VDIC NEWSLETTER
September 2006

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

Web site: www.vdic.org.vn

 

Opening hours

Monday through Friday

8am12am

1pm5:30pm

CONTENTS

·        VDIC news

·        News from other organizations

·        Library

·        Selected new publications for sale at VDIC

·        Distance Learning Center events in September 2006

 

VDIC news

 

Free classes provided by VDIC

 

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

 

“Searching the Internet” class

Date:              Tuesday, September 19, 2006 -- Time: 10:00am to 12:00am

Aims:              After the workshop, participants should: (i) have a better understanding of information-finding possibilities on the Internet (ii) have a broad overview of different search tools (iii) be able to phrase search queries effectively.

 

“Searching development information from the World Bank’s web site” class

Date:              Friday, September 22, 2006 -- Time: 10:00am to 12:00am

Aims:    After the workshop, participants should: (i) have a better understanding of information-finding possibilities on the World Bank’s web site (ii) have a broad overview of major free databases provided on the World Bank’s web site.

 

“Referencing skills” class

Date:              Friday, September 29, 2006 -- Time: 10:00am to 12:00am

Aims:              After the workshop, participants should know how to: (i) manage their references (ii) cite the references appropriately (iii) create a reference list or bibliography.

 

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 and specify the class(es) you want to participate.

 

News from other organizations

 

For further information on the news provided below, please contact the organization directly.

 

The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) - International Grant Scheme

 

The aim of AFAO's international grant scheme is: "To promote and strengthen community-based and non-government  organisations in Asia and the Pacific to respond to the HIV epidemic by incorporating the full involvement of communities and populations most at risk of HIV infection. The objectives of the grant scheme are: To promote the participation, visibility and central role of people living with HIV in all responses to the HIV epidemic To promote the participation of affected and vulnerable communities in all responses to the HIV epidemic, and To promote community responses to the epidemic through strengthening the capacity of community-based and non-government  organisations to play an active role in responses to the epidemic." Grants can be up to $50,000 (AUS).

 

Applications for the 2006 round are being accepted until 15 September 2006.

 

http://www.afao.org.au/view_articles.asp?pxa=ve&pxs=102&id=298

 

Assistance to Libraries Fund - Libraries Across Borders

 

The fund aims to assist disadvantaged groups in establishing or enhancing library services within their communities.  The project is supported by and administered through British Columbia Library Association (BCLA).

• All projects should be library, information service, education support, museum, and/or archives related

• A benefit to an identified disadvantaged group within the community must be demonstrated

• Project should be community-based

• The organisation requesting funds should be non-profit

• The project should be able to show that funding for the specific need identified is not readily from other major government or organisational sources

 

Application deadline: December 15, 2006

 

http://www.bcla.bc.ca/lab

 

The Staying Alive Award

 

The Staying Alive Foundation fulfills its mission by presenting the Staying Alive Award annually to youth-focused projects designed to stop the spread of HIV in the most infected and affected communities outside of North America. Awards from US $1,000 to $10,000 will be made to youth-focused organizations and individuals. The award is open to applicants worldwide.

 

Deadline: September 15, 2006.

 

www.staying-alive.org

 

The Global Fund for Children (GFC) 

 

The Global Fund for Children awards small grants to community-based organizations working to transform the lives of vulnerable children and youth throughout the world. GFC supports organizations and programs that focus on four specific issues: Schools and Scholarships, Hazardous Child Labor, Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and the Distinctive Needs of Vulnerable Boys.

 

Grants are awarded on an annual basis, with a typical funding relationship of three to six years. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000 per year, growing in size and scope over the course of the funding relationship, and may be used for general or operating support of the grantee partner organization. GFC considers each grant an investment in the grantee organization’s mission and programs as well as its institutional growth and development.

 

http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/

 

The Seed Awards 2007

 

The Seed Awards, an international biennial competition, is designed to support innovative, entrepreneurial partnerships. Through the provision of targeted services, support, training and exposure to additional networks, the Seed Initiative helps young and promising partnerships bring their initiatives to fruition. The award is not monetary but a comprehensive package of tailor-made services from a range of organizations.

