Woochong Um, Director General of ADB's Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, discusses what needs to be done to secure the future of Asia and the Pacific region, especially for the poor and vulnerable. In the past decade, social protection has become a key instrument of public policy in many developing countries in Asia and the Pacific region. It is crucial to supporting economic and social development and has been an important tool to mitigate the impacts of shocks such as financial crises or natural disasters on the poor. Most recent data demonstrate that there has been significant progress across the region in expanding social protection. Many countries have substantially invested in social protection, strengthened existing programs and management of them and developed new interventions to support the poor and vulnerable. But despite this considerable progress, half of the population in the region remains without social support. Social protection systems in the region are not fully equipped to support the current and future needs of the poor and vulnerable adequately.
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