Despite remarkable economic growth, governance remains a concern in Asia and the Pacific. The rapid growth has lifted millions out of poverty, yet the region continues to face governance deficits that constrain its ability to raise the quality of growth, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) stated in an evaluation report released yesterday.
Conventional indicators suggest continued weakness in key governance dimensions, and stakeholder surveys consistently point to poor governance as a top concern.
Weak governance lies at the heart of numerous challenges confronting the Asian region. In the more rapidly growing and diversifying economies, improving service delivery, avoiding the middle-income trap and fostering more inclusive growth are among the challenges, report says.
All countries face the critical challenge of preparing for and managing the impact of recurrent economic shocks and more frequent natural disasters, according to the report on enhancing governance in public sector operations.
Improving governance in a country is rightly recognised as an arduous undertaking. For external actors, supporting good governance is naturally challenging, requiring analysis, sensitivity, time, and much effort.
Good governance also matters for other development outcomes, such as poverty reduction, human development, gender equality, infrastructure quality, and water security.
