Nongovernment Organizations and Civil Society

News from ADB for Nongovernment Organizations
 March 2002, Volume 2, Issue 2

In this Issue

1. ADB Launches Stakeholder Dialogue
2. Air Your Views on ADB's Inspection Function
3. Hydropower Project Plan Addresses Impact on Community
4. Indian NGO Empowers Poor Women in Rajasthan
5. ADB to Contribute to Reconstruction in Afghanistan
6. Fund Pushes for Cleaner Energy Production
7. ADB Goes for Green Procurement
8. Deadline Extended for ADB Annual Meeting Registration
9. Log on for Handbook on Poverty and Social Analysis
10. Guidebook Explains how to get Wired
11. New Book on Regulating Water and Sanitation
12. Grant Helps Lao PDR's Landless Poor
13. Environmental NGOs in Central Asia get a Boost
14. NGO Visitors: World Vision
15. Upcoming Events
16. Latest Documents Available from ADB
17. Developments in ADB's NGO Cooperation Network

Under a newly approved regional technical assistance project, ADB will organize several workshops in its developing member countries to seek consensus among stakeholders on a framework for ADB-NGO cooperation. Representatives of ADB, governments, civil society and the private sector will come together at one regional, three subregional and approximately nine country consultation workshops this year to examine the aims of ADB-NGO cooperation, NGO perceptions of their needs for ADB support, ways to ensure that NGO views on ADB policies and operations receive due consideration, and other issues. Workshops will also be held in one European country, Australia, and at the ADB's 35th Annual Meeting in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. For more information, contact Robert Dobias, Head, NGO Center, at rdobias@adb.org.

ADB's Inspection Function, approved in 1995, is under review. A working paper will be submitted to the Board of Directors later this year. This review will consider lessons learned from ADB's experience with inspection requests, as well as input from the field and from those with an interest or involvement in the inspection function. ADB's consultation plan includes workshops to be held between April and June 2002. ADB welcomes initial comments on the Inspection Function by 20 March 2002. Comments, which may be sent to inspectionreview@adb.org, will be considered in the drafting of the working paper.

The ADB-supported Theun-Hinboun hydropower project, which began operating in March 1998, has caused various socioeconomic and environmental impacts affecting approximately 57 villages containing approximately 3,000 households in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The Theun-Hinboun Power Company Limited (THPC) has conducted studies, and initiated compensation and an environmental monitoring program to address these impacts. Activities have included improving water supplies to residents, and supporting medical facilities, horticultural and sericultural projects.

In June 2000, THPC completed a "Mitigation and Compensation Plan," reviewed all the impacts, recommended mitigation and monitoring measures, and provided indicative timetables and a budget. In March 2001, THPC created an Environment Management Division and assigned a manager to head this division, appoint a team and prepare detailed work plans and budgets to implement the plan. To guide the division's activities, a logical framework, or logframe, was developed. ADB received the logframe in February 2002, and has placed it on the Bank's Internet site.

Project "Shakti" is empowering poor women in 11 villages of Virat Nagar block in the Jaipur District of Rajasthan, India. The NGO Humana People to People India is implementing the project with financial support from an ADB regional technical assistance grant (RETA 5889). The grant provided funding to women's NGOs for small-scale initiatives in several developing member countries to reduce women's poverty and improve their economic and social status. In Rajasthan, Humana People has facilitated women's self-help groups which meet weekly to discuss pooling savings and generating income through initiatives like goat-rearing and vermiculture (earthworm composting). Such schemes enable women to raise their families' living standards, provide their children with better education, and set a positive example for other poor people residing in their communities.

ADB will work with its member governments to provide assistance on the order of $500 million in highly concessional loans and grants over the first two-and-a-half years of the transitional Kabul administration. ADB, World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme jointly prepared the Preliminary Needs Assessment for Afghanistan's Recovery and Reconstruction. It recognizes that most international relief, rehabilitation and community development activities have been channeled through NGOs, and that NGOs effectively involve and target women and other vulnerable groups. ADB's assistance will concentrate on poverty reduction. The main areas to receive attention will be irrigation rehabilitation, road reconstruction and basic education.

ADB will administer a cooperation fund promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in small towns and rural areas in Asia and the Pacific. The Government of Denmark has provided an initial contribution of $US3.6 million to the fund, which will support project preparation, training, advisory services and institutional support. The fund will be used to help convert energy supply systems toward cleaner fuel use and increased efficiency, and to promote conservation among end users. Only ADB developing member countries with an annual per capita gross national product of less than $2,500 will be eligible for grants.

