THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) is proposing a new technical assistance program worth about $1 million for the Philippines and six other countries to address gender gaps in the energy and transport sectors, including women’s participation in jobs and leadership.
The proposed assistance, which will also cover Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste, includes a regional component for cross-country work.
The Philippines is earmarked $25,000 under the program, according to the ADB.
According to the multilateral lender, the program will support participating countries through analytical work, policy advice, institutional support, capacity development, and assistance in project design and early implementation.
‘The support will address common constraints across energy and transport operations, including women’s limited participation in technical and leadership roles, institutional and workplace barriers to recruitment and career progression, and gaps in the accessibility, affordability, reliability, and safety of services for women,’ the Manila-based development bank noted in its project document.
The ADB expects the assistance to generate cross-regional evidence and strengthen policy dialogue on gender equality in the two sectors. It will also support the integration of inclusive approaches into energy and transport operations.
The proposed program will be financed by the ADB’s ‘technical assistance special fund,’ with India receiving the largest country allocation at $300,000. Uzbekistan follows with $195,000, Tajikistan with $145,000, Sri Lanka with $120,000, and Timor-Leste with $115,000 in country allocation.
The regional component has $200,000.
According to the ADB, the initiative is aligned with its energy policy and sector strategies, as well as the country partnership strategies and priorities of participating developing member countries.
The project has yet to move beyond the proposal stage, with the ADB granting concept clearance on June 30, 2026.