Catalog

ADB Opens NGO Center
Improving communication with civil society a key function

By Bart W. Edes (bedes@adb.org)
External Relations Officer

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched the NGO Center to strengthen its cooperation with civil society and to better integrate the experience and knowledge of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) into ADB operations. Strengthening cooperation with civil society—and specifically with NGOs—is expected to improve the effectiveness, sustainability, and quality of services that ADB provides to its developing member countries.

LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY: ADB’s Bob Dobias (seated at center), who has worked in Asia's NGO community for 16 years, is heading the new NGO Center.

Robert Dobias, who has worked in Asia's NGO community for 16 years, was named NGO Network Coordinator on 26 February 2001 and is heading the Center. The staff members of the new facility bring to their jobs experience in NGOs and funding agencies, and have expertise in fields such as environment, human rights, anticorruption, and health and social services. When fully staffed by the end of 2001, the Center will employ seven persons dedicated to improving coordination of NGO issues within ADB and to strengthening links between the institution and civil society. Improving communication with civil society actors will be a key function of the Center.

"We want to encourage more extensive collaboration between ADB and NGOs toward our common goal of reducing poverty," Dobias says. "Together with government and the business community, NGOs are significant actors in the development process. There are opportunities for forging a stronger partnership, not only between ADB and NGOs, but between each part of this 'development triangle' to the benefit of the poor in Asia and the Pacific."

NGOs already assist in implementing nearly 50 percent of ADB's projects, a figure that has risen sharply over the years. Additionally, ADB puts a high priority on consulting with NGOs as part of its policy development processes. As plans are developed, ADB provides draft policy documents to NGOs for review and comment. In developing its landmark Poverty Reduction Strategy, for example, ADB organized a series of country-level consultations with NGOs.

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