News

Free class on “Searching the Internet”

Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 -- Time: 10:00am to 12:00am

Location: VDIC, Ground Floor, 63 Ly Thai To, Hanoi

This sesion takes participants through the process of understanding the priorities involved in finding information successfully on the Internet. After the workshop, participants should:

v Have a better understanding of information-finding possibilities on the Internet.

v Have a broad overview of different search tools.

v Be able to phrase search queries effectively.

The small, interactive class lasts for approximately two hours. Everyone is welcome - please visit the VDIC to sign up at the front desk, or send an email to nvu2@worldbank.org with your name, organisation, and telephone number.

The class size is limited to 15 people, allowing ample time for interaction and hands-on practice of the skills learnt. So please register soon.

Film showing on some environmental issues in Vietnam

Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2006 -- Time: 3:30pm to 4:30pm

Location: VDIC, Ground Floor, 63 Ly Thai To, Hanoi

1. Vietnam’s Diversity Towards the Sustainability: The film takes a close look at conservation of Vietnam’s most unique and fragile environmental resource, its biodiversity. It provides a frank assessment of biodiversity status and trends, highlights key issues, and identifies some experiences and lessons to improve the management of Vietnam's ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.

2. Solid Waste Remains a Matter of Concern: Vietnam produces over 15 million tons of waste each year from households, industries, commercial enterprises, and hospitals; and the amount will increase rapidly over the next decade. Managing this waste is a big challenge, both because of its substantial cost and its large potential benefits to public health and the quality of life. The film examines the current status and trends in solid waste quantities, types, and sources as well as highlights the key issues in solid waste management. It also identifies the challenges for improvement to solid waste management in Vietnam.

2006 Global Development Awards and Medals Competition

The Global Development Awards and Medals Competition is the largest international contest for research on development. Submissions are being accepted for the forthcoming Annual Awards and Medals Competition, which carries prizes in cash and travel of over US$300,000.

- Award for Most Innovative Development Project. Deadline for submission: August 21, 2006

- Awards and Medals for Research on Development. Deadline for submission: September 17, 2006

http://www.gdnet.org/middle.php?oid=19

The Australian Leadership Awards (ALA)

Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) is a new award under which the Australian Government offers scholarships and fellowships for current and future leaders from the Asia-Pacific Region, that can influence social and economic policy reform and development outcomes, both in their own countries and in the Asia and Pacific region.

Australian Leadership Awards provide scholarships for longer-term post-graduate study at masters or doctoral level and fellowships for short-term research, study or professional attachments. They will bring around 3200 scholars and fellows in the five years from 2006-2011 to study in Australia.

The applications open on May 1, 2006 with a closing date of July 31, 2006.

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/ala.cfm

IDRC’s Rural Poverty and Environment (RPE) program 2006 - Open Call for Concept Notes

IDRC’s Rural Poverty and Environment (RPE) program initiative invites concept notes for research projects that will enhance good governance, equitable access to and sustainable management of common pool resources.

Concepts notes should:

- focus on a specific geographic area (e.g. a region, transborder area, national park and surroundings, administrative unit such as a province, department or municipality).

- generate practical outcomes (e.g. that enhance access of marginalized groups to resources; that increase wellbeing or livelihood security of poor and marginalized groups).

- contribute to strengthening or creating effective linkages between local and other decision-making structures and processes

- contribute to national or global debates on common pool resource governance.

Eligibility: Submissions are welcome from Southern researchers and institutions, alone or in partnership with civil society, government or northern research institutions.

Geographic focus: Research in the geographic areas identified in the prospectus (Vietnam included) will be given priority.

http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-81713-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

The 10th APEID International Conference ‘Learning Together for Tomorrow: Education for Sustainable Development’ Hanoi, Vietnam 5-8 December 2006

Participants: Approximately 200 teachers, educators, curriculum developers, educational administrators and policy makers from informal, non-formal and formal education sectors in the Asia-Pacific region, especially organizations in the APEID & ESD communities.

