Grant Fund Launched to Support NGOs
ADB’s Medium-Term Strategy envisages the establishment of a long-term window of support NGO-designed and -implemented projects of strategic relevance to ADB operations. A first step toward achieving this objective has been taken with the approval of a regional technical assistance grant of $500,000 from the Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund. The grant will also help build NGO capacity to work effectively with ADB and governments in combating poverty. Contact: Mr. Grant Curtis at gcurtis@adb.org.
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Applications Solicited for NGO Partnership Positions
The NGO Center welcomes nominations of individuals from the NGO Community to work with ADB as short-term consultants under the NGO Partnership Program. Three positions are available to: 1) review modalities for funding NGOs, 2) prepare best practice guidelines for ADB staff interaction with NGOs, and 3) enhance ADB-NGO cooperation in the Pacific. Terms of reference are available on ADB's web site. The duration of the Partnership positions is between two weeks and three months. ADB will provide appropriate compensation or remuneration of the selected candidate within its standard rules and regulations. To be eligible, a candidate must be a national of one of ADB's member countries. An NGO intending to make a nomination should submit the nominee's curriculum vitae to Ms. Suzanne Nazal at ngocoordinator@adb.org by 18 August 2003.
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Tripartite Framework Comes to Cambodia
ADB organized a workshop on the new ADB-Government-NGO Framework in Phnom Penh from 5 to 7 May 2003. ADB staff and civil society representatives reviewed the Framework's recommendations, and developed specific proposals for increased tripartite cooperation over the next three 3 years. Proposals focused on increased NGO involvement in ADB-assisted activities, capacity building for Cambodian NGOs, and expanded collaboration between NGOs and the Government of Cambodia. Further consultations with the Government will be held following the national elections on 27 July 2003. For more information, contact Mr. Chamroen Ouch at couch@adb.org.
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Review of Disclosure Policy Begins
On 29 May 2003, ADB created a senior-level Steering Committee to oversee a review of the policy on Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information. The Steering Committee is now assessing the policy's implementation to date, and examining the disclosure practices of ADB's comparator organizations, in particular the other regional development banks and international financial institutions. ADB will bear in mind the views of all stakeholders as it determines how to proceed, and will post updates about the review on its web site. For more information, contact disclosure@adb.org.
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President Chino Cites Risks to Asian Economies
The economic outlook for ADB’s developing member countries for 2003 and beyond is highly dependent on global economic movements, and is susceptible to the risks associated particularly with disruptions in tourism, trade, investment, and other services, said ADB President Tadao Chino at the 36th Annual Meeting held 30 June 2003 in Manila. The President also stated that ADB “must build a stronger synergy with all development partners (and) more actively engage civil society.” For more information, contact Mr. Ian Gill at igill@adb.org.
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ADB Meets with Protesters During Annual Meeting
The Philippine Working Group on the ADB, a coalition of advocacy NGOs, and the Asian Labor Network on International Financial Institutions (see No. 13 below) led demonstrations outside ADB headquarters during the 36th Annual Meeting. Demonstrators expressed opposition to private sector involvement in Philippine public utilities, and called upon ADB to intensify its support for core labor standards. Richard Ondrik, acting Acting Country Director of the Philippines, met protest leaders on the street. He assured them that their views would be shared with ADB staff concerned, and stressed ADB’s openness to discussions with civil society representatives on development issues. For details, contact Mr. Ondrik at rondrik@adb.org.
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NGOs Will Improve Access to Financial Services by Tajik Poor
ADB's Microfinance Systems Development Program will provide poor households and small enterprises in Tajikistan with easier and more reliable access to financial services such as loans and savings facilities. 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 that comply with all regulatory requirements. This is expected to increase their outreach by 100%, with half of the new clients women. For details, contact Mr. Tom Moyes at rmoyes@adb.org.
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Fund Promotes Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
ADB has approved the establishment of a Gender and Development Cooperation Fund to help carry out its gender and development policy and action plan. The fund Fund aims to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in the Asia and Pacific region. The governments of Canada, Denmark, and Norway have made initial contributions totaling US$4.2 million. "Too often, women bear the burden of poverty, as they are systematically excluded from access to resources, essential services, and national and local decision- making," says Shireen Lateef, ADB Principal Social Development Specialist. "Our focus on poverty reduction underscores mainstreaming gender, since it is a key factor in transforming growth into development and reducing poverty." For more information, contact Ms. Lateef at slateef@adb.org.
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Multi-Stakeholder Initiative Strives for Clean Asian Skies
Ten private sector companies and a private foundation have joined forces in the ADB-supported Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities. The corporate and foundation participation provides financing as well as hands-on support for activities to improve air quality management. Other partners in the initiative include 21 of the largest cities in Asia, 14 national government agencies, NGOs, and universities. "The participation of private sector grant providers in this initiative represents a new approach to cofinancing for ADB, helping to leverage ADB’s grant assistance funds and enhance the effectiveness of our technical assistance projects," says Paritha Tritasavit, a Cofinancing Specialist at ADB. For more information, contact Ms. Tritasavit at ptritasavit@adb.org.
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Project Strengthens Sub-National Government in Madhya Pradesh
A recently approved $520,000 ADB technical assistance grant will help to strengthen urban management of the state and six municipal governments of Madhya Pradesh, India. In particular, the technical assistance seeks to build the capacity of public authorities to effectively manage, coordinate, and monitor initiatives under a proposed ADB urban water supply and environmental improvement project. It will also build stakeholder consultation at the municipal, ward, and community levels; and design programs for NGOs involved in delivering infrastructure services to low-income residents. For more information, contact: Mr. Hun Kim at hunkim@adb.org.
