Many of ADB’s developing member countries are reforming, strengthening, and expanding social protection policies and programs. National social protection strategies have been developed in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam.

However, most of the social assistance programs that directly target the poorest of the poor offer inadequate benefits and, in general, experience some leakages to people who are not living in poverty.

Recent data from ADB’s Social Protection Indicators show that more than 50% of the region’s population has no access to social protection.

It means that they have no pension to look forward to when they are old; always worry if they got sick because they don’t have health insurance; and when they are temporary unemployed, there is nothing to fall back on because they don’t have unemployment insurance.