ADB strengthened its cooperation with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) in 2004. For the second year in a row, NGOs participated in nearly two thirds of ADB-approved loan projects and programs by giving input on project design, conducting surveys and assessments, facilitating consultations, and contributing to implementation. NGO involvement was also envisioned in nearly half of the country and regional technical assistance activities approved in 2004 as well as in many activities financed by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction. Representatives of hundreds of NGOs participated in consultations on several ADB policies and strategies including those on anticorruption, governance, public communications, and water.
The year also witnessed the launch of a new network promoting NGO-private sector partnerships for poverty reduction in Asia and the Pacific. The network grew out of a workshop organized by ADB, and hosted in March 2004 by the Population and Community Development Association, a Thai NGO. The network offers an opportunity for private sector enterprises and NGOs to exchange experiences, share knowledge and best practices, pool talents, combine energies, and ultimately forge partnerships for socially and environmentally beneficial causes across the region. A secretariat was established at the Bangkok-based Kenan Institute Asia to coordinate the network’s activities.
ADB approved grants for 45 small-scale NGO-led initiatives in 13 developing member countries with the regional technical assistance project, NGO Partnerships for Poverty Reduction. Launched in 2003 with $500,000 from the Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund (PRF), the grant supports promising community projects identified by resident missions. Interest in the facility led to a doubling of funding to $1 million in 2004. In another PRF-supported grant, ADB explored how to increase civil society involvement in regional programming. In particular, representatives of governments and NGOs from the six Greater Mekong Subregion countries met with ADB staff in Bangkok, Thailand in January 2004 to discuss multistakeholder participation in the development of the draft regional cooperation strategy and program. Workshop recommendations were taken into consideration in finalizing it. World Vision Australia, a development NGO, served as the implementing agency.
In addition to these activities, ADB’s NGO Center provided advice and support on engaging NGOs in formulating country strategies and programs and in developing projects. Also during the year, ADB signed a memorandum of understanding with IUCN—the World Conservation Union and carried out joint activities with WWF.