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1. CSO Delegates Participate in Annual Meeting
More than 160 representatives of a wide range of civil society organizations (CSOs) participated in ADB's 42nd Annual Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, 2-5 May 2009. ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda met with CSO representatives to discuss a wide range of project and policy issues. ADB's NGO and Civil Society Center (NGOC) worked with CSOs to organize panel discussions on energy, information disclosure, the impact of the global economic slowdown on workers, and moving from global crisis to environmental sustainability. In addition, ADB and NGO Forum on ADB held an in-depth dialogue on the Safeguard Policy Update. Panel presentations have been posted on ADB's internet site. For more information, contact Sari Aman-Wooster, Senior Civil Society and Participation Specialist, at sawooster@adb.org.
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2. WWF-ADB Lead Joint Panel at 42nd Annual Meeting
The global economic crisis presents challenges but also a golden opportunity for the Asia and Pacific region to move to a sustainable and cost-effective, low-carbon ‘green’ path, a panel audience heard at the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB's) 42nd Annual Meeting. The ADB- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) panel on "Greening Asia’s Footprint: From Global Crises to Sustainability,” discussed how the region can shift to a greener economic growth model that is affordable and preserves past development gains.
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3. ADB Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Whistleblower Policy
On 1 May ADB kicked off a 90-day period for public comment on proposed improvements to its protections for those who report integrity violations and misconduct related to ADB or ADB-financed projects. The draft "Whistleblower and Witness Protection" provisions, posted on ADB's website, consolidate and extend ADB's existing protections and were drawn up after extensive consultation within the ADB and following recommendations from outside experts and ADB staff. The public is invited to comment on the draft from 1 May to 29 July 2009.
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4. Eminent Persons to Advise ADB on Climate Change
ADB has announced the establishment of an Advisory Group of seven eminent persons to advise the ADB on how to strengthen its programs to meet the global challenge of climate change. The Advisory Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development will help ADB Management consider innovative ways of assisting ADB's developing member countries move their economies onto low-carbon development paths and address the social impacts of climate change. The group includes representatives from Transparency International and the Earth Institute, among others.
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5. ADB Signs Declaration Calling on Transport Sector to Curb Emissions
Without immediate action, the transport sectors of developing countries will account for the overwhelming share of increased carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, according to a new declaration signed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Most GHG emissions in the transport sector and virtually all the expected growth in emissions come from private cars and trucks. The Bellagio Declaration on Transportation and Climate Change outlines how the transport sectors in developing countries can reduce future GHG emissions. The declaration is the result of a three-day conference in Bellagio, Italy, organized by ADB and the Clean Air Institute, attended by climate change and transportation experts. The declaration calls on governments and the transport industry to embrace a range of key principles.
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6. ADB Launches New Global Economic Crisis Website
The global financial crisis of 2008/2009 presents developing Asia with its most difficult economic challenges in the last half century. ADB has launched a new website dedicated to its response to the crisis. ADB is acting aggressively to help its member countries respond to the crisis. Given the scale of the challenge and the huge financing needs, ADB is focused on its areas of comparative strength, knowledge, and experience. ADB will effectively augment increased lending with policy advice and regional cooperation support. Simultaneously, it is establishing new financial modalities to meet the immediate needs of some of its member countries.
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7. PPMS sub-regional training of facilitators under way in Viet Nam
At the High-Level Forum in March 2005 in Paris, ADB made a commitment to “managing for development results” (MfDR), an effort aimed at improving the effectiveness of development programs by focusing on results. In keeping with its pledge, ADB is implementing a regional technical assistance grant (RETA)—Results-Focused Project Design and Management—to help its developing member countries (DMCs) give staff the necessary skills to build results-based management into the design and execution of projects. A 9-day workshop, aimed at strengthening facilitation skills in participatory and results-focused project design and management, had 25 participants from the Government, NGOs, the private sector, ADB, donor agencies, and representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Europe, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam.
