Nongovernment Organizations and Civil Society

News from ADB for Nongovernment Organizations
 November 2002, Volume 2, Issue 6

In this Issue

1. Stakeholders to Draft Framework for ADB-NGO-Government Cooperation
2. Policy Reaffirms Link Between Environment and Poverty Reduction
3. Public-Private Partnerships to Upgrade Metro Manila's Slums
4. Maritime Training Institute Receives a Boost
5. ADB Gains Direct Access to GEF Project Resources
6. Public Comments Invited on Operations Manual
7. Board Receives Update on Implementation of Samut Prakarn Recommendations
8. NGOs Helping Street Children will Exchange Experience and Advise ADB
9. EU Initiative Promotes Sustainable Solutions to Asia's Environmental Problems
10. Grants Offered for Tropical Forest Research
11. Scholarships Available for Study of Sustainable Energy Development
12. NGO Visitor: AIESEC, the Global Student Organization
13. Upcoming Events
14. Latest Documents Available from ADB
15. Give us your Comments

On 18-19 November, ADB will convene a "writeshop" in Manila to draft a new framework for ADB-NGO-Government cooperation. Approximately 30 participants, representing NGOs, governments, the private sector and ADB staff, will prepare the framework, which will include an action plan for the period 2003-2005. Additional participants will join the group to review the document at a workshop on 20-21 November. The original "writeshop" group will then reconvene to revise the framework based on comments from the workshop. The week-long exercise is based on input provided by hundreds of stakeholders at 14 national and regional consultation meetings held since May 2002. The resulting document will be circulated to those who participated in the consultations, and posted on ADB's web site for public review and comment. For more information, contact Cindy Malvicini at ngocoordinator@adb.org.

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ADB has approved an Environment Policy to meet the challenges of the region's rapidly increasing environmental degradation. The policy observes that rapid population growth, dramatic changes in production and consumption patterns, and massive rural-to-urban migration have transformed the environment, and the way that natural resources are used. It also states that ADB must mobilize the skills and resources of civil society, the private sector, and government to counter environmental degradation. Over the past two years, ADB has formulated its Environment Policy with the participation of a wide range of stakeholders from 25 countries. For more information, contact J. Warren Evans at jevans@adb.org.

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ADB will provide a US$3.6 million grant for a pilot public-private sector partnership to upgrade slums in Metro Manila, Philippines. The grant is from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, financed by the Government of Japan. The Strategic Private Sector Partnerships for Urban Poverty Reduction Program will leverage corporate outreach and assistance from leading companies to provide grants for community infrastructure and basic services; revolving funds for housing improvements; microenterprises to promote livelihood opportunities; and a program to prevent, and prepare for, fires, floods, and typhoons. Some 35,000 poor people in 23 communities throughout Metro Manila will benefit. In an innovative approach, ADB will partner the Philippine Business for Social Progress, a corporate-led nongovernment organization promoting social development, and well as local government units. More details are available from Matthew Westfall at mwestfall@adb.org.

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ADB will contribute to the upgrading of a maritime institute of vital importance to the economy of the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu. The package, comprising a loan equivalent to US$1.85 million and a technical assistance grant of $291,000, will enable the Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute to meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) training standards. The Institute trains young Tuvaluan men so that they can work abroad on foreign vessels. Annual remittances sent home from Tuvalu seafarers amount to AUD$5 million-$8 million, a significant sum set against the country's gross domestic product of AUD$18 million. The Institute currently lacks the facilities to meet all IMO standards. Failure to remain on the IMO's so-called "White List" would jeopardize the work prospects of the 1,000 graduates registered as working seafarers and would close the pipeline for upcoming trainees. For more information, contact Robert Siy at rsiy@adb.org.

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The Council and Assembly of the Global Environment Fund (GEF) have approved ADB direct access to GEF full project resources. Such access will enable ADB to (i) identify, prepare, appraise, and implement GEF projects on behalf of GEF; (ii) submit full project proposals for GEF financing directly to GEF rather than indirectly through an implementing agency; and (iii) receive project grants directly from the GEF Trustee and be directly accountable for their use. GEF provides grants and concessionary resources for projects that address global environmental issues related to climate change, biodiversity, international waters, and ozone depletion. For more information, contact N.J. Ahmad at njahmad@adb.org.

