| |
|
 |
|
|
|
1. Joint Workshop In Dili Discusses Lessons
CARE International in Timor Leste has been working with the Department of Public Works to implement a $610,000 Community Empowerment Initiatives component of the ADB supported Road Sector Improvement Project. At the conclusion of the project, CARE hosted a workshop for ADB and the Ministry of Infrastructure to discuss the outcomes and lessons learned from the project. The project piloted a road maintenance component and employed 44 people, mostly women, to do basic road repairs. The goal of the pilot project was to strengthen the capacity of rural communities to respond to the risks and opportunities associated with increased connectivity to the national road networks. The workshop concluded that involving communities in the project is likely to make the road works more sustainable.
 Top
|
|
|
2. ADB Hosts Anti-Corruption Conference
In mid-September, ADB hosted at its headquarters in Manila a two-day seminar focused on the interaction of political and economic processes in society, and how these affect corruption. The opening session of the seminar was followed by a keynote address on "Anti-Corruption and the Sustainable Development Agenda" by Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International. "Corruption is a scourge that undermines the effectiveness of aid and throws barriers in the way of the political and economic changes that are fundamental to development," said Ms. Labelle. "It steals away the resources intended to alleviate the suffering of the poorest." Seven civil society organizations from across the region participated in the event.
Top
|
|
|
3. Civil Society and ADB Collaborate in Nepal
The Nepal Resident Mission shared its draft country partnership strategy (CPS) for Nepal at the end of August with the private sector and with civil society in an interactive program. Participants discussed employment generation, infrastructure deficits, labor issues and changes most likely to unleash private-sector-led growth. Civil society representatives appreciated the innovative and strategic approaches proposed, seeking strengthened collaboration with NGOs in specific sectors, and for social inclusion. This was the Nepal Resident Mission's second round of consultations with stakeholders as part of developing a new CPS.
Top
|
|
|
4. Grameen Bank Meets ADB
Mayumi Ozaki and Zillur Rahman from ADB met Professor Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank and Nobel Laureate, to discuss possible ADB support for social business - a non-loss, non-dividend company whose purpose is to benefit the poor while being financially self-sufficient. The Grameen Bank provides credit to the poorest of the poor in rural Bangladesh, without any collateral. Its objective is to bring financial services to the poor, particularly women and the poorest — to help them fight poverty, stay profitable and financially sound.
Top
|
|
|
5. Consultation Meeting For Asia Pacific Procurement Forum
Consultation discussions among developing member countries' procurement policy officials, regulators, donors, NGOs and others have identified common issues and priorities for a regional technical assistance initiative to establish an Asia Pacific Procurement Forum. Two NGOs, Transparency International (TI) and Procurement Watch Inc., joined the meeting. The representatives from both TI-Philippines and Procurement Watch not only actively contributed valuable inputs in the breakout sessions that tackled major public procurement issues and challenges during Day 1, but also briefed DMC and donor participants on the Philippine experience of civil society organizations at the end of the 2-day consultations.
Top
|
|
|
6. Regional Workshop Addresses Social Assistance and CCT Programs
ADB held a forum on social assistance and conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs in late July in Manila. The forum brought together officials from developing member countries, civil society organizations, development partners, ADB staff and representatives from global labor unions. The forum served as a venue for sharing ideas, benefits and challenges in addressing operational complexities surrounding CCT and similar programs. The forum confirmed that social assistance and CCT programs are a potentially powerful instrument of social protection for the poor and vulnerable, particularly in the context of the global economic slowdown. As a result, a number of ADB member countries have expressed interest in exploring the applicability of CCTs and other social assistance schemes in their countries.
Top
|
|
|
7. Economics of Climate Change Awareness Campaign Launched
In Jakarta, the British Embassy launched the film "High Stakes," which supports the new ADB study, The Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia. The film captures the messages and viewpoints of the study, which reminds people to take immediate action against climate change. The study provides a review of the economics of climate change in the Southeast Asian region. It confirms that the region is highly vulnerable to climate change and demonstrates that a wide range of adaptation measures are already being applied. UK Ambassador to Indonesia Martin Hatfull, government officials, NGOs, civil society representatives, and media attended the launch.