 

The Seed Awards support innovative ideas for partnership projects that, i.e. may contribute to sustainable development; demonstrate that by working together, we can achieve environmental benefits, social justice, and healthy economic growth; put new technologies to effective use, or use traditional technologies in a new way.

 

The Seed Award recognizes and rewards two levels of winners: ten finalists who will receive support through capacity development activities measures and five award winners, selected from the finalists, who will receive the full ‘Seed Award’ that includes services to be delivered over a period of 6-12 months: building the partnership, developing its capacity, providing opportunities for exposure, financing, and networking. In both cases, the nature and organization of support will depend on the partnership programmes chosen as finalists and winners.

 

Deadline: 15 October 2006

 

http://www.seedinit.org/

 

National Geographic Society Conservation Trust

 

The objective of the Conservation Trust is to support conservation activities around the world as they fit within the mission of the National Geographic Society. The trust will fund projects that contribute significantly to the preservation and sustainable use of the Earth's biological, cultural, and historical resources.

 

The Conservation Trust's strength lies in supporting cutting edge programs that might be overlooked by other organizations, due to the risk involved in working with new investigators and in new fields.

 

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/conservation/grant_application.html

 

2007 International Activist of the Year Award

 

The Gleitsman Foundation is seeking nominations for the 2007 International Activist Award, which recognises exceptional individuals who have struggled to fight against social injustice anywhere in the world, excluding the United States. The honorees will share US$100,000 and receive a specially commissioned sculpture designed by Maya Lin, creator of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

 

Deadline: 3 November 2006.

 

http://www.gleitsman.org/intForm.html

 

International Working Paper/Essay Competition on Population Politics and Human Rights

 

The Irmgard Coninx Foundation is continuing its program on human rights with an international conferences and adjunct workshops to address the social, political, theoretical, and pragmatic issues of human rights today. The topic of the new focus is: Population Politics and Human Rights. As in the years before the "Berlin Roundtables on Transnationalism" will start its new topic with an essay/working paper competition. The invitation extends to scholars (maximum 5 years after Ph.D.), human rights activists and journalists. The research paper/ essay should revolve around the following question: ‘Can political intervention to family planning and fertility behaviour be brought into harmony – at the global, national and regional levels – with human rights, including the right to reproductive health, to self-determination, to freedom of movement and residence within and across the borders of the state, to a secure existence and social protection?’

 

45 essayists will be selected by an international jury and invited to join the international conference and workshops in Berlin from February 15th – 20th 2007. An international jury will award the Irmgard Coninx Research Grant for the best paper. This includes a three month fellowship at Humboldt-University, one of Germany's most prestigious academic institutions.

 

Deadline: September 24th, 2006.

 

http://www.irmgard-coninx-stiftung.de/en/roundtables/population_politics.htm

 

UNESCO Bangkok Photo Contest 2006 “Promoting Gender Equality in Education”

 

The photos should depict gender equality in action in your country, featuring photos that:

·          show boys and girls participating equally in school and in school activities; at home, sharing household chores and responsibilities; and in their communities.

·          show men and women participating equally in learning programmes, community activities and in sharing household responsibilities.

·          in particular, we ask that you look for examples which challenge gender stereotypes and show boys and girls, men and women in what would be considered non-traditional roles in your country context.

 

Learners, teachers, school administrators and education officials are strongly encouraged to submit entries and there is no limitation on the number of entries.

 

Deadline: All entries must be received at UNESCO Bangkok by 30 September 2006.

 

http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=4877

 

4th Annual International Photoshare Photo Contest!

 

Do you have photos of programs in action and the people you serve? Pictures illustrating the realities of urban and rural life in developing countries? Snapshots from your personal travels, volunteer service, or work experience? You may have an award-winning photo and a chance to win cash and/or a Canon digital camera! Visit the web site to download an entry form.

 

Deadline: November 10th, 2006.