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As part of ADB's approach to updating its Operations Manual in the context of the Inspection Policy, all ADB policies and procedures which at first view are relevant to project formulation, processing and implementation were reviewed by a Senior Staff Committee established by ADB President Chino in March 2002. This internal review exercise has been completed and a compendium of operational policies and procedures that are subject to inspection has been prepared and made available on ADB's web site for public comment by 30 November 2002. To provide comments or request more information, contact Yukiko Kojima at compendiumpol@adb.org.

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ADB Management has submitted to the Board of Directors its first semiannual report on the implementation of the Board Inspection Committee's recommendations on the Samut Prakarn Wastewater Management Project. The report, which covers the period 26 March-25 September 2002, indicates that a compensation plan is being developed in consultation with project-affected persons and is expected to be finalized by December 2002. It also reports that monitoring mechanisms are being put in place to cover the environmental, socioeconomic, and public health aspects of the project. In addition, arrangements are being developed for community involvement, to the extent possible, in monitoring activities, and for assessing the risk of adverse environmental impacts. Further, odor and effluent management measures are being developed.

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ADB will invite 13 representatives of NGOs working with street children in seven Asian and Pacific urban centers to participate in a round table discussion in Manila, 25-27 November. The NGOs were ADB's implementing partners for the 2002 ADB Children's Art Competition held in Dhaka, Jakarta, Kathmandu, Manila, Phnom Penh, Port Moresby, and Ulanbaatar in May and June this year. The competitions gave a chance to 1,000 current and former street children to use their artistic ability to express what they could do for themselves and their communities if given the opportunity. The NGO representatives will share insights with ADB staff in operational departments who are directly concerned with poverty reduction issues. The meeting will also enable NGOs to share practical information, strategies, and approaches for aiding homeless urban youth. For more information, contact Robert Salamon at rsalamon@adb.org.

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The European Union's Asia Pro Eco Programme aims to improve environmental performance in Asian economic sectors through the exchange of cleaner environmental technologies and practices, and to promote sustainable investment and trade between the EU and Asia. The program is open to nonprofit organizations in the 15 EU Member States and 17 Asian countries. The three categories of projects for which grants may be awarded include diagnostic activities, technology partnerships, and demonstration activities. Applications will be accepted until 8 January 2003, and must be submitted by a consortium of at least three partners comprising at least two from different EU Member States and at least one partner from an eligible Asian country. For more information, contact the Asia Pro Eco Programme at europeaid-asia-pro-eco@cec.eu.int.

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The Center for Tropical Forest Research Science of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has announced a grants program to support research associated with the Center's network of "Forest Dynamics Plots," a pan-tropical network of 16 sites in 13 countries. Within each plot, trees are measured, tagged, identified, and monitored through time. The program provides opportunities for senior researchers and graduate, pre- and post-doctoral students to utilize the plots and to conduct research with scientists working on the sites. Most grants are in the US$3,000-$15,000 range, and funding may be applied to expenses directly related to field research, laboratory research, and data analysis. Applicants are welcome from all nationalities. For more details, contact the Center for Tropical Forest Science at ctfslist@stridc.si.edu.

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The e7 Network of Expertise for the Global Environment (e7) is offering scholarships to students from developing countries and economies in transition who plan to undertake studies at the masters or post-doctoral level in areas directly related to sustainable energy development. e7 is an organization of leading electricity companies from the G-7 countries in Europe, Japan and North America. With funds donated by each of the organization's member companies, the scholarships are made available for a maximum 2-year period. Masters level students receive scholarships of up to US$20,000 per year and post-doctoral students receive scholarships of up to US$25,000. In 2001, its first year of operation, the scholarship program received 52 masters applications and ten post-doctoral applications from people in 33 countries. For more information, contact the e7 Secretariat at e7secretariat@hydro.qc.ca.

