English is the official language of the ADB and is widely used in its technical assistance projects.

Approximately 80-90% of ADB Technical Assistance projects use English as the primary language.

Chinese is the second most commonly used language in ADB Technical Assistance projects, particularly in projects related to China and other East Asian countries.

Approximately 10-20% of ADB Technical Assistance projects use Chinese as the primary language.

Hindi is the third most commonly used language in ADB Technical Assistance projects, particularly in projects related to India and other South Asian countries.

Approximately 5-10% of ADB Technical Assistance projects use Hindi as the primary language.

Japanese is the fourth most commonly used language in ADB Technical Assistance projects, particularly in projects related to Japan and other East Asian countries.

Approximately 5-10% of ADB Technical Assistance projects use Japanese as the primary language.

French is the fifth most commonly used language in ADB Technical Assistance projects, particularly in projects related to French-speaking countries in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Approximately 2-5% of ADB Technical Assistance projects use French as the primary language.

In addition to the five most commonly used languages, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, and Portuguese are also sometimes used in ADB Technical Assistance projects, depending on the specific country or region where the project is implemented.

Using local languages in ADB Technical Assistance projects is important to ensure effective communication with local stakeholders, promote local ownership and participation, and enhance the sustainability of project outcomes.

Some of the challenges associated with using local languages in ADB Technical Assistance projects include lack of qualified interpreters and translators, limited availability of technical resources in local languages, and cultural and linguistic differences.

To overcome the challenges associated with using local languages in ADB Technical Assistance projects, measures such as investing in language training for project staff, developing local language resources and materials, and promoting cultural sensitivity and understanding can be taken.

The use of local languages in ADB Technical Assistance projects contributes to the overall effectiveness of the projects by improving communication and understanding, enhancing local ownership and participation, and increasing the sustainability of project outcomes.