 

http://www.photoshare.org/contest/2006/photosharecontest06.php

 

Tourism Scholarship Applications for study in Australia

 

PATA member, Sustainable Tourism CRC, is offering five Scholarships for Asia Pacific students to study tourism and/or hospitality in Australia in 2007. There are two full Diploma Scholarships valued at A$41,000 and A$27,000 and three at A$10,000 each.

 

Scholarship applicants can choose from around 60 quality-endorsed courses. Courses cover areas such as tourism business management, hotel and resort management, event management, sport tourism, tourism marketing and tourism education.

 

Deadline: 29th September 2006.

 

http://www.the-ice.org/Page.aspx?page_id=47  

 

The Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award Scheme (DHPA)

 

The scheme is a new UK initiative to bring outstanding students from India, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil, Russia and the developing world to come and study for PhDs in top rated UK research facilities. The 2006 awards will provide funding for 102 new PhD students.

 

http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/hodgkin/

 

International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Ph.D. Scholarship program

 

IWMI's mission is to improve the management of water and land resources for food, poverty and nature. IWMI is seeking simultaneously to strengthen its own field research capacity and make a strong contribution to professional development of water resources researchers, especially those from developing countries. PhD candidates who satisfy the academic requirements to be admissible to PhD programs and want to carry out research that fits in IWMI's research agenda can request IWMI to provide a Fellowship in partial support of their PhD research. IWMI will not pay the full cost of undertaking the PhD program, but will be looking for co-financing with a university or third party.

 

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/about/capacity_building/phd_scholarship.htm

 

Fellowship Program: The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) – CDC’s Disease Detectives

 

The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), CDC's "Disease Detectives", is a unique two-year, post-graduate program of service and on-the-job training for health professionals interested in the practice of

epidemiology. Every year, EIS selects up to 90 talented individuals from around the world for the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the practice of epidemiology at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters campuses or in the field at state or local health departments. EIS is often a steppingstone to careers and leadership in public health, but is also useful for health professionals seeking to enhance their skills with a population health perspective.

 

Deadline: September 15, 2006.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/eis/applyeis/applyeis.htm 

 

Student conference on conservation science Internship Scheme

 

The Student Conference on Conservation Science is hosted by the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge in March 2007 and is one of the few conservation conferences aimed entirely at students. The conference provides a valuable opportunity for young conservation scientists to gain experience, learn new ideas and make contacts that will be valuable for their future careers. Delegates include students from around the world, as well as conservation practitioners from leading UK and international conservation bodies.

 

SCCS Internship Scheme

 

The intern scholarships are available for conference delegates from developing and Eastern European countries. This scheme enables students to extend their visit to the UK after the conference to carry out mutually beneficial work with conservation organisations and academic institutions for up to four weeks. We expect the internship scheme to help develop the careers of promising conservation scientists and to strengthen and catalyse north-south collaborations.

 

http://www.sccs-cam.org/

 

Reef HQ Aquarium - Curatorial internship positions

 

Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville (Australia) is offering four curatorial internship positions starting in Feb/Mar and Aug/Sep 2007 to individuals intending to undertake a technical or professional career in marine science, aquaculture, or a closely related discipline, and provides a unique opportunity for work and study.

 

Each internship position carries a specialist research project, as well as water quality and laboratory duties, that will be the core duties of the candidate. However, interns may also assist Reef HQ staff with animal husbandry responsibilities of all exhibit areas, including feeding, diving, field trip assistance, maintenance of aquarium systems and other related routine duties.

 

Deadlines: 30th September 2006 and 30th November 2006

 

http://www.reefhq.com.au/involved/intern/curatorial.html

 

E-Learning Policies 2006: A Free Distance Learning Course provided by ADBI

 

This course is offered free of charge to teachers and government officials in charge of e-learning. Interested persons from civil society and the private sector are also welcome. At the conclusion of the course, each participant will be able to:

          List key benefits and limits of e-learning programs,

          Choose proper equipment and software suitable for e-learning,

          Use learning content management system,

          Draft a plan to develop a multimedia computer courseware, based on sound learning theories and instructional strategies, and

          Evaluate commercially available computer courseware.    

