CDIA is an ADB-managed Trust Fund that works closely with medium-sized cities in Asia and the Pacific to address gaps in infrastructure development and financing. It uses a demand-driven approach to support infrastructure projects that emphasize poverty reduction, environmental improvement, climate change mitigation or adaptation, and good governance.

CDIA is currently implemented by both ADB and Agence Française de Développement (AfD). It receives funding support from the governments of Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, as well as the European Union and The Rockefeller Foundation. It was established in 2007 by the ADB and the German government with the intent of improving the lives of 1.6 billion people in Asia and the Pacific.

DIA aims to contribute to the promotion of sustainable and equitable urban development, leading to improved environmental and living conditions for all in Asia Pacific cities. To achieve this, CDIA bridges the gap between the city’s development plans and the implementation of their priority infrastructure projects.

CDIA hopes to improve urban infrastructure and services management in cities by:

• Providing technical assistance in structuring priority infrastructure projects to a stage where they can be financed.
• Helping cities structure their infrastructure projects to attract financing for implementation.
• Strengthening local capacities to prepare, implement and manage infrastructure projects and urban services; and
• Promoting regional dialogues and cooperation on sustainable urban development to enhance cross-learning from good local practices.

Guided by our Strategy (2018-2022), CDIA will seek to improve its responsiveness to the needs of cities as well as financing agencies; as well as stimulating innovation, so that the prepared projects can serve as best practices for other cities in the region. Specifically, it shall pursue the following:

• Systematically link infrastructure project preparation and capacity development initiatives to increase impact and sustainability.
• Broaden the depth and scope of project development support to enhance quality and innovative capacity of the prepared projects.
• Engage over a prolonged period of time in selected cities to be able to address their needs as complex socio-economic systems.
• Assess the potential for financing projects at an early stage and work with a wide range of financial institutions to improve the chances of successful project implementation.
• Collaborate with selected national project development facilities based on transparent criteria to mutually reinforce the capabilities and accelerate project preparation.