Regional Cooperation and Integration Financing Partnership Facility

In more than a decade, the Regional Cooperation and Integration Financing Partnership Facility (RCIFPF) has reached out to countries in fragile and conflict-affected situations, small island developing states, and landlocked developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. The facility supports upstream knowledge work and midstream business development that lead to the design of innovative regional cooperation and integration investment projects, particularly in the areas of health, agricultural value chain development, tourism, among others.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the global community of its interconnectedness as cooperation among governments became critical in responding to the crisis. The RCIFPF is financing several projects that support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts directly or indirectly, including a regional program to develop innovations for higher-quality connectivity for medium-term post–COVID-19 recovery. It is also financing technical assistance to support cooperation and integration in Central Asia and ASEAN+3.

Small Businesses Without Borders

Trade and cross-border investment by small and medium-sized enterprises between India and countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is being promoted through an “internationalization” project financed by the Asia Regional Trade and Connectivity Fund. The project is expected to contribute to enhanced regional integration and inclusive growth in both the GMS and South Asia.

Established in 2007, the RCIFPF aims to channel additional financing and knowledge resources from development partners to support the implementation of ADB’s regional cooperation and integration program. It is designed to support untied grants for technical assistance, including advisory, project preparatory, and knowledge and capacity building initiatives.

The RCIFPF includes one ADB special fund and two trust funds. The Regional Cooperation and Integration Fund (RCIF), an ADB special fund supported by ADB and Japan, focuses on cross-border connectivity, trade and investment, and regional public goods.

The two trust funds under the RCIFPF are the Investment Climate Facilitation Fund (ICFF), financed by Japan, and the Asia Regional Trade and Connectivity Fund (ARTCF), financed by the United Kingdom. The ICFF focuses on financial integration, while the ARTCF focuses on cross-border transport, energy, and information and communication technology infrastructure, among others.