 

http://www.adbi.org/event/1940.elearning.policy.2006/

 

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future (free learning material) provided by UNESCO

 

This is a multimedia teacher education programme published by UNESCO. It contains 100 hours (divided into 25 modules) of professional development for use in pre-service teacher courses as well as the in-service education of teachers, curriculum developers, education policy makers, and authors of educational materials.

 

http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/

 

Getting results: A professional Development Course for community College educators provided by League for Innovation in the Community College

 

This online training material for college professors is composed of six modules, including video. It is designed to help them improve the quality of their teaching. "Whether you're a new or experienced teacher, you have a chance to make an impact on the future of the country. How can you be as effective as possible?"

 

http://www.league.org/gettingresults/web/index.html

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Library

 

Current exhibition on “International Literacy Day” 8 September – Literacy sustains development

September 8 is an occasion to give hope to the millions of women, men and children who cannot read or write even their own names. International Literacy Day is a timely reminder to the world about the importance of literacy for individuals, families, communities and whole societies.

This year’s theme, “Literacy sustains development”, emphasizes that literacy is not only a positive outcome of development processes but also a lever of change and an instrument for achieving further social progress.

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

 

Selected resources on Literacy from VDIC library

 

#302.2244 ABA. Abadzi, Helen. Improving Adult Literacy Outcomes: Lessons from Cognitive Research for Developing Countries. Washington, DC: World Bank, 2003. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000094946_03071204032943

 

#370 ABA. Abadzi, Helen. World Bank. IEGSG. Efficient learning for the poor : insights from the frontier of cognitive neuroscience. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2006. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000160016_20060629155455

 

#370.95 STA. Statistics and indicators on education, 2000/01: South and East Asia regional report. Quebec: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2003. Full text http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001361/136105e.pdf

 

#379.26 COR. Corporate sector involvement in education for all: partnerships with corporate involvement for the improvement of basic education, gender equality and adult literacy in developing countries. A study for UNESCO. Paris: Foundation Nationale Des Sciences Politiques, 2005. Full text http://www.unesco.org/education/efa/global_co/working_group/atelier_finalreport2005.pdf

 

#379.26 EDU. Education for all : literacy for life. Paris : UNESCO, 2005. Full text http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=43283&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html 

 

Abadzi, Helen. Adult literacy : a review of implementation experience. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2003-09-15. full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000011823_20040623120016 

 

McMahon, Walter W. Lifelong learning in developing countries - an analysis with estimates of private returns and externalities. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2003-12-30. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000012009_20040301125921

 

Highlights from the new additions to VDIC library in August 2006

 

Full list of new additions to VDIC library in August 2006 can be found at http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=library&op=viewDetailNews&id=161&mid=322&cmid=325

 

REF 304.605 VIE. National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. ORC Macro. Vietnam population and AIDS indicator survey 2005. Calverton, Maryland, US: ORC Macro, 2006. Full text http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pub_details.cfm?ID=581&srchTp=advanced 

 

305.4 UND. Kabeer, Naila. United Nations Development Programme. Globalisation, gender and work in the context of economic transition: the case of Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam: UNDP, 2006-05.

 

332.1 TRA. UNCTAD. Trade finance infrastructure development handbook for economies in transition. Bangkok: United Nations ESCAP, 2005. Full text http://www.unescap.org/publications/detail.asp?id=1109 

332.1 UND. United Nations Development Programme. Ministry of Planning and Investment. Study on competitiveness and impacts of liberalization: banking. Hanoi, Vietnam: UNDP, 2006-05.