Top
|
|
|
8. Leading Climate Change Discussions
Stefan Ekelund gave welcome remarks at the July meeting in ADB's Lao Resident Mission, in collaboration with Risk Management Solution India. He stated that since climate change is expected to disproportionately affect the poor, ADB believes that advancing adaptation and mitigation strategies helps to promote inclusive economic growth. A representative from the Lao PDR National Climate Change Office began the conference as he spoke about the National Climate Change Strategy Action Plan. Over 35 participants from government agencies, international organizations, and NGOs attended the multi-stakeholder consultation meeting on climate change impact and adaptation strategies for the rural infrastructure sector.
Top
|
|
|
9. ADB and Partners Address HIV Risks In Infrastructure Projects
New infrastructure projects have brought major economic benefits to Asia and the Pacific region, but they can also facilitate the spread of HIV and other diseases which ADB and its partners are actively working to mitigate, ADB Vice-President Ursula Schaefer-Preuss told the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. The Congress in Bali, Indonesia drew participants from governments, the private sector, civil society, and multilateral agencies. In response, ADB is expanding its existing HIV action plans for infrastructure projects beyond the construction phase, to include the preparation and post-construction stages. It is supporting government partners to develop and implement HIV plans for the infrastructure sector and is working with development partners to find ways of harmonizing and scaling up the impact of HIV interventions to make them more sustainable.
Top
|
|
|
10. Plan International Presents Water Sanitation Initiatives To ADB
Peter Feldman, Plan International's Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Adviser, presented the financial aspects of the community led total sanitation (CLTS) model they employ in several countries. The overarching message was that conventional approaches to providing sanitation are very costly, and not particularly effective, when compared to a community based and low tech/low cost alternative model. Mr. Feldman argued that the resulting subsidies from the conventional approach are expensive, but neither necessary nor a good use of scarce public resources. Subsidies by themselves are not just inappropriate: they can also be very expensive and actually cost–ineffective, he argued. Furthermore, subsidies also had unintended consequences as they stifled local businesses, and "crowded out" profitable small business opportunities to make cheaper alternatives in rural areas.
Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organizations in the world and it aims to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives.
Top
|
|
|
11. Findings of Rapid Gender Assessment Shared in Sri Lanka
ADB's Sri Lanka resident mission concluded its sharing of the Rapid Gender Assessment Report II and stocktaking consultation on gender mainstreaming in ADB-funded projects in Sri Lanka with government officials, development partners, and NGOs. Nelun Gunasekera from the Sri Lanka resident mission and consultant Helen Thomas facilitated the sessions.
Top
|
|
|
12. Accountability Mechanism Outreach Held In Dushanbe
ADB conducted seminars for key stakeholders in Tajikistan to introduce them to the ADB's Accountability Mechanism to address concerns of persons affected by ADB-assisted projects. Tajikistan government officials, staff from executing agencies and project implementation units of ADB-funded projects, NGO and private sector representatives attended the sessions held in Dushanbe. The seminar's objective was to widen awareness and understanding of the Accountability Mechanism.
Top
|
|
New Publications
-
India’s Sanitation for All: How to Make It Happen
Providing environmentally safe sanitation to millions of people is a significant challenge. The task is doubly difficult in a country where the introduction of new technologies can challenge people's traditions and beliefs. This report examines the current state of sanitation services in India and offers six recommendations that can help key stakeholders work toward universal sanitation coverage in India: scaling up pro-poor sanitation programs, customizing investments, exploring cost effective options, applying proper planning and sequencing, adopting community-based solutions, and forging innovative partnerships.