ADB is encouraging environmentally responsible procurement (ERP), both within the institution and in its developing member countries. In August 2001, ADB appointed a sustainable development specialist to review policies and procedures, and to identify opportunities to initiate ERP. ADB raised the issue of ERP at a meeting of heads of procurement from multilateral development banks (MDB) held in London in October 2001. The procurement officials agreed to promote ERP, and now ADB is examining short- and long-term possibilities. ADB also discussed ERP with NGOs in Washington, DC in December 2001, and NGOs will consult regularly with MDBs to promote ERP. ADB is expected to provide further impetus to ERP by expanding the list of items excluded from ADB-financed procurement, and initiating ERP in project identification and processing, bidding documents, and project legal agreements. ADB also plans to recruit a specialist in 2002 to prepare a user’s guide, devise capacity-building measures, and facilitate consultations with interested parties.

As previously reported, the 35th Annual Meeting of ADB’s Board of Governors will be held in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, 10-12 May 2002. The meeting will be accompanied by seminars and other activities beginning on 8 May. NGOs are invited to attend the seminars and various social events, as well as special programs focused on the interests of civil society. The Annual Meeting presents an opportunity for NGOs and ADB Management, senior staff, and member country delegations to exchange information and views on ADB’s operations and policies. The registration deadline has been extended from 28 February to 1 April 2002. NGO representatives interested in attending the Annual Meeting can register online. NGO representatives who are not currently accredited by ADB must receive the approval of their home government in order to be accredited. ADB will request such government approval on behalf of any unaccredited NGO representatives who register by 1 April. NGOs will have to make their own arrangements for travel, accommodations and visas. There will be no on-site registration in Shanghai.

CompassPoint Nonprofit Services has published a guidebook entitled, The eNonprofit: A Guide to ASPs, Internet Services, and Online Services. Co-authored by Michael Stein and John Kenyon, the book includes a beginner's guide to online software, a directory of over 100 services, and details on evaluating and selecting an Application Service Provider. The guide, which was funded by the Community Technology Foundation of California, can be downloaded from the CompassPoint Internet site. For more information, contact Cristina Chan at CristinaC@compasspoint.org.

ADB has just published Regulatory Systems and Networking: Water Utilities and Regulatory Bodies, the proceedings of a regional forum. Edited by Arthur C. McIntosh and Cesar E. Yniguez, Regulatory Systems describes regulatory systems and experiences from different stakeholders in the water supply and sanitation sector. It also features an overview of regulatory systems around the world, 10 case studies, eight country report summaries, and the summary of a stakeholders survey. NGO representatives may request a free copy at adbpub@adb.org.

ADB will provide a $1 million grant from its Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to help poor families in Lao People's Democratic Republic secure alternative sources of income through farm-based activities. The Community-Managed Livelihood Improvement Project will create sustainable, area-based, and community-owned alternative sources of income. The project will target about 2,000 households, many situated in uplands without land or with land that cannot be irrigated. NGOs will help communities develop small fishponds, improve seed production of high-value vegetables, integrate pest management and weed control, and establish nurseries for fruit and trees.

The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) is offering three types of grants to support environmental projects and initiatives of NGOs and individuals in central Asian countries. "Transborder grants" of up to $10,000 promote cooperation among NGOs in the region in addressing environmental protection and sustainable development. "Special grants" of up to $5,000 will fund initiatives related to community input into dissemination of ideas on sustainable development, and on saving water and improving energy efficiency. CAREC will also give up to $500 for urgent or one-time projects, such as publications, participation in training, and assistance in registering as an NGO with national authorities. Complete guidelines are available on CAREC's Internet site. Direct questions to Yelena Yerzakovich at lyerzakovich@carec.kz.

This regular feature spotlights NGOs visiting the Asian Development Bank.

World Vision is an international Christian relief and development organization which promotes the well-being of all people, especially children. It serves poor people globally, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic origin. The NGO, established in 1950 to care for orphans in Asia, now embraces the larger issues of community development and advocacy for the poor in its mission to help children and their families build sustainable futures. Working on six continents, World Vision is one of the largest Christian relief and development helping communities build stronger and healthier relationships. It focuses on children because they are the best indicator of a community's social health. When children are fed, sheltered, schooled, protected, valued, and loved, a community thrives.

World Vision functions as a partnership of interdependent national entities that have their own boards or advisory councils to oversee their operations. It works in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taipei,China, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam. Seven Partnership Offices, including offices in Bangkok and Melbourne, coordinate its strategic and global operations, and represent World Vision in the international arena.

Microfinance is one of the many areas in which World Vision works. It has around $40 million on loan globally and hopes to increase this amount. World Vision is interested in ADB's support to microfinance initiatives in the Asian and Pacific region, and is exploring cooperation with the Bank in this field.