For more information on the workshop participation, please go to the web site.

http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=3811

The European Commission’s Export Helpdesk for developing country exporters

The European Commission has recently launched an "Export Helpdesk," which is a free on-line service to facilitate market access for developing countries to the EU. This free and user-friendly service provides relevant information required by developing country exporters interested in supplying the EU market.

http://export-help.cec.eu.int

Library

Exhibition on “World Environment Day” 5 June - Desert and Desertification: Don’t Deseart Dry Land

This year, the World Environment Day emphasizes the importance of protecting drylands, which cover more than 40% of the planet’s surface. This ecosystem is home to one-third of the world’s people who are more vulnerable members of society. For most dryland dwellers, life is hard and the future often precarious. They live on the ecological, economic and social margins. It is essential that we do not neglect them or the fragile habitats on which they depend.

World Environment Day 2006 exhibition helps raise awareness about the challenges of life on the desert margins so the people who live there can look forward to a future of peace, health and social progress.

Selected materials relating to this topic were also exhibited for more information.

Selected resources on prevention of desertification from VDIC library

#016.33376 DUM. Dumanski, Julian. Indicators of land quality and sustainable land management : an annotated bibliography. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 1998-03-31.

#307 IUC. Nguyen, Truong Van. Hai Thuy, a model eco-village in the sandy land. Hanoi: IUCN, 2001

#307.72. Cultivating the Forest: gender and the decline of wild resources among the Tay of northern Vietnam. East West Center 1996-07-06

#333.3 AML. Amler, B. Land use planning: methods, strategies and tools. Eschborn: GTZ, 1999. Full text http://www.iapad.org/publications/ppgis/gtz_plup.pdf or http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/en-lup-engl.pdf

#333.7316 ISC. Towards sustainable land use: furthering cooperation between people and institutions, vol 1. Germany: ISSS, 1998

#333.75 LEL. The World Bank forest strategy : striking the right balance / Uma Lele ... [et al.]. Washington, DC: World Bank, 2000.

#333.75 PET. Peters, Charles M. The ecology and management of non-timber forest resources. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 1996-05-31

#333.7515 ORE. O'Reilly, Sheelagh. The utility of forest ethics: a proposed approach based on field work in Vietnam. London: IIED, 2005

#333.7515 RIC. Richards, Michael. Stakeholder incentives in participatory forest management : a manual for economic analysis. London: ITDG Publishing, 2003

#333.7609597 MUL. Muller, Daniel. Tropical Ecology Support Programme: From agricultural expansion to intensification : rural development and determinants of land-use change in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Eschborn, Germany: Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), 2004

#333.95 PUT. Putz, Francis E. Biodiversity conservation in the context of tropical forest management. S.l.: s.n., 2000-09-30

#333.9511 EAM. Eames, Jonathan C. A preliminary biodiversity assessment of Kon Plong forest complex, Kon Tum province, Vietnam. Hanoi: WWF Indochina Programme, 2001

#363.7394 REG. United Nations Environment Programme. Regional workshop on protection coastal and marine ecosystems from land-based activities in the Asia-Pacific region 24-28 September 2001, Toyama, Japan. Bangkok: UNEP, 2002

#631.4 ACI. A new soil conservation methodology and application to cropping systems in tropical steeplands.Coughlan, K. J. ed. Canberra: ACIAR, 2002

#631.45 BUI. Bui Dung The. Erosion and choice of land use systems by upland farmers in the Central Coast, Vietnam. 2001

#634.9 SRV. Workshop proceeding: experiences and potential for community forest manangement in Vietnam. Hanoi: MRP, 2000

#634.9 STA. Ogle, Alan. State forest enterprise reform in Vietnam : review of policy and implementation framework for Decree 200 (EASRD Technical Note). Hanoi : World Bank, Rural Development and Natural Resources, East Asia and Pacific Region, 2005.

#634.92 COM. Asia Forest Network in Cooperation. Community forest management working groups 2000 in Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam [CD-ROM]. SMRP, 2000

#634.9209597 GON. Stakeholders - Expert Dialogue on Forest Certification in Vietnam. WWF; DFD 1999-07. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/
IW3P/IB/1998/03/01/000009265_3980623151139/Rendered/PDF/multi_page.pdf

Upcoming display for July 2006 “World Population Day” 11 July – call for materials for display

VDIC is preparing for the July display on “World Population Day”. If you have any resources on this topic (books, posters, URLs, seminars/workshop information etc.) or any ideas relating to this topic, please share with us.

