�To monitor the environmental and social impacts of international capital and development assistance, through a sustained public campaign on leading financial institutions that impact most on Asian Rural Poor Communities.�

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) (www.asiandevbank.org) and the World Bank (www.worldbank.org) remain as the most potent intergovernmental institutions that influence and shape development in the Third World.� Armed with initial capitalization from government contributions and co-financing from private commercial banks, MDBs continue to largely determine the directions of public borrowing and spending.

Over the years, Asia NGOs have come to recognize the impact of MDBs on overall development work.� Since 1988, ANGOC has played a major role vis-a-vis efforts at reforming multilateral financing institutions.� It continues to play a key role on three levels: (1) information-sharing and public education; (2) policy dialogue and advocacy; and (3) capacity-building.� In 1990, ANGOC helped found, and continues its active membership, in the NGO Working Group on the Asian Development Bank.