Catalog

A Fresh Perspective
ADB Review [ August 2005 ]

NGO and civil society representatives engaged in lively debate and interaction with ADB’s President and staff during an Annual Meeting special program

By Graham Dwyer, (gdwyer@adb.org)
External Relations Specialist

Nongovernment organizations (NGOs) participated in nearly two thirds of Asian Development Bank (ADB)-approved loan projects during 2004, ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda told a special NGO session before ADB’s Annual Meeting in Istanbul in May.

In a meeting with 40 NGO representatives, Mr. Kuroda pointed out that ADB also provided direct funding to 60 projects under a pilot small grants scheme supporting NGO-run initiatives in 15 countries.

“The relationship between an institution like ADB and advocacy NGOs can sometimes be tense and even conflictive,” Mr. Kuroda told participants. “A lively, ongoing debate about development helps to ensure that voices are heard, and that the diversity of views on complex issues is taken into consideration.”

He said he appreciated NGO perspectives on how ADB can improve accountability and transparency in its project work. “NGOs play an important role in ADB-assisted projects,” he said. “We regularly draw on the strengths of NGOs as experts, as sources of project models, as advocates for the poor, and as a source of alternative viewpoints.”

Many NGOs had also given feedback on the early operations of ADB’s accountability mechanism, approved two years ago, he said. “Your comments will be an important contribution to a review of the mechanism due to take place sometime after December 2006,” he said.

OPPORTUNITY FOR DIALOGUE NGO and ADB representatives discussed topical development issues during four panels organized as part of the Annual Meeting’s NGO program

He also pointed out that ADB had recently approved its Public Communications Policy, which was developed after extensive public consultations and provides improved access to documents and commits ADB to greater openness with stakeholders.

At the session, NGO representatives quizzed Mr. Kuroda on various issues, ranging from problems of corruption, ADB’s operations in Nepal, its accountability mechanism, and release of funds for tsunami assistance, to the next step in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and the dangers of climate change.

Mr. Kuroda said he would be seeking their ideas for building upon the current ADB-Government-NGO Cooperation Framework 2003–2005, which has served as a road map for tripartite collaboration in the context of ADB-assisted activities.

Bart Édes, Head of ADB’s NGO and Civil Society Center, at an NGO Open Forum the previous day, stressed that ADB had come a long way in its partnership with civil society since 2003, when the framework began implementation.

“Civil society organizations are among our key partners in development,” he said. “We will be seeking their support in forging a new medium-term action plan for cooperation to make our partnerships even more effective through 2010.”

NGO and ADB representatives deliberated on issues ranging from governance and corruption to aid effectiveness and sustainable development during four panels organized as part of the Annual Meeting’s NGO program.

At a session on NGO-business partnership for sustainable development, representatives of environmental NGOs, including WWF International, and private sector companies discussed innovative ways for NGOs and businesses to collaborate to promote sustainable development.

A panel discussion on ADB safeguard policies was also held in which NGO representatives raised concerns about ADB application of policies on indigenous peoples, involuntary resettlement, and the environment in its operations. Bindu Lohani, Director General of ADB’s Regional and Sustainable Development Department, acknowledged the need for ADB to focus more effort on implementing ADB’s safeguard policies. Red Constantino, Greenpeace representative, called for ADB to bring the issue of climate change—and the need to redirect policies toward renewable energy—to the governments of its member countries.

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