Asian Development Bank and UAE Sign Technical Cooperation Partnership to Facilitate ADB and AIM for Scale’s Collaboration in Scaling Innovations
May 5, 2026 – This week on the sidelines of the ADB’s 59th Annual Meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court signed a US$1.5 million technical cooperation partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to scale agricultural innovations for farmers across eight countries in Asia and the Pacific.
The new partnership will be operationalized by the ADB and AIM for Scale, building on a cooperation arrangement signed between both parties on March 19, 2026. It is part of a broader effort to align technical expertise, government leadership, and multilateral financing around scaling cost-effective agricultural solutions. The agreement is further strengthened by the support of the Japan’s Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR).
Through this collaboration, AIM for Scale will work alongside ADB and government counterparts in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, and the Maldives to translate evidence-backed innovations into investment-ready programs. These include weather forecasting for farmers, digital advisory services for agriculture, and livestock productivity solutions designed to improve farmer decision-making, productivity, and resilience.
AIM for Scale—supported by the UAE and the Gates Foundation—will provide technical expertise and coordination support to ensure these innovations are effectively embedded within ADB-financed operations and national delivery systems.
“International cooperation continues to play a key role in strengthening global food security,” said Advisor at the International Affairs Office of the UAE Presidential Court Khalfan Al Matrooshi. “Through Abu Dhabi’s AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development, the UAE is convening the partners, expertise, and financing to make that possible. Today’s partnership is a testament to what international cooperation can deliver when global partners come together with shared purpose.”
By combining AIM for Scale’s evidence-first approach with ADB’s financing and country engagement, the partnership aims to close a persistent gap in agricultural development: ensuring that proven innovations reach farmers at the scale required to meaningfully improve livelihoods and food security.
Highlighting the importance of the collaboration, Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office at ADB, said: “Digital technologies, innovative financing, and improved fertilizer efficiency are critical to addressing the impact of recent shocks that have made millions more people go hungry, many of them in Asia and the Pacific. Collaborative agreements such as this one act as a catalyst towards integrated agricultural approaches – strengthening input systems, boosting productivity, and accelerating the transition towards more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems”
Shigeo Shimizu, Executive Director representing Japan at the ADB Board of Directors, added: “Through the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, Japan has been actively supporting initiatives that advance innovation, resilience, and digital transformation across the region. Our support for this initiative since 2024 reflects Japan’s strong and sustained commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture and strengthening food systems through innovation and partnership.”
“We look forward to collaborating with the ADB to ensure that millions of farmers across Asia and the Pacific have access to evidence-backed innovations that can meaningfully strengthen their livelihoods,” said Paul Winters, Executive Director of AIM for Scale. “We are grateful to the UAE and JFPR for enabling this important work.”