector Operations Department

Why did you join ADB's Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD)?

After obtaining my master’s degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, I was eager to work in an area which engaged my foundations in finance as well as economics. Moreover, having worked in consulting and investment banking across parts of Europe and Asia, I was looking for an opportunity to expand further into frontier countries and sectors. PSOD affords me that opportunity to work on development projects in countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. I cover many sectors, from energy storage to early rural education and maternal health.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

In addition to financial returns, the returns to society are an important consideration for ADB. Going out in the field, interacting with our clients and meeting the ultimate beneficiaries of the projects help me better understand the economic impacts of ADB's financing. I particularly cherish this aspect of my job because seeing the impact on the ground is extremely satisfying and is a strong motivator for structuring future projects.

What is your most memorable project?

Hippocampus Learning Center in Karnataka, India
Hippocampus Learning Center in Karnataka, India

In June 2014, ADB made a small equity investment in an education sector start-up, the Hippocampus Learning Centers (HLC). HLC is a social enterprise which provides quality, affordable pre-school education in rural India. HLC uses a unique business model which involves the recruitment of female teachers from local communities and uses a child-centered pedagogy focused on learning outcomes as opposed to rote memorization. I led ADB’s investment in the company and currently represent ADB on the Board of Directors of the company. Every time I visit one of the company’s pre-schools I am impressed by the strong desire to learn amongst the students. One of the questions that I ask the students is what they aspire to become when they grow up. Their wide range of fascinating answers further strengthens my belief that investing in human capital at an early stage is key to overcoming poverty in a sustainable manner. In many of these villages, before the arrival of HLC, children did not have access to any pre-school education. It makes me proud to have played a small part in extending this opportunity to these children in rural India, which I hope will install a life-long passion for learning in them.

Sabine SpohnSabine

This position finally gives me the freedom to combine developmental aspects with private sector participation.

Sabine Spohn
Sabine Spohn, Principal Investment Specialist, Financial Institutions Division, Private Sector Operations Department

Why did you join ADB's Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD)?

I come from a small town where nobody goes anywhere. So my dad always called me the odd one out in the family as I love to travel and experience different cultures. My dad tried to mitigate this by arranging a “decent” job for me at our local savings bank. Twenty years later I was walking around some remote villages in Papua New Guinea, trying to find out how the people there manage their finances – or use money at all. In between I worked in international banks, mainly across South East Asia, I did my PhD in Development Studies with a focus on microfinance at the University of Melbourne, and managed the Asian financial sector project portfolio at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. Now I work on the regional microfinance program at ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD). This position finally gives me the freedom to combine developmental aspects with private sector participation. And I still get to go out into the field!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I work on PSOD’s Microfinance Risk Participation and Guarantee Program. Many microfinance institutions struggle to obtain commercial funding in order to provide financial services to low-income people. Our program fills this market gap by sharing default risks with partner financial institutions that provide wholesale loans in local currency to microfinance institutions. So far, more than 2.4 million micro borrowers, primarily poor women, have been supported with more than $422 million in loans. We work in India, Bangladesh and Indonesia and hope to expand to Sri Lanka and Myanmar soon. I thoroughly enjoy working with the different cultures that you meet at ADB, in the field through our partner banks. Being out in the field, talking to micro borrowers gives me the chance for a regular reality check. Discussions with our partner microfinance institutions and partner banks challenge me to be innovative and address market demands so that ADB’s work remains relevant.

Sabine in India with one of the partners' micro borrowersSabine in India with one of the partners' micro borrowers

Loan officer and clients of an ADB partner, Asirvad Microfinance, Chennai, India.Loan officer and clients of an ADB partner, Asirvad Microfinance, Chennai, India.

Yee Hean TeoYee Hean

ADB offers a multicultural workforce (more than 50 nationalities), an extensive reach in Asia’s emerging markets and a unique experience to live and work in the Philippines.

Yee Hean Teo
Yee Hean Teo, Principal Investment Specialist, Private Sector Investment Funds and Special Initiatives Division, Private Sector Operations Department

Why did you join ADB's Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD)?