- Intersections - Gender, HIV, and Infrastructure Operations: Lessons from Selected ADB–Financed Transport Projects
ADB is committed to mainstream gender equality approaches in all sectors of its operations. This publication assesses the nexus between gender inequalities, HIV spread, and infrastructure development. A desk review and comparative analysis of existing infrastructure sector policies, legal and regulatory frameworks related to HIV prevention in Cambodia, the People's Republic of China, India, Papua New Guinea, and Tajikistan identifies factors which may contribute to promote an effective response to the epidemic. The assessment of and field visits in selected ADB transport project sites identified promising practices for a more sustainable and gender-inclusive response to the epidemic.
Top
|
|
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.
Photo Contest Celebrating Women's Rights
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of CEDAW, the Asia-Pacific Regional Coordination Mechanism Thematic Working Group on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, co-chaired by UNESCAP and UNIFEM, is launching a photo contest under the theme, Women Can! Women’s Rights are Human Rights. This is an Asia-Pacific wide contest and successful entries will depict gender equality and non-discrimination of women in action in the Asia-Pacific region on the theme. The deadline is October 15th. For questions, please contact mika.mansukhani@unifem.org
Top
Training, Conferences and Workshops
A listing in this section does not imply ADB endorsement or availability of financing for participants.
E-Learning on Design and Monitoring Framework Launched
Self-instructional e-learning courses on the design and monitoring framework approach, implementation planning, and managing change in projects are now available on www.adbresultsmatter.org. The self-paced course provides certificates upon completion. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Poverty Reduction, Reproductive Health and Health Sector Reform will be held from 15-26 March 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. The course will explore key elements in designing efficient, equitable and financially sustainable population policies and reproductive health programs in the context of health sector reform and Millennium Development Goals. This two-week course is designed for staff from governments, donor agencies, international organizations, the World Bank, and NGOs working in the health sector. In addition, it'll include staff from training and research institutions, as well as academics and researchers working in the areas of health, public administration and social sector reform. The course is a face-to-face learning event and will be held at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. The sessions will consist of presentations, readings, case studies and group work.
The Eighth Annual Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) will be held on November 19-20, 2009 in Manila. This year's theme is " Sustaining CSR in Difficult Times: How business can benefit and why it still makes business sense." The conference is a two-day affair featuring the integration of a) plenary sessions addressed by keynote speakers, b) special interest sessions that focus on specific dynamics, learning and best practices of companies, c) an expo featuring specific company CSR programs, and d) optional field visits to innovative CSR program sites in and around Manila. To register, click here.
The International Marketplace on Innovative Financial Solutions for Development (2010 MIF) will be held in Paris on March, 4-5 2010. The 2010 MIF will be dedicated to smart, fine-tuned, innovative financial mechanisms for mobilizing, channeling, and spending funds for development issues. A key feature of the 2010 MIF will be a competition to garner and highlight fresh ideas on how innovative financing mechanisms can be used to solve development challenges at the local, country, regional, or global levels, with the goal that successful innovations can be scaled up and replicated. Proposals are welcomed from all organizations involved in innovative finance focused on development, including social enterprises, non-governmental and civil society organizations, foundations, and development organizations. Proposals must be submitted by November 15th 2009.
Top
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. We will e-mail you when we post those items.
Top
|
| |
|
Comments and Feedback |
|
Partnership Newsletter welcomes contributions and feedback from readers. Write to ngocoordinator@adb.org.
To subscribe, e-mail ngocoordinator@adb.org and place "Subscribe Partnership" in the subject line.
|
|
Partnership Newsletter is published six times a year by ADB's NGO and Civil Society Center. Hypertext links provided in the Partnership Newsletter do not imply ADB's endorsement of the views expressed on non-ADB websites. Such links are provided solely as an information service. Published contributions do not necessarily represent the views of ADB Management, staff, or members. ADB reserves the right to edit submission. Partnership Newsletter may be redistributed with credit given to ADB.
|
| | |
|
|
Topics 
