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NGO/Civil Society Program
Presentation of the "Voice of the Youth" to ADB
Representatives of the Japanese student organization, ROAD, will formally present to ADB a declaration on sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific to ADB. The declaration was drafted by the winners of the student essay competition organized by ADB, September-November 2006. The 25 winning essayists (from 15 ADB members) were invited to participate in a Youth Camp and Forum held in Kyoto in mid-March. Representatives of the winning essayists will also attend the presentation on 3 May. This initiative was jointly sponsored by, among others, ADB and ROAD, with financial support of the Japan Special Fund.
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Open Forum on ADB-Civil Society Cooperation: Requirements in the Development of ADB's Energy Strategy
This year, ADB's Operations Evaluation Department is evaluating ADB's Energy Policy, which was approved in 1995. Tremendous events and developments have taken place with respect to economics, environmental concerns, and social justice in the last twelve years which warrant serious consideration in a review of this policy. But is ADB giving the vital issues the weight and focus that it deserves? Does it recognize the dramatic impact that its policies have engendered in the last twelve years that have passed since its most recent issuance of its Energy Policy or, for that matter, its four decades of existence? This session will help determine what, from the civil society perspective, ADB's lens may be missing, and what it may need to dwell on and change.
MODERATOR:
- Mr. Michael Simon, Oxfam Australia
PANELISTS:
- Mr. Zhao Ang, Campaigner, Greenpeace China
- Mr. Carl Middleton, Southeast Asia Campaigner, International Rivers Network, USA
- Mr. Bruce Murray, Director General, Operations Evaluation Department, ADB
- Ana Maria Nemenzo, President, Freedom from Debt Coalition
- Mr. Woochong Um, Director, Energy, Transport and Water Division, ADB
- Ms. Mika Ohbayashi, Director, Institute for Sustainable Energy Policy, Japan
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Senior Officials' Meeting with CSOs
A senior representative of ADB will meet with accredited CSOs and field questions from civil society delegates. Given the large turn-out expected, those joining the meeting are asked to kindly arrive on time and, should they wish to make remarks, keep their interventions short to enable others to also participate.
Read the ADB President's Opening Remarks.
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Panel Discussion:
Supporting the Core Labor Standards
The ADB-ILO Core Labor Standards Handbook was launched in December 2006. The handbook aims to inform ADB staff of the four CLS and their application to the bank's operations. In this panel discussion, representatives of workers, and ADB will explore how governmental and inter-governmental organizations can strengthen the application of the CLS in development projects.
MODERATOR:
- Ms. Annie Geron, Vice President, Public Services International, Philippines
PANELISTS:
- Mr. Masaki Omura, Executive Director (Japan), ADB
- Mr. Noburo Inokuchi, Director of International Department, JICHIRO (PSI Japan affiliate)
- Mr. Coen Kompier, Specialist on International Labor Standards, ILO Subregional
Office for South Asia, India
- Mr. Woochong Um, Director, Energy, Transport and Water Division, ADB
- Ms. Marie Apostol, Regional Representative, Verité, Philippines
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CSO Forum on ADB's Water Policy & its Implementation
Approved in 2001, ADB's Water Policy promotes the concept of water as a "socially vital economic good" which needs integrated management in a participatory manner to sustain equitable economic growth and poverty reduction. The policy aims to:
- promote focus on water sector reforms across the ADB's Developing Member Countries;
- foster integrated management of water resources; and
- improve and expand delivery of water services through autonomous & accountable service providers, private sector participation in public-private partnerships.
In 2005, the ADB conducted a comprehensive review of policy implementation of its Water Policy to gauge progress and set a course for the future. ADB's new Water Financing Program (WFP) 2006-2010 aims to catalyze some $20 billion in water investments, making water "a core business area of ADB's operations." What is current thinking behind the WFP?
Panel participants:
MODERATOR:
- Ms. Violeta Corral, Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU Asia-Pacific)
PANELISTS:
- Mr. Victor Chiong, President, Alliance of Government Workers in the Water Sector (PSI Philippine affiliate)
- Mr. Hemantha Withanage, Executive Director, NGO Forum on ADB, Philippines
- Santa Kumar Bohara, Nepal Water Supply Employees Union
- Ms. Vidya Dinker, Coordinator, NGO Task Force on ADB - Mangalore, Karnataka, India
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Panel Discussion:
ADB's Revision of Environmental, Indigenous, Resettlement Policies: Is Social and Environmental Security at Stake?
The ADB has initiated a major overhaul of its three Safeguard Policies (Environment Policy, Involuntary Resettlement Policy, Indigenous Peoples Policy). This panel will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of ADB's existing safeguards policies in light of project level experiences and international standards and best practice.
Panel participants:
MODERATOR:
- Ms. Shefali Sharma, South Asia Regional Coordinator, Bank Information Center, India
PANELISTS:
- Mr. N.J. Ahmad, Director, Environmental and Social Safeguard Division, ADB
- Ms. Sin Chhin, Kampong Seung Community Leader, Cambodia
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Ms. Joanna Levitt, Director of Programs, International Accountability Project, UK
- Mr. Ul Ashraf Alan, Coastal Development Partnership and ABM Shafiqul Islam, Pani Committee
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Ms. Stephanie Fried, Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense
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Mr. Ramananda Wangkheirakpam, North East Peoples Alliance on Trade, Finance and Development
Briefing on ADB's Accountability Mechanism and Anticorruption Measures
Mr. Robert C. May, Special Project Facilitator, Mr. Peter Egens Pedersen, Auditor General, and Mr. Augustinus Rumansara, Chair, Compliance Review Panel, will brief CSO delegates on ADB's anticorruption measures and Accountability Mechanism.
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