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WWF Completes Report on the Environment and Tourism in the Fiji Islands
ADB and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)– South Pacific Programme formed a partnership to carry out the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Fiji Islands' National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP). Tourism is the fastest-growing industry in the Fiji Islands, and has significant potential impacts on the islands’ natural and social environment. The case study provided an opportunity to test SEA as a tool for improving the sustainability of plans adopted in Asia and the Pacific. On 20 August 2003, a stakeholder consultation workshop on the NTDP and SEA will be held in Suva. For more information, contact Mr. Daniele Ponzi at dponzi@adb.org.
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Publication Aims to Bridge the Perception Gap on Globalization
John Clark, Project Director of a high-level panel advising UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, is the author of a new book entitled, World's Apart - Civil Society and the Battle for Ethical Globalization. Clark attempts to bridge the divide between globalization’s advocates and opponents by interpreting both sets of arguments and looking behind the issue. Mr. Clark highlights the injustices of widening inequalities in world trade and finance, and calls for a new management of global change that ensures everyone shares in its opportunities. For more information, contact Kumarian Press at orders@kpbooks.com.
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NGO Visitors: Asian Labor Network on IFIs, Philippines Chapter
This regular feature spotlights a civil society organization visiting ADB.
The Asian Labor Network on International Financial Institutions (ALNI) is a network of trade unions, NGOs, and the academe from four countries seriously affected by the Asian financial crisis: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.
ALNI seeks to influence policies and programs of international financial institutions (IFIs) like ADB, especially where these policies and programs have an impact on workers. ALNI engages these institutions in dialogue and promotes policies and programs that protect workers and their organizations, encourages the participation of labor and the civil society in the development process, and advances the “democratic agenda”.
In the Philippines, ALNI collects data and conducts research work to develop baseline information on the impact of IFIs policies, programs, and projects on workers. It also trains representatives of ALNI labor union member organizations to advocate worker positions before the IFIs. To raise awareness among workers and the general public in the Philippines on IFI-related issues, ALNI conducts forums and small group discussions. It also develops information, education, and communication materials, and conducts mass mobilization activities and other public events. The network also disseminates information through diverse media about its activities and advocacy agenda with IFIs.
Among its other activities, ALNI-Philippines meets with representatives of ADB and other IFIs, and participates in various IFI-sponsored conferences to present organized labor’s perspective on IFI policies, programs, and projects, and to raise issues and concerns.
As part of a continuing dialogue with ADB on labor and social protection issues, ALNI-Philippines representatives Anthony Gamo, Tony Asper, and Roger Birosel met with staff of ADB’s Regional and Sustainable Development Department on 29 May 2003. For more information about ALNI-Philippines, contact: kmpi@info.com.ph, or visit its web site: http://www.alni.org.ph/.
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Upcoming Events
A listing in this section does not imply that funding is available to NGO participants.
- Training Program Development and Management (training), 11-29 August 2003, Silang, Cavite, Philippines. Contact: IIRR, tel: (63.46) 414.2417; fax: (63.46) 414.2420
- Project Development and Management (training), 1-5 September 2003, Karachi, Pakistan. Contact: Javed Patel, NGO Resource Centre; tel: (92.21) 583.3945.
- PRAXIS 7th International Thematic Participatory Rural Appraisal Training Workshop, 1-12 September 2003, Kerala, India. Contact: A.K. Shafiqur Rahman, tel: (880..2) 989.3362; fax: (880..2) 885.4512.
- International Civil Society Forum, 8-9 September 2003, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Contact: Secretariat, e-mail: cedawwatch@magicnet.mn.
- Participatory Approaches to Agricultural Extension (training), 8-26 September 2003, Silang, Cavite, Philippines. Contact: IIRR, tel: (63..46) 414.2417; fax: (63.46) 414.2420.
- Effective Management for Development (training), 15-19 September 2003, Oxford, England, UK. Contact: Rebecca Blackshaw, INTRAC, tel: (44.1865) 201.851; e-mail: r.blackshaw@intrac.org; web site: http://www.intrac.org.
- Development Policy, Planning and Management (training), 27 September - 13 December 2003, Birmingham, England, UK. Contact: Wendy Banner, University of Birmingham; tel: (44.121) 415.2295; fax: (44.121) 415.2296; e-mail: w.banner@bham.ac.uk; web site: http://www.bham.ac.uk/cds.
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Latest Documents Available from ADB
ADB makes available to the public hundreds of documents each year on its Web site and through a growing network of 165 depository libraries around the world. The extensive on-line Publications Catalog allows users to browse through a list of over 4,000 titles. These include Country Economic Reviews, Environmental Impact Assessments, Project Completion Reports (PCRs), Reports and Recommendations of the President (RRPs), Summary Initial Environmental Examinations, and Technical Assistance Completion Reports (TACRs).
Recent releases include: Preparing the Strengthening of Preventative Health Services Project TAR (Viet Nam); Community Information Services for the Poor TA Report (Sri Lanka); Status Report on the Progress of the Review and Updating of the Operations Manual; Institutional Support to NGOs TACR (Nepal); Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program for the Pacific Regional TA Report; Preparing the Early Childhood Development Project TAR (Azerbaijan); Promoting Partnerships to Accelerate Agriculture Development and Poverty Reduction in the Greater Mekong Subregion Regional TA Report; and Yichang-Wanzhou Railway Project Summary Environmental Impact Assessment (PRC).
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Questions about the contents of Partnership Newsletter, or about ADB cooperation with NGOs, may be directed to Mr. Bart Édes at ngocoordinator@adb.org.
© Copyright 2003. 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 online. 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.
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