After obtaining dual degrees in Bachelor of Business Management and Bachelor of Science (Economics) from Singapore Management University, I spent 10 years in two sovereign wealth funds, honing my craft in multiple asset classes including private equity, public equity, infrastructure and real estate. Coming from Singapore, I saw how economic progress and good policies helped lift its people out of poverty. After a decade of working in the financial industry, I was at a crossroads regarding figuring out how to put my knowledge to better use when a job opening at ADB came up. I quickly grabbed it. ADB’s unique position as a development financial institution offered me this golden opportunity to utilize my skills to create a better life for many more people, something I find meaningful and fulfilling.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I have been part of PSOD since April 2015, and am currently responsible for originating and executing private equity fund investments that fit ADB’s commercial and developmental mandate. The part I enjoy most is the interaction with different stakeholders to get the job done - potential fund managers, fellow investors, portfolio companies of the funds, lawyers and ADB colleagues. It has been extremely satisfying to be part of a group of people working collaboratively to make a difference. Above that, ADB offers a multicultural workforce (more than 50 nationalities), an extensive reach in Asia’s emerging markets and a unique experience to live and work in the Philippines.

What is your most memorable transaction?

Supporting private sector growth in Viet Nam and the Mekong region
Supporting private sector growth in Viet Nam and the Mekong region

I was given the opportunity to be involved in five transactions within two years of joining ADB. The most memorable one has to be ADB's investment into VI Fund III, managed by VI Group. I was the deal team leader for this transaction, which was closed in 2016. VI Group was founded in 2006 by experienced operators, shortly before Viet Nam joined the World Trade Organization in 2007. It provides expansion capital to industry-leading companies and works with management to improve the operations in order to grow revenue and profits, thus creating more jobs and shareholder value. Viet Nam is a fast growing market with a young population and private equity is an important source of financing for the country since its capital market is less developed. ADB's equity investment is expected to send a positive market signal and highlight the capital needs of firms in Viet Nam and the Mekong region. Through ADB's participation in the advisory committee of the fund, we are also expected to advise on corporate governance issues and best practices relating to environmental and social safeguards.

Yuichiro YoiYuichiro

At ADB, I get exposure to many difference sectors and that offers me opportunities to become an expert in many different subjects.

Yuichiro Yoi
Yuichiro Yoi, Principal Investment Specialist , Infrastructure Finance Division 2, Private Sector Operations Department

Why did you join ADB's Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD)?

I hold an MBA from Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. Before joining ADB, I worked for the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, where I handled both public and private sectors, both corporate and project finance, with a global coverage. I led landmark project financing deals in the region, cofinanced with ADB. This is how I got to know ADB and eventually decided to move here. I joined PSOD because this is where I can continue to do what I love to do; project financing in Asia. Project finance requires a lot of institutional capabilities in many aspects (e.g. financial, knowledge, risk analysis, etc.), and I feel that ADB, being a multilateral institution with a powerful set of financial tools and knowledge, is a great platform.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I am leading a team of bankers doing infrastructure financing transactions for Indonesia. I meet clients, including potential ones, identify suitable projects that have high developmental impacts, conduct due diligence on the projects identified, and structure/negotiate the terms and conditions of our financings. At ADB, I get exposure to many difference sectors and that offers me opportunities to become an expert in many different subjects. For example, having closed two geothermal power plant project financings, I should be one of the few bankers in the world who can describe the characteristics of green field geothermal resource and the mitigants to deal with the inherent risks. Financial structuring is also an exciting part of the job. Creating structures to mitigate project risks and resolving issues require creativity and innovative thinking and I think that is the heart of this job. I enjoy every minute of thinking and discussing how to structure a deal to cater for certain risks/issues.

What is your most memorable project?

I have recently worked on the Muara Laboh geothermal power project in Sumatra Island, Indonesia. It was an 80MW geothermal power plant project with international sponsors such as Engie and the Sumitomo Corporation. Project financing to a green field geothermal power plant with lenders sharing in the geothermal resource risk is rare to begin with, which made this project all the more challenging. Special attention was required on due diligence on geothermal resources and on how to monitor and control drilling activities and the inevitable resource depletion over the life of the project. What made this project even more special is that I mobilized loans from third party funds. On top of a $70 million loan from ADB’s own account, I brought in $19 million from the Clean Technology Fund (a multi-donor fund that specializes in clean energy projects) and $20 million from Leading Asia’s Private Sector Infrastructure Fund (a fund set up at ADB with contributions from JICA, the Japanese aid agency, to invest in “high quality” infrastructure projects). This demonstrates ADB’s capabilities as an aggregator of financial solutions, and the width of resources that I can tap into at ADB.

Geothermal power plant in Sumatra Island, Indonesia
Geothermal power plant in Sumatra Island, Indonesia.

The project required the monitor and control of drilling activities
The project required the monitoring and control of drilling activities.

Pamela BraceyPamela

ADB has afforded me the unique opportunity to further my interest in development and utilize the skills that I have developed over the years in the region that I am tirelessly fascinated by.

