Who We Are
CDIA is guided by its Strategy 2023-2027. While its overarching remit to help cities prepare infrastructure projects and link them with funders remains valid, the current CDIA focuses more on the technical and institutional aspects of project preparation while diversifying into more thematic and cross-cutting project conceptualization and design.
Strategy 2023-2027 sets out how the program will align with the new global agenda for resilient and sustainable development, while tapping into the emerging pipeline of combined public and private capital without losing sight of key gaps in the provision of basic urban services that require continued public investment.
The overall vision of CDIA under the new strategy is “an improved quality of life and sustainability in secondary cities of Asia and the Pacific.” Its mission is to help cities develop bankable infrastructure projects and link them to financing mechanisms, especially public‐private partnerships and blended finance modalities.
2026-2030
Considering the evolving development landscape and building on CDIA’s established identity and strategic role, the ADB-managed trust fund will better align with the OneADB approach and focus on three strategic pillars during 2026–2030:
Strategic Pillar 1: Preparing bankable and sustainable infrastructure projects
• Deliver six project preparation studies;
• Support ADB’s water and urban development (WUD) team for upstream studies, project due diligence, and capacity development;
• mobilize external resources to support the WUD portfolio; and
• Strengthen project quality and investment readiness by embedding climate resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability principles, including municipal financing frameworks and city action plans.
Strategic Pillar 2: Mobilizing partnerships for institutional capacity building
• Promote city-to-city partnerships by sourcing prospective mentor cities with proven expertise in sustainable tourism, cultural heritage, and municipal financing; and
• Mobilize resources and leverage partnerships for capacity development for ongoing PPSs.
Strategic Pillar 3: Promoting knowledge and learning for development
• Generate and share practical knowledge to support peer learning, inform policies, and strengthen ADB’s thought leadership; and
• Support the incubation of innovative ideas that can be scaled for increased development impact.
Over the next five years, CDIA foresees an even stronger demand for the kind of work it does. That is why it will continue to evolve to become more responsive to secondary cities, where the need for investments in infrastructure will be very strong. CDIA stands ready to ensure that these investments are going to be bankable and resilient.
