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MANILA, PHILIPPINES - ADB will help strengthen the role of civil society in the fight against corruption through a technical assistance (TA) grant of US$150,000.

The TA will provide small grants to civil society organizations (CSOs) to demonstrate their role in improving transparency and accountability, and fighting corruption.

It will be undertaken in four of the 26 countries that have endorsed the ADB-OECD Anti-Corruption Action Plan - India, Mongolia, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The TA will serve as a demonstration project for CSOs that has the potential for broader application in ADB operations.

“Over the last decade, societies have come to realize the extent to which corruption and bribery have undermined their welfare and stability, and hindered development efforts. Governments, the private sector, and civil society alike have declared the fight against corruption to be of the highest priority,” says ADB Vice President Geert van der Linden.

“The fight against corruption cannot be won without citizens’ support, participation, and vigilance. The media, civic and business association, trade unions, and other nongovernmental actors play a crucial role in fostering public discussion of corruption and increasing awareness about the negative impacts of corruption.”

Many countries participating in the ADB OECD Initiative are seeking ways to strengthen the role CSOs can play in combating corruption, as encouraged by the Action Plan.

The TA capitalizes on the role of CSOs as innovators, mobilizers, and monitors in support of effective measures to combat corruption. It will give voice to civil society, and demonstrate the value of partnerships between government, civil society, and ADB.

The Partnership for Transparency Fund, an international anticorruption nongovernment organization managed entirely by volunteers, will be tapped to help implement the TA, which will be carried out over 18 months beginning in May 2006.

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