 

332.3 STE. Stephens, Blaine. United Nation Capital Development Fund. Microfinance distance learning course. New York: United Nations Capital Development Fund, 2002. Full text http://www.uncdf.org/mfdl/ 

 

338.7 DOM. Domestic enterprise development and the role of local government [in Vietnam]. Tokyo: Institute of Developing Ecnomics - JETRO, 2005. Full text http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Jrp/jrp_134.html 

 

REF 338.7 KET. Tong cuc thong ke. Non-farm individual business establishments, 2002-2005 results of surveys = Ket qua dieu tra co so san xuat kinh doanh ca the phi nong nghiep 2002-2005. Hanoi, Vietnam: Tong cuc thong ke, 2006

 

338.7 VIE. USAID. VCCI. The Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index 2006: Measuring economic governance for private sector development: Summary report. Hanoi: Vietnam Comepetitiveness Initiative, 2006. Full text http://www.vnci.org/Xportal/Upload/docs/PCI_2006_Summary_Report.pdf 

 

338.9597 ACT. Actors in poverty reduction in Vietnam. Chiba, Japan: Institute of Developing Economies ; Japan External Trade Organization, 2006. Full text http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Books/Asedp/073.html 

 

338.9597 IMP. Impact of socio-economic changes on the livehoods of people living in poverty in Vietnam. Tokyo: Institute of Developing Economics - JETRO, 2005. Full text http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Books/Asedp/071.html 

 

347.597 THE. Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Bo luat dan su moi 2005 va bo luat to tung dan su 2004 = The 2005 civil code and the 2004 civil procedures code. Hanoi, Vietnam: Nha xuat ban thong ke, 2006.

 

361.1 VOI. Voice of the people 2006: What the world thinks on today's global issues. London: Gallup International, 2006. Table of content http://www.gallup-international.com/ContentFiles/pdf/VoP.pdf 

 

384 COM. Nguyen, Thanh Ha. Competition review of the Vietnamese telecom sector. Hanoi, Vietnam: USAID and VNCI, 2006. Full text http://www.vnci.org/Xportal/Upload/docs/En_Telecom_Aug05.pdf 

 

384 UND. United Nations Development Programme. Ministry of Planning and Investment. Study on competitiveness and impacts of liberalization: telecom. Hanoi, Vietnam: UNDP, 2006-05.

 

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Selected new publications for sale at VDIC

 

Doing Business 2007: How to Reform

by World Bank -- English -- Published September 2006 -- ISBN:  0-8213-6488-X

VDIC Price: $ 10

 

Doing Business 2007 focuses on reforms, identifies top reformers in business regulation, and best practices in how to reform. This volume is the fourth in a series of annual reports investigating global regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Co-sponsored by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation - the private sector arm of the World Bank Group - this year's report measures quantitative indicators on business regulations and their enforcement compared across 175 countries - from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe - and over time. Doing Business 2007 updates indicators developed in the three preceding reports.

 

The ten indicators are: starting a business, dealing with licenses, hiring and firing, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, trading across borders, paying taxes, enforcing contracts, and closing a business. The indicators are used to analyze economic and social outcomes, such as informality, corruption, unemployment, and poverty. This annually published report gives policymakers the ability to measure regulatory performance in comparison to other countries, learn from best practices globally, and prioritize reforms. This year's report covers 20 additional countries.

 

World Development Report 2007: Development and the Next Generation

by World Bank -- English -- Published September 2006

VDIC Price: $ 8

 

The theme of the World Development Report (WDR) 2007 is youth—young people between the ages of 12 to 24. As this population group seeks identity and independence, they make decisions that affect not only their own well-being, but that of others, and they do this in a rapidly changing demographic and socio-economic environment.

 

The report will focus on crucial capabilities and transitions in a young person's life: learning for life and work, staying healthy, working, forming families, and exercising citizenship. For each, there are opportunities and risks; for all, policies and institutions matter.

 

Sức mạnh của thiết kế điều tra: Cẩm nang dùng trong quản lý điều tra, diễn giải kết quả điểu tra và chi phối đối tượng điều tra [The power of survey design : a user's guide for managing surveys, interpreting results, and influencing respondents]

by Iarossi, Giuseppe. World Bank.

Vietnamese -- Published 2006 -- by National Political Publishing House, Hanoi.

