VDIC NEWSLETTER
December 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

8am12pm

1pm5:30pm

CONTENTS

VDIC News

Library

Featured titles at VDIC bookstore

Distance Learning Center events in December 2006

News from other organizations

 

VDIC News

 

Free training sessions provided by VDIC

 

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

IMPORTANT NOTICES FOR PARTICIPANTS: Please read the course materials available online at http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=library&op=viewDetailNews&id=339&mid=322&cmid=361 before attending the class. It is useful to take them to the class for additional notes since we do not provide participants with printed course materials.

 “Searching the Internet” class

Date:              Wednesday, December 13, 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.

 

“Referencing skills” class

Date:              Wednesday, December 20, 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. Acceptance of registration will be done on first come first serve basis.

Exhibitions at VDIC

Please see Library section for lists of selected resources on the exhibition themes below.

9 December - International Anti-Corruption Day

Nobody needs to be lectured on the evil of corruption. Societies that have massive corruption suffer misery in a thousand ways. The assumption that "free" markets and non-intervention as sole remedies against corruption is simply wrong.  Each country produces is own type of corruption and no system is corruption-free. Corruption affects every country. Every year, over $1 trillion is paid in bribes with devastating consequences, particularly in developing countries.

Small exhibition at VDIC on this occasion provides brief information on this topic as well as a number of publications on anti-corruption.

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Library

 

Selected resources on anti-corruption from VDIC library

336.39 RAJ. Rajkumar, Andrew Sunil. World Bank. DECRG. Public spending and outcomes : does governance matter? S.l.: s.n., 2002-05-31. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?
pcont=details&eid=000094946_02051604452866
 

345.02323 OFO. Ofosu-Amaah, W. Paatii. World Bank. LEGVP. Combating corruption : a comparative review of selected legal aspects of state practice and major international initiatives. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 1999-06-30. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=
details&eid=000094946_99092110080687
 

345.512 LUA. Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Luat phong, chong tham nhung va luat thuc hanh tiet kiem chong lang phi [Law on anti corruption and law on thrift practice and waste combat]. Hanoi, Viietnam: Nha xuat ban tong hop Dong Nai, 2006.

346.1323 ROL. World Bank. The role of parliament in curbing corruption. Washington, DC : World Bank, c2006. Full text http://lysander.worldbank.catchword.org/vl=2648360/cl=20/nw=
1/nvportal=all/fm=docpdf/rpsv/bk/wb/0821367234/v1n1/s1/p1
 

352.35 KUS. Kusek, Jody Zall. World Bank. AFTKL. Ten steps to a results-based monitoring and evaluation system : a handbook for development practitioners. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2004-01-01. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=
details&eid=000160016_20040827154900
 

352.35 STA. World Bank. ECSSD. State-society synergy for accountability: lessons for the World Bank. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2004-04-01. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=
details&eid=000090341_20040726100101
 

352.4 ALL. Allen, Richard. World Bank. OEDPK. Assessing and reforming public financial management: a new approach. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2004-01-01. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000090341_20040115131609  

353.46214 KLI. Klitgaard, Robert. World Bank. WBI. Corrupt cities : a practical guide to cure and prevention. California: Institute forContemporary Studies, 2000-01-01. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=
details&eid=000094946_00092605362082
  

364.13209597 WB. Viet Nam dau tranh voi tham nhung [Vietnam combating corruption]. Hanoi, Vietnam: World Bank, 2000.

364.1323 ABE. Abed, George T. Governance, corruption, and economic performance. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund, 2002.

364.1323 AND. Anderson, James H. Anticorruption in Transition 3: Who Is Succeeding... and Why? Washington, DC : World Bank, 2006.

364.1323 ANT. Anticorruption policies in Asia and the Pacific: progress in legal and institutional reform in 25 Countries. Philippines: ADB, 2006. Full text http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/Anticorruption-Policies/default.asp  

364.1323 ARV. Arvis, Jean-Francois. The World Bank. Chong tham nhung o Dong A: giai phap tu khu vuc kinh te tu nhan. [Fighting corruption in East Asia: solutions from the private sector]. Hanoi: Nha xuat ban chinh tri quoc gia, 2004.

364.1323 ARV. Arvis, Jean-Francois. World Bank. PRM. Fighting corruption in East Asia : solutions from the private sector. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2003-08-31. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000094946_03100904005389  

364.1323 BHA. Bhargava, Vinay. Duong dau voi tham nhung o chau A: nhung bai hoc thuc te va khuon kho hanh dong [Challenging corruption in Asia: case studies and a framework for action]. Hanoi, Vietnam: Nha xuat ban tu phap, 2005. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=
details&eid=000090341_20040112153303
 

364.1323 BHA. Bhargava, Vinay. World Bank. PRMEP. Challenging corruption in Asia : case studies and a framework for action. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2004. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000090341_20040112153303  

364.1323 COM. Lateef, Khateeb Sarwar (TTL). EAP PREM Unit. Chong tham nhung tai Indonexia: Tang cuong trach nhiem giai trinh vi phat trien [Combating Corruption in Indonesia: Enhancing Accountability for Development]. Hanoi: Justice Publishing House, 2006.  

364.1323 COM. Lateef, Khateeb Sarwar (TTL). EAP PREM Unit. Combating Corruption in Indonesia: Enhancing Accountability for Development. Jakarta: World Bank Office Jakarta, 2003-10. Full text http://www.worldbank.or.id/eap/eap.nsf/2500ec5f1a2d9bad852568a3006f557d/
e42b40804838c5ba47256dc600370103?OpenDocument
 

364.1323 COR. Lindsey, Tim. Corruption in Asia : rethinking the governance paradigm. Sydney, Australia: Federation Press, 2002.