Pamela Bracey
Pamela Bracey, Principal Investment Specialist, Private Sector Financial Institutions Division, Private Sector Operations Department

Why did you join ADB's Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD)?

I am an “Army brat” – my father was a Colonel in the US Army so my family and I moved every three years to various places both within the US and overseas. True to my upbringing, I knew that I wanted a profession that would allow me to work internationally from an early age. While studying international political economy at Williams College, I became interested in developmental economics, which prompted my graduate studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in international trade and finance and my masters in economics at Clemson University. Although I was able to develop my analytical skills while at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the position lacked the international exposure that I wanted, which led me to move to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). At OPIC, I covered Asia and the Middle East, providing political risk insurance to US investors involved in financial sector and infrastructure projects in emerging markets. While a wonderful position, I wanted the experience of living and working in Asia, which led me to ADB. ADB, and more specifically PSOD, has afforded me the unique opportunity to further my interest in development and utilize the skills that I have developed over the years in the region that I am tirelessly fascinated by. 

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

ADB's funding supports microfinance loans to women customers in India.
ADB's funding supports microfinance loans to women customers in India.

I would have to say that I most enjoy the interaction with our clients – banks, MFIs, and most recently fintech companies – and learning about their different approaches to reach the unserved and underserved segments of the population with viable options to access the financial sector. The ingenuity behind some ideas is quite amazing and it pushes you to think of new ways in which we, as ADB, can assist them in achieving their objectives.

What is your most memorable transaction?

I have been fortunate enough to work on several interesting projects while at ADB, but perhaps my most memorable is the $150 million debt financing to Janalakshmi Financial Services (JFS) concluded in December 2016. JFS is India’s largest microfinance institution, which provides market-based financial services (loans, savings accounts, and insurance) to unserved and underserved customers, primarily in urban and peri-urban areas, in India. With research findings from its affiliate, Jana Urban Foundation, JFS has developed a scalable platform to deliver tailored financial products and services to its target audience, earning it an in-principle small finance bank license from the Reserve Bank of India. ADB's funding will be used by JFS to finance microfinance loans, largely to women customers, and micro and small enterprises as it expands its operations. In addition, up to 5% of ADB’s financing will be dedicated to loans for building and improving sanitation facilities throughout India. This effort dovetails with earlier efforts by PSOD to develop private sector products to support the government’s sanitation initiatives. 

Ian BrysonIan

ADB gives me the opportunity to proactively engage with companies and communities in countries as diverse and different as Mongolia, Viet Nam and Indonesia to develop mutually beneficial and inclusive ways to enable private sector led development

Ian Bryson
Ian Bryson, Principal Safeguards Specialist, Private Sector Transaction Support Division, Private Sector Operations Department

Why did you join ADB's Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD)?

Since obtaining a MA in anthropology from the Australian National University, I worked for Control Risks and Environmental Resources Management, helping companies to identify and manage risks and impacts on affected people and to plan ways in which communities can sustainably benefit from new developments. I joined PSOD because it offered me the opportunity to use the institutional leverage of a multilateral development bank to contribute to positive outcomes for people impacted by ADB’s projects. More now than ever before, private sector clients see the value added by ensuring their investments are environmentally and socially responsible. This, combined with the influence that comes with being a lender and investor, makes ADB both a challenging and rewarding place to work at a time when Asia needs people committed to positive change.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

As a safeguards specialist, I support the origination and administration of loans and investments in projects, companies and financial intermediaries. I ensure that PSOD’s funds are used in accordance with ADB’s safeguards policy, which affirms that environmental and social sustainability is a cornerstone of economic growth and poverty reduction. ADB gives me the opportunity to proactively engage with companies and communities in countries as diverse and different as Mongolia, Viet Nam and Indonesia to develop mutually beneficial and inclusive ways to enable private sector led development.

What is your most memorable project?

One of the most challenging projects I have worked on is to assist PT Indonesia Infrastructure Finance, in which ADB invested. This institution funds toll roads, hydropower, sea ports and other large-scale infrastructure projects that are contributing to Indonesia’s economic growth. My part in ADB’s role as a shareholder is to ensure that this institution can manage the social impacts of projects. This has involved providing capacity development training, and undertaking monitoring and supervision fieldwork. For example, for a 116 kilometer toll road in West Java, I assessed the planning and implementation of livelihood restoration activities as part of the resettlement plan, including a traditional batik production workshop and a goat breeding farm. 

Traditional batik production workshop in West Java, Indonesia
Traditional batik production workshop in West Java, Indonesia

Goat breeding farm in West Java, Indonesia
Goat breeding farm in West Java, Indonesia