ADB, ADBI and ILI Advance Toolkit to Unlock Smallholder Finance

On 8–9 July 2026, ADB, together with ADB Institute (ADBI) and International Law Institute, convened a policy dialogue in Tokyo to refine the Asia Pacific Agricultural Finance Toolkit, a new resource designed to expand private finance for smallholder farmers. Opened by ADBI Dean Bambang Brodjonegoro and PSOD Director Suhail Khan, the event brought together DMC officials, financial institutions, development partners and ADB colleagues to test the Toolkit’s ecosystem-based approach to identifying financing constraints and shaping reform solutions. Advisory Committee experts from Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Norinchukin Research Institute, and International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) also contributed insights. Scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2027, the Toolkit will help policymakers strengthen the enabling environment for smallholder finance and support credit providers in developing effective finance solutions, as well as inform ADB diagnostics, policy reforms, technical assistance and investments. The Toolkit is being developed with support from ADB Office of the General Counsel's Law and Policy Reform Program.