During the summer break, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to intern with the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department (SDCC) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). My responsibility was to assist my colleagues in carrying out the social development and livelihood restoration study (the LR study), particularly on desk and literature review and key informant interviews.
My internship began with reading reports from multilateral development banks (MDBs), followed by a brief literature review. As an integral target in Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG), LR has received growing attention in international development. MDBs have continuously reviewed and updated their LR guidelines to align with the evolving situations, and ADB is not an exception. The LR study will eventually lead to the preparation of the Guideline used by ADB staff and clients when implementing projects.
One of the highlights of my internship is to derive synopses of the interviews with front-line LR specialists, who reported plenty of thought-provoking cases for the guideline formulation. For instance, in a public vehicle upgrading project in the Philippines, the bus would take over the jeepney to become the most common and "legal" public transport. The good initiatives aiming to provide safe public transport laid off thousands of jeepney drivers, mainly are the breadwinners for their low-income families. And, in an unnamed case in South Asia many years ago, before the cut-off date, a private owner purchased around 20 houses in the project areas at an unfavorable market price, much lower than the assets compensation rate from ADB. These trick scenarios prompt broader questions: Who are the affected persons? What is the boundary of ADB's responsibility? To what extent, the due diligence is adequate? All these questions correspond to the social and political complexities in project countries.
Although the internship was completely remote due to the covid-19 restriction, my supervisors and colleagues organized weekly online meetings to give me timely feedback. They valued my opinions and always encouraged me to share my thoughts in the discussions. As an intern, I felt empowered and motivated during the interaction with my colleagues. I am deeply grateful to my supervisors and colleagues for their patience and guidance.
Overall, the internship allowed me to research a topic of global significance and gave me a glimpse of ADB's working culture. The experience was fulling, enriching, and inspiring. I will continuously seek more opportunities to engage with international organizations in the future.