Vietnam Development Information Center

Ground floor, 63 Ly Thai To, Hanoi

Tel: (84-4) 934 6845 | Fax: (84-4) 934 6847 | Email: info@vdic.org.vn

We are grateful for your cooperation and support.

Highlights from the new additions to VDIC library in May 2006

Full list of new additions to VDIC library in May 2006 can be found at http://www.vdic.org.vn/index.php?op=addition&id=302&language=english

#304.62 FEE. Feeney, Griffith. UNFPA. Vietnam's population growth : what the latest data tells us. Hanoi: UNFPA, 2006

#307.7609597 URB. World Bank. Urban development strategy: meeting the challenges of rapid urbanization and the transition to a market oriented economy (Vietnam's infrastructure challenge). Hanoi, Vietnam: World Bank, 2006

#332.109172 GAL. Gallardo, Joselito. Strategic alliances to scale up financial services in rural areas.

Washington D.C: World Bank, 2006-04

#333.79 VIE. World Bank. Power strategy: managing growth and reform (Vietnam's infrastructure challenge).Hanoi, Vietnam: World Bank, 2006

#333.794 TEC. Asia-Europe foundation. UNEP. Technology partnerships for renewables: key to energy security. Singapore: Publishing Interface PteLtd, 2005

#REF 338.9 WOR. World Bank. World development indicators 2006. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2006

#363.61 WAT. World Bank. Water supply and sanitation strategy: building on a solid foundation (Vietnam's infrastructure challenge). Hanoi, Vietnam: World Bank, 2006

#384 TEL. World Bank. Telecommunications strategy: current status and future paths (Vietnam's infrastructure challenge). Hanoi, Vietnam: World Bank, 2006

Selected new publications for sale at VDIC (available from 19 June 2006)

Global Development Finance 2006

English -- Published June 2006 -- ISBN: 0-8213-5990-8

VDIC PRICE: USD 15

International private capital flows to developing countries reached a record net level of $491 billion in 2005. This surge in private capital flows offers national and international policy makers a major opportunity to bolster development efforts if they can successfully meet three challenges. The first is to ensure that more countries, especially poorer ones, enhance their access to developmentally beneficial international capital through improvements in their macroeconomic performance, investment climate, and use of aid. The second is to avoid sudden capital flow reversals by redressing global imbalances through policies that recognize the growing interdependencies between developed and developing countries' financial and exchange rate relations in the determination of global financial liquidity and asset price movements. And the third is to ensure that development finance, both official and private, is managed judiciously to meet the development goals of recipient countries while promoting greater engagement with global financial markets. These are the themes and concerns of this year's edition of Global Development Finance.

Vol I. Anlaysis and Statistical Appendix reviews recent trends in financial flows to developing countries.

Vol II. Summary and Country Tables* includes comprehensive data for 138 countries, as well as summary data for regions and income groups. Also Available on CD-ROM and Online, with more than 200 historical time series from 1970 to 2004, and country group estimates for 2005.

World Development Indicators 2006

by World Bank -- English -- Published April 2006 -- ISBN: 0-8213-6470-7

VDIC PRICE: USD 20

Looking for accurate, up-to-date data on development issues? This indispensable statistical reference allows you to consult over 800 indicators for some 150 economies and 14 country groups in more than 80 tables. It provides a current overview of the most recent data available as well as important regional data and income group analysis in six thematic chapters: World View, People, Environment, Economy, States and Markets, and Global Links. The CD-ROM editions contain 43 years of time series data, covering 1960 to 2004, and offers mapping, charting, and data export formats.

Little Data Book 2006

by World Bank -- English -- Published April 2006 -- ISBN: 0-8213-6475-8

VDIC PRICE: USD 5

A pocket-sized reference on key development data for over 200 countries, that provides profiles of each country with 54 development indicators about People, Environment, Economy, Technology and Infrastructure, Trade, and Finance.

The Little Green Data Book 2006

by World Bank – English -- Published May 2006 -- ISBN: 0-8213-6476-6

VDIC PRICE : USD 5

A pocket-sized reference on key environmental data for over 200 countries that includes key indicators on agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, energy, emission and pollution, and water and sanitation.