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8. Landmark Dialogue with International Workers' Organizations
ADB and international workers' organizations met at ADB headquarters on 27 May 2009 to discuss approaches to the global slowdown and rising unemployment, the need for decent work and respect for the core labor standards, and good practice for ADB-financed projects. Twenty-four representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation-Asia Pacific and six global union federations joined the meeting. Ursula Schäfer-Preuss, Vice President, Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, delivered the opening remarks. For more information, contact Sri Handayani, Senior Social Development Specialist, at swhandayani@adb.org.
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9. Mekong River Commission Delegation Visits ADB
During the week of March 30th, two representatives from the Mekong River Commission visited ADB's Manila office. Siliphone Sisavath and Charlotte Gobin had a series of meetings with various departments and offices to discuss the practices and mechanisms of stakeholder engagement in ADB's operations. The discussions covered accreditation and governance meetings, consultation and communications and disclosure. Visit MRC's website*.
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10. Transition at ADB's NGO and Civil Society Center
The Head of the NGOC since August 2004, Bart W. Édes, has been promoted to Director of ADB's Poverty Reduction, Gender and Social Development Division. Until a successor is chosen, Kathleen Moktan, Director of the Public Management, Governance, and Participation Division, will simultaneously serve as NGOC Head.
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New Publications
- ADB InFocus series
The ADB InFocus series provides concise overviews of key practice areas as ADB continues its mission to reduce poverty in the region. The ADB and Civil Society issue is now available. It also lists relevant books and other references for civil society and includes illustrations of how ADB and NGOs are working together in the field. View more topics from the InFocus series.
- NGO-Government Partnerships in Village-Level Poverty Alleviation
The Government of the People's Republic of China sought ADB technical assistance to help design and demonstrate modalities for NGO-government partnership under village poverty alleviation and development planning, and to promote dialogue on supportive reforms. The technical assistance, now complete, is rated as highly successful. Despite the inherent challenges in pioneering the release of state funds to NGOs, the TA delivered its intended outcome and high quality outputs. The TA has attracted substantial attention in policy, academic, and media circles, while key elements are being replicated, indicating that benefits will likely be sustainable. Read the full technical assistance completion report.
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Opportunities
ADB engages individual consultants and consulting entities (firms, universities, NGOs, etc.) for a wide range of assignments. For example, consulting entities are retained for pre-investment, sector, or other studies, detailed design, contract preparation, and project supervision. Individual consultants, whether hired directly or through consulting entities, provide expert advice and help the ADB to prepare studies, appraisals, and reports. Visit ADB's consulting services page to view current opportunities or to register in ADB's database.
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Training, Conferences and Workshops
- Fall 2009 Senior International Fellows Program
The Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society is pleased to announce a unique fellowship opportunity: the fall 2009 Senior International Fellows Program. The program provides an opportunity for the professional development of Third-Sector practitioners from outside the United States who are decision-makers in their professions. The 2009 program will focus on the topic of community foundations. Proposals for position papers on Diaspora philanthropy will also be considered. The deadline for application is 30 June 2009. For more information, visit the Center's website at www.philanthropy.org and click on "International Fellows Program".
- Stakeholder Participation in Planning, Needs Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation using PRA/PLA Tools, 13—18 July, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Contact: Mosaic; e-mail: wkshop05@mosaic-net-intl.ca; tel:+1 613 728 1439 ; website: www.mosaic-net-intl.ca.
- International Course on Monitoring and Evaluation, 14 September—3 October, Cavite, Philippines.
Contact: IIRR; e-mail: Education.Training@iirr.org; tel:+63 46 414 24176, local 402; website: www.iirr.org.
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e-Notification
E-notification is a useful tool for NGOs who want to keep informed of news about ADB's work in a specific country, sector, policy, or on a project. Subscribe to ADB's free e-mail notices. Select the items you're interested in and your delivery preference, and relevant updates will be sent to your email address.
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