VDIC Price: $ 1

 

"A master of his craft, Giuseppe Iarossi has drawn on his extensive experience in the field to produce a wonderfully useful volume on how to do and work with surveys of industrial firms."

- Kenneth L. Sokoloff, Department of Economics, U.C.L.A

 

A practical how-to guide on all the steps involved with survey implementation, this volume covers survey management, questionnaire design, sampling, respondent?s psychology and survey participation, and data management. A comprehensive and practical reference for those who both use and produce survey data.

 

Đô thị trong thế giới toàn cầu hóa: Quản trị nhà nước, thành tích hoạt động và tính bền vững [Cities in a globalizing world : governance, performance and sustainability]

by Leautier, Frannie, ed. World Bank Institute

Vietnamese -- Published 2006 -- by National Political Publishing House, Hanoi.

VDIC Price: $ 1

 

"In a world moving very rapidly on both urbanization and globalization, cities in the developing world face both serious challenges and attractive opportunities. They can reap the benefits of economic growth by creating an enabling investment climate: well-functioning markets, institutions that support sound governance and regulatory regimes, and public infrastructure and social services. At the same time they can create an environment where their citizens are both included and empowered. And because cities do not exist in isolation, urban policies and programs must also be coordinated with national initiatives. Cities in a Globalizing World not only raises our awareness of issues that can only become still more pressing and still more critical to growth and equity in this century; it also provides important and valuable analyses of options for public action."

---- Sir Nicholas Stern, Head of Government Economic Service, United Kingdom

 

Chống tham nhũng tại Inđônêxia: Tăng cường trách nhiệm giải trình vì phát triển [Combating Corruption in Indonesia: Enhancing accountability for development]

by Lateef, Khateeb Sarwar (TTL). World Bank.

Vietnamese -- Published 2006 -- by Justice Publishing House, Hanoi.

VDIC Price: $ 1

 

The report builds on a comprehensive set of diagnostic assessments, and reviews on some of the main areas where corruption breeds: public expenditure and financial management systems, procurement, inter-governmental fiscal relations, the financial sector, forestry and infrastructure, the justice sector, and the civil service. It also attempts to distill from studies the key lessons learnt about corruption, and accountability, and, to better understand how corruption works in particular sectors, and processes. The central issue examined in this report is why public accountability fails so often, and, after analyzing the context in which anti-corruption efforts must operate in Indonesia, the report focuses first on three areas of corruption: the budget, local governments and the government's regulatory functions in selected sectors - banking, electricity and forestry. It then looks at the justice sector - the police, the prosecutors, the courts and the Indonesian civil service. Finally, it analyzes how donors are responding to the challenge of corruption, drawing primarily on the Bank's own experience.

 

Quyền được nói: Vai trò của truyền thông đại chúng trong phát triển kinh tế [The right to tell : the role of mass media in economic development]

by Islam, Roumeen. World Bank Institute.

Vietnamese -- Published 2006 -- by Culture and Information Publishing House, Hanoi.

VDIC Price: $ 1

 

An independent press is essential to sound and equitable economic development. The media helps to give a voice to the poor and the disenfranchised. An independent press also provides a solid foundation for a free and transparent society.

 

The Right to Tell contains an outstanding list of contributors from Nobel Prize winner and former World Bank chief economist, Joseph Stiglitz to Robert J. Shiller author of Irrational Exuberance, and Nobel Prize winner and novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Contributors to this volume explore the role of the media as a watchdog of government and the corporate sector, and the policies that prevent the media from exercising that role. The Right to Tell assesses the media's function as transmitters of new ideas and information. This book also evaluates the damaging effects that an unethical or irresponsible press can cause to a society.

 

Kinh nghiệm hiện đại hóa hải quan của một số nước [Customs Modernization Initiatives: Case Studies]

Edited by Luc De Wulf , Jose B. Sokol -- Vietnamese -- Published 2005 -- by The Gioi Publishers, Hanoi.