Little Book of External Debt 2006

by World Bank – English -- ISBN: 0-8213-6605-X

VDIC PRICE: USD 5

This first edition of The Little Book on External Debt provides a quick reference for users interested in external debt stocks and flows, major economic aggregates, key debt ratios, and the currency composition of long-term debt for all countries reporting through the Debtor Reporting system. A pocket edition of the Global Development Finance 2006, Volume II: Summary and Country Tables, it contains statistical tables for 135 countries as well as summary tables for regional and income groups.

Global Monitoring Report 2006: Strengthening Mutual Accountability -- Aid, Trade, and Governance

by World Bank -- English -- Published May 2006 -- ISBN: 0-8213-6477-4

VDIC PRICE: USD 8

This third edition of the Global Monitoring Report examines the commitments and actions of donors, international financial institutions, and developing countries to implement the Millennium Declaration, signed by 189 countries in 2000. Many countries are off track to meet the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in Africa and South Asia, but new evidence is emerging that higher-quality aid and a better policy environment are accelerating progress in some countries, and that the benefits of this progress are reaching poor families.

This report takes a closer look at the donors' 2005 commitments to aid and debt relief, and argues that rigorous, sustained monitoring is needed to ensure that they are met and deliver results, and to prevent the cycle of accumulating unsustainable debt from repeating itself. International financial institutions need to focus on development outcomes rather than inputs, and strengthen their capacity to manage for results in developing countries.

Global Integration and Technology Transfer

Edited by Bernard M. Hoekman, Beata Smarzynska Javorcik -- English -- Published April 2006 by Palgrave Macmillan, World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-6125-2

VDIC PRICE: USD 10

The importance of international technology diffusion (ITD) for economic development can hardly be overstated. Both the acquisition of technology and its diffusion foster productivity growth. Developing countries have long sought to use both national policies and international agreements to stimulate ITD. The ‘correct’ policy intervention, if any, depends critically upon the channels through which technology diffuses internationally and the quantitative effects of the various diffusion processes on efficiency and productivity growth. Neither is well understood. New technologies may be embodied in goods and transferred through imports of new varieties of differentiated products or capital goods and equipment, they may be obtained through exposure to foreign buyers or foreign investors or they may be acquired through arms-length trade in intellectual property, e.g., licensing contracts.

Global Integration and Technology Transfer uses cross-country and firm level panel data sets to analyze how specific activities ‘exporting, importing, FDI, joint ventures’ impact on productivity performance.

Distance Learning Center (DLC) events in June 2006

June 9: World Bank Youth Dialogue Series (YDS): Education in East Asia and the Pacific (EAP)

EAP YDS is designed in order to provide a forum for young people to discuss issues they feel strongly about. It is a space for them to learn, explore and understand the intricacies of development and pressing concerns facing the world while simultaneously forging ties to work towards a world free of poverty. In this Dialogue, Vietnamese youth will, together with their friends in Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Thailand, discuss questions of their concern surrounding their countries’ educational systems. They will also look at the differences between an “Asian education” and a “western education” and how such differences account for the level of development and overall competitiveness of a country. Further information can be obtained at: http://www.vdic.org.vn/index.php?op=addition&id=304&language=english

June 15 – August 15: Pre-MBA blended learning course

This course is designed to introduce the basic concepts and terms in Management to the prospective MBA students and to train them for classes taught in English. The students will develop essential management skills and be able to make basic business decisions. The course also provides an introduction to business entities and highlights the keys to business success. The course is a blend of online self-study via the Korean Development Institute (KDI)’s learning management system and 4 lectures via videoconference after each of the 4 sections. Students who meet the course requirements will be awarded a graduation certificate jointly by the KDI, VDIC and GDLN East Asia and the Pacific. Further information can be obtained at: http://www.vdic.org.vn/index.php?op=addition&id=286&language=english

For up-to-date information about the DLC events, please visit: http://www.vdic.org.vn/?op=learning&id=0&language=english

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Vietnam Development Information Center
Ground Floor, 63 Ly Thai To Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (84-4) 934-6845 | Fax: (84-4) 934-6847
Web site: http://www.vdic.org.vn/
Email: info@vdic.org.vn
We appreciate any comments or suggestions.