The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched four theme bonds, including water, health, gender, and education, to support sustainable development projects aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The water bond supports projects related to water supply, sanitation, water resources management, and water-related disasters in Asia and the Pacific. The health bond aims to promote gender equality and empower women, while the education bond improves access to education and training and amplifies the returns for students and the workforce. The gender bond supports projects that promote gender equality. ADB Director General for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Bruno Carrasco stated that ADB continues to engage in these initiatives to enhance water security, promote universal health care, close gender gaps, and increase access to quality education in Asia and the Pacific. Despite progress in the region, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact.