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This regular feature spotlights an NGO visiting the Asian Development Bank. The Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (AIESEC) is the world's largest student organization. Established in the 1940s, AIESEC now maintains a global network of 50,000 members across more than 85 countries and territories at more than 800 universities. The organization arranges international traineeship exchanges and supporting activities that provide practical learning experiences for its trainees, and that facilitate learning by its members and other stakeholders. Its overriding mission is to contribute to the development of the countries where it works, and to promote international understanding and cooperation.

Since it was formed, AIESEC exchanges have focused on business organizations. More recently, other kinds of organizations, including nongovernment organizations, inter-governmental organizations, and business networks for social responsibility, have benefited from such exchanges. AIESEC is now seeking support to place motivated young people in specific capacity-building projects in NGOs in developing countries to work on fund-raising, administration, information technology, and networking.

Each year AIESEC places more than 5,000 young people in international exchange programs with each position lasting up to eighteen months. Trainees interact with their local environment, supported by AIESEC's local offices. AIESEC has identified several global focus areas that it believes are most relevant for societal change, including corporate social responsibility, cultural understanding, entrepreneurship, higher education and learning, and information and society.

AIESEC's "development traineeships" provide work experience in community development issues at a company, government office, university, or other institution. In this type of exchange, the trainee is immersed in the country's grassroots-level social framework. Through such an exchange, his or her work contributes to the development of local communities and their people. AIESEC maintains a database of students who have applied for these traineeships. They include students or recent graduates with academic and working backgrounds in areas such as special education, social psychology, women's studies, national resources management, environmental economics, speech therapy, and developmental economics.

AIESEC operates in the following countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region: Australia; Bangladesh; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; The Philippines; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Taipei,China; and Thailand. Zoe Fitzgerald, Director for Asia-Pacific, AIESEC International, and representatives of AIESEC Philippines Executive Board visited the NGO Center on 28 October 2002 to explore possibilities of cooperation with ADB. Ms. Fitzgerald can be reached in Rotterdam, the Netherlands at tel: (31.10) 443.4383; email: zoef@ai.aiesec.org. AIESEC's web site: http://www.aiesec.org/.

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• Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the HelpAge International Network, 26-29 November 2002, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Contact: Chris Eldridge, HelpAge, email: chris@helpageasia.com; web site: http://www.helpageasia.com/.
• Regional Workshop on Better Air Quality in Asia and Pacific Rim Cities, 16-18 December 2002, Hong Kong, China. Contact: Glynda Bathan, CAI-Asia Secretariat, tel: (63.2) 632.5151; email: gbathan@adb.org; web site: http://www.cse.polyu.edu.hk/~activi/BAQ2002/Index.htm.
• Asian Social Forum, 3-7 January 2003, Hyderabad, India. Contact: WSF India Secretariat, tel: (91.11) 647.6580; email: wsfindia@vsnl.net; web site: http://www.wsfindia.org.
• Course on NGO Leadership, Development and Social Change, 20 January - 7 February 2003, Silang, Cavite, Philippines. Contact: IIRR, tel: (63.46) 414.2417; email: Education&Training@iirr.org; web site: http://www.iirr.org.
• 3rd World Water Forum, 16-23 March 2003, Kyoto, Japan. Contact: WWF Registration Office, tel: (81.3) 5212.1640; email: registration@water-forum3.com; web site: http://www.worldwaterforum.org/eng/index.html.

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ADB makes available to the public hundreds of documents each year through a network of over 160 depository libraries around the world and on its Internet site. These documents include Country Economic Reviews, Country Economic Updates, Environmental Impact Assessments, Reports and Recommendations of the President, Summary Initial Environmental Examinations, and Technical Assistance Reports. Recent releases include the Country Assistance Program Evaluation Report; RETA Report of the Greater Silk Road Initiative; Processing Status of 2002 Loan, Equity and Technical Assistance Projects; and the Project Completion Report for the North Western Province Water Resources Development Project (Sri Lanka).

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Questions about the contents of Partnership Newsletter or about ADB relations with NGOs, may be directed to Bart W. Édes at 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

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