DHAKA, April 24, 2026 (BSS) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250 million loan to support Bangladesh in operationalizing and institutionalizing critical reforms to improve the efficiency, coverage and effectiveness of the country's social protection system. The Subprogram 2 of the Second Strengthening Social Resilience Program aims to strengthen protective and preventive social protection measures to reduce vulnerability, exclusion, and poverty risks.  The program focuses on improving social protection system management, expanding its coverage and scope, and enhancing protection for vulnerable populations, said an ADB press release. "This program represents an important milestone in Bangladesh's transition toward a more modern, inclusive, and resilient social protection system," said ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong.  By expanding coverage for vulnerable groups-particularly women-and introducing contributory protection mechanisms, the reforms, introduced by this program, will help reduce poverty risks while supporting long-term economic stability.  "ADB is proud to partner with Bangladesh in building a system that is more efficient, adaptive, and better equipped to promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity", Jeong said.  Reforms under the program include the development of contributory social protection schemes, which is expected to help ease longer-term fiscal pressure.  The widow allowance program will also extend support to at least 250,000 additional vulnerable women, while adaptive social protection will be strengthened through initiative climate adaptive measures under a core workfare program. In addition, access to financial services for women entrepreneurs will increase by at least 15% through the Bangladesh Bank's targeted refinancing scheme. The initiatives under the program are expected to generate significant micro-level outcomes, including enhanced productivity and efficiency, increased female labor force participation, and greater poverty reduction-leading to positive macroeconomic effects and contributing to inclusive economic growth. ADB, founded in 1966, is a leading multilateral development bank owned by 69 members, including 50 from the Asia and Pacific region, and works to promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development.