News for NGOs
ADB’s Microfinance Systems Development Program will provide poor households and small enterprises in Tajikistan with easier and more reliable access to financial services. The Program consists of a policy loan and investment loan—each for $4 million—and a technical assistance grant from ADB’s Japan Special Fund for $640,000. The project will select at least two NGO programs and transform them into deposit-taking microfinance institutions. For details, contact Tom Moyes at rmoyes@adb.org, or visit http://www.adb.org/Documents/News/2003/nr2003090.asp
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A landmark fund will support NGO poverty reduction activities and serve as the basis for a larger, long-term assistance window
By Grant Curtis
NGO Specialist
"The regional technical assistance gives ADB greater flexibility and additional resources to support innovative NGO activities that complement our poverty reduction efforts at the country level"
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently approved a $500,000 regional technical assistance (RETA) to fund project activities that are designed and implemented by nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to reduce poverty and improve cooperation among ADB, governments, and NGOs.
“This RETA represents a landmark development in ADB relations with civil society,” says Jan P. M. van Heeswijk, Director General, Regional and Sustainable Development Department. “The regional technical assistance gives ADB greater flexibility and additional resources to support innovative NGO activities that complement our poverty reduction efforts at the country level.”
The RETA will fund a limited number of NGO-designed and -implemented project activities that are of strategic importance to ADB’s poverty reduction activities in eligible developing member countries (DMCs); support NGO engagement in strategic poverty-related discussions with ADB and governments; and build the capacity of local NGOs to help them work with ADB and governments in the context of ADB’s operations in the Asia and Pacific region.
To be eligible for funding, an NGO must be a nonprofit organization legally registered in an eligible DMC, with a proper accounting and financial system, and a demonstrated track record in implementing small-scale development projects. Qualified NGOs may submit proposals to a maximum ceiling of $50,000 per country, with no single project larger than $20,000. Due to the limited amount of funding, a particular theme or sector will be selected for each DMC participating in the RETA.
The RETA is financed through the Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund, with financial assistance from the Government of the United Kingdom.
The NGO Center will have overall responsibility for implementing the RETA, working in close collaboration with ADB’s regional departments and participating resident missions. Experience gained during the RETA’s implementation will contribute to the design of a larger, long-term assistance window to support NGO poverty reduction activities.
Over the next several months, the NGO Center will study potential funding and control mechanisms that will allow NGOs to directly access ADB funding, a key recommendation of ADB’s Medium-Term Strategy as well as the recently adopted road map for tripartite cooperation, “ADB-Government-NGO Cooperation: A Framework for Action, 2003–2005.”
The RETA paper is available at http://www.adb.org/Documents/TARs/REG/tar_oth_37116.pdf.
To read the framework document, go to http://www.adb.org/NGOs/Framework/final_framework.pdf.
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ADB has approved the establishment of a Gender and Development Cooperation Fund to help carry out its gender and development policy and action plan by promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in Asia and the Pacific. The governments of Canada, Denmark, and Norway have made initial contributions totaling $4.2 million. For more information, contact Shireen Lateef at slateef@adb.org, or go to http://www.adb.org/Documents/News/2003/nr2003069.asp.
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ADB organized a workshop on the new ADB-Government-NGO Framework in Phnom Penh, on 5–7 May. ADB staff and civil society representatives reviewed the Framework’s recommendations, and developed specific proposals for increased tripartite cooperation. Proposals focused on increased NGO involvement in ADB-assisted activities, capacity building for Cambodian NGOs, and expanded NGO-Government collaboration. For more information, contact Srey Chanthy at schanthy@adb.org. Or go to http://www.adb.org/documents/news/carm/2003/carm200301.asp.
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