For more information about World Vision, contact Christopher Shore, Director, Microfinance Development Group at christopher_shore@wvi.org, or visit World Vision's website at http://www.wvi.org. Mr. Shore and Mr. Ian Curtis, World Vision's Azerbaijan Country Director, visited with Robert Dobias, Head, ADB NGO Center, and other ADB staff, on 13 February 2002.

Global NGO Forum preceding United Nations High Level Inter-Governmental Meeting on Finance for Development, 14-16 March 2002, Monterrey, Mexico. Contact: Lidice Ramos, Forum Secretariat, tel/fax: (52.81) 83 43 25 03; email: ffdforoglobal@terra.com.mx.

Tenth Asia-Pacific Fund-Raising Conference, 15-18 April 2002, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Contact: Secretariat, Yayasan Nanyang Press, tel: (60 3) 787 26 888; fax: (60 3) 787 268 00; email: NYFound@nanyang.com.my.

Managing NGOs, a six-week program that seeks to improve the effectiveness of development NGOs, 15-24 April 2002, Manchester, England, UK. Contact: Institute for Development Policy and Management, tel: (44 161) 275 2800; fax: (44 161) 273 8829; email: idpm@man.ac.uk.

Consultation Workshop on Review of ADB's Inspection Function, 18-19 April (tentative), Manila, Philippines. Contact: Suresh Nanwani, tel: (63 2) 632 4680; email: snanwani@adb.org; or Robert Dobias, tel: (63 2) 632 5337; email: rdobias@adb.org.

International Training Course on Communication for Rights-Based Programming, 22 April 2002, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Contact: Teresa H. Stuart, UNICEF, tel/fax: (63 2) 892 6456; email: tstuart@unicef.org.

35th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors and related seminars, 8-12 May 2002, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Contact: Robert J. Dobias, tel: (63 2) 632 5337; fax (63 2) 636 2192; e-mail: rdobias@adb.org

Jakarta People's Forum, an independent initiative of Indonesian civil society in the process toward the Johannesburg Summit to review the implementation of the Rio Declaration (Agenda 21) on sustainable development, 27 May-7 June 2002, Jakarta, Indonesia. Contact: Secretariat IPF, tel: (62 21) 794 1672; e-mail: Secretariat@jakartapeoplesforum.org.

2nd World Bank-NGO Working Group for the Europe and Central Asia Region Assembly, 14-16 June, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia. Contact: Liliana Proskuryakova, tel/fax: (7 812) 312 3887; email: wb-eca-ngo-wg@yandex.ru.

The most recent ADB documents approved for public release include the Myanmar Country Economic Report, Volumes I and II, December 2001, and the following 11 Technical Assistance Reports.

• Preparing the Local Government Capacity Building for Decentralization Project, December 2001 (Indonesia)
• Improving Aid Coordination and Management, December 2001 (Mongolia) Gender Reform Program, February 2002 (Pakistan)
• Preparing the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Program, February 2002 (Pakistan)
• Institutional Strengthening of the National Statistics Office, February 2002 (Vanuatu)
• Assessment and Strengthening of Coastal Management Institutions, February 2002 (Vietnam)
• Gender Strategy and Implementation Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development, February 2002 (Vietnam)
• Strengthening the Collaborative Vegetable Research Network in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam - Phase II, December 2001
• Facilitating Economic Cooperation in Eastern Parts of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China and Mongolia, December 2001
• Support to the Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia, December 2001
• Integration of Internally Displaced Persons in Mingechevir Rayon Project, December 2001 (Azerbaijan)

These documents will be added to the ADB Depository Libraries, which, in addition to Technical Assistance Reports, features Country Economic Reviews, Country Economic Updates, Environmental Impact Assessments, Reports and Recommendations of the President, and Summary Initial Environmental Examinations.

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Questions about the contents of Partnership Newsletter or about ADB relations with NGOs, may be directed to ngocoordinator@adb.org. Learn more about ADB cooperation with NGOs.

© Copyright 2002. Partnership Newsletter is published six times a year by ADB's Office of External Relations in conjunction with the ADB NGO Center. Previous issues are available here. Hypertext links provided in Partnership Newsletter do not imply ADB endorsement of the views expressed on non-ADB web sites. Such links are provided solely as an information service. Published contributions do not necessarily represent the view of ADB Management, staff, or members. ADB reserves the right to edit submissions. Partnership Newsletter may be redistributed with credit given to Asian Development Bank.

NGO Center
Asian Development Bank
P.O. Box 789, Manila 0980, Philippines
Tel: (632) 632-4147; (632) 636-2648