VDIC Price: $ 1

 

A companion to the Customs Modernization Handbook, this book provides case studies on customs modernization initiatives in seven countries (Bolivia, Morocco, Mozambique, Peru, the Philippines, Turkey, and Uganda). The initiatives in each of these countries show similarities as well differences in their approach and design. Some have relied on a model of Independent revenue authorities (Uganda and Peru), others have called upon private sector service providers to initiate the modernization process (Mozambique), others have taken the drastic step of a complete overhaul of their customs staff (Bolivia and Mozambique), others introduced new information technology to streamline customs processes and to integrate other members of the trading community into an electronic network (Ghana), while still others have approached the modernization process as a pragmatic, well-focused, result-oriented process.

 

Trao quyền trong thực tế: từ phân tích đến thực hiện [Empowerment in Practice: From Analysis to Implementation]

by Ruth Alsop , Mette Bertelsen , Jeremy Holland

Vietnamese -- Published 2006 -- by Culture and Information Publishing House, Hanoi.

VDIC Price: $ 1

 

"This document offers an excellent explanation of the concept of empowerment and develops a very useful framework for disentangling and clarifying the concept. It is both practical and well justified on the basis of the literature. The approach and survey instruments developed to measure empowerment are innovative and very useful. Developing an approach to empirically measure empowerment, and to track empowerment indicators over time in a way that is operationally feasible and consistent with World Bank standards is certainly an outstanding achievement."

 -- Reginer Birner, Senior Research Fellow

International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, D.C.

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Distance Learning Center events in September 2006

 

For further information on September activities, please check out the DLC's calendar of events at http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=learningevents&op=viewDetailNews&id=163&mid=330&cmid=359

 

September 4 - 7: APO E-learning program on Green Productivity and ISO 14001

Organized by APO, this course focus on environmental management system (EMS) and ISO14001. An EMS is the part of the overall management system that addresses the impact of an organizations activities, products, and services on the environment. An EMS allows an organization to identify and take control of the environmental impacts that it generates and is a tool to improve the efficiency of organizational activities, products, and services so that they will benefit the entire organization.

 

September 5  - 8: Microfinance course - Module II: Financial Accounting and Financial Management in MFIs

 

September 6: Launch of "Doing business 2007: How to reform"

Published annually, Doing Business reports investigate global regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it, ranking countries on their “ease of doing business.” This year, analysis is presented from 50 case studies of reform and updates indicators developed in the three preceding reports and covers 20 additional countries. The report launch consists of 2 parts, a videoconference connection with other 7 countries in Asia and a local Q&A session with Vietnam-based experts.

 

September 6: AOTS-TEIC No. 1 training on Environmental Action in Companies and Its Impact for Better Business Development

With a view to supporting Vietnamese companies in promoting their environmental activities, especially in fields of the ISO14001 Environmental Management System, AOTS and TEIC No. 1 conduct this program aiming at (i) enabling participants to understand the necessity and importance of the ISO14001 Environmental Management System, and (ii) enabling Vietnamese HRD organizations to learn how to support Vietnamese companies in their attempts to gain ISO14001 registration.

 

September 7: Pre-MBA course - VC4: Accounting

 

September 11 - 14 and September 25 - 27: CRES-ANU training for practitioners on Environmental and Natural Resources Management in Vietnam

This course is a project of Vietnam Blended Learning Program. It is jointly delivered by CRES and ANU on Environmental and Natural Resources Management. The target participants are Vietnamese lecturers on environmental economics and environmental management from different universities. The course is a blend of 10 videoconferences, online discussion via WebCT, 2 field trips, and face-to-face training on teaching and presentation skills.

 

September 26: Inter-regional knowledge sharing series on avian influenza - Session 2: Communication Planning

This videoconference is the second session of the inter-regional discussion series on avian flu (http://www.worldbank.org/avianflu). It links 6 Asia regional nations (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) with Washington DC, Atlanta, and Geneva, Switzerland and serves as a follow-up to a February 14-16 Risk Communications workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand. The intent is to be able to continue established relationships and provide updates on Avian Influenza communication related activities.

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