364.1323 FRI. Fritzen, Scott. The 'misery' of implementation : governance, institutions and anti-corruption in Vietnam. S.l.: s.n., 2003. Full text http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/docs/wp/wp36.pdf  

364.1323 PRE. Transparency International. Preventing corruption on construction projects: risk assessment and proposed actions for funders. UK: Transparency International, 2006-07. Full text http://www.transparency.org/content/download/2228/13048/file/2_TI-ACF_Report_Risk_Assessment_Funders.pdf

364.1323 WB. Stapenhurst, Rick. World Bank. Kiem che tham nhung: huong toi mot mo hinh xay dung su trong sach quoc gia [Curbing corruption: toward a model for building national integrity]. Hanoi, Vietnam: National Political Publishing House, 2002.

364.1323 WBI. Stapenhurst, Rick. World Bank. WBIFP. The media's role in curbing corruption. S.l.: s.n., 2000-01-01. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000094946_00101305481312  

364.1323 WES. Wescott, Clay. Combating corruption in Southeast Asia. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2003. Full text http://www.adb.org/Governance/combatting_corruption.pdf  

658.473 AGU. Aguilar, Mario. Gill, Jit B. S. Pino, Livio. World Bank. Preventing fraud and corruption in World Bank projects: a guide for staff. Washington DC : World Bank, 2000. Full text http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/anticorrupt/fraudguide.pdf  

INTERENET 364.1323 ANT. Asian Development Bank. Anti-corruption policies in Asia and the Pacific: The legal and institutional frameworks for fighting corruption in twenty-one Asian and Facific countries. Manila, Phillippines: Asian Development Bank, 2006. Full text http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Anti-Corruption-Policies/default.asp

 

Highlights from the new additions to VDIC library in November 2006

 

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

 

#305.4 US. Women's lives and experiences: Changes in the past ten years – Research findings from the demographic and health surveys. Calverton, Maryland: OCR Macro, 2006. Full text http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/OD40/OD40.pdf

 

#307.7609597 VIL. Do thi Viet Nam trong thoi ky qua do [Vietnam's cities in transition]. Hanoi, Vietnam: Nha xuat ban the gioi, 2006.

 

#322.09597 NOR. Norlund, Irene. Danh gia ban dau ve xa hoi dan su tai Viet Nam [The emerging civil society: An initial assessment of civil society in Vietnam]. Hanoi, Vietnam: Vietnam Institute of Development Studies (VIDS); UNDP Vietnam; SNV Vietnam; CIVICUS Civil Society Index, 2006. Full text in English http://www.snv.org.vn/DocFile/20061011164648808353.pdf. Full text in Vietnamese http://www.snv.org.vn/DocFile/20061011164648808353.pdf  

 

#331.252 WHI. Whitehouse, Edward. Pensions panorama : retirement-income systems in 53 countries / Edward Whitehouse. Washington, D.C. : World Bank, 2006.

 

#INTERNET 331.34 DAN. Global employment trends for youth. Geneva: ILO, 2006. Full text

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/strat/download/gety06en.pdf  

 

#333.75 CHO. Chomitz, Kenneth M. World Bank. DECRG. At loggerheads? Agricultural expansion, poverty reduction, and environment in the tropical forests. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2006-10-23. Full text http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000112742_20061019150049  

 

#REF 306.305 UND. United Nations Development Programme. Human development report 2006: Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis. New York: UNDP, 2006. Full text http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/pdfs/report/HDR06-complete.pdf  

 

#337.15 NAT. So tay doanh nghiep: APEC va nhung van de doanh nghiep can quan tam [Handbook for business enterprises: APEC and noteworthy issues]. Hanoi: Culutre and Information Publishing House, 2006.

 

#338.04092 ENT. Asian Development Bank. Entrepreneur: the road to success, making markets work better for the poor [Con duong doanh nhan: Vuong len tu kho khan]. Hanoi, Vietnam: Inforbiz, 2006

 

#338.1597 AGR. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. Agricultural development and land policy in Vietnam. Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, 2006

 

#378.597 VIE. Ministry of Education and Training. Dien dan quoc te ve giao duc Viet Nam "Doi moi giao duc dai hoc va hoi nhap quoc te" = International forum on Vietnam education "Higher education reform and international integration". Hanoi; Education Publishing House, 2005.

 

#INTERNET 379.3 UNE. Global education digest 2006: Comparing education statistics across the world. Montreal, Quebec: UNE SCO Institute for Statistics, 2006. Full text http://www.uis.unesco.org/TEMPLATE/pdf/ged/2006/GED2006.pdf   

 

#382.92 TIE. Tien trinh gia nhap WTO. Quyen 1: toan van bao cao cua ban cong tac ve viec Viet Nam gia nhap WTO; Quyen 2: thue suat toi - hue - quoc (cong bo ngay 14 thang 11 nam 2006) [Process of WTO accession. Vol. 1: report of working party on Vietnam's WTO accession; Vol. 2: most favoured nations' tax rate (preferential tax rate)]. Hanoi, Vietnam: Nha xuat ban lao dong xa hoi, 2006.

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Featured titles at VDIC bookstore

 

Global Development Finance 2006 (Vol I. Analysis and Outlook): The Development Potential of Surging Capital Flows 
English -- Published June 2006 by World Bank -- ISBN:  0-8213-5990-8

Price: $ 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 Outlook reviews recent trends in financial flows to developing countries.      

 

World Development Indicators 2006

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

Price: $ 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.       

 

Public Expenditure Analysis

Edited by Anwar Shah -- English -- Published June 2005 -- ISBN:  0-8213-6144-9

Price: $ 10

 

For various reasons?whether philosophical, political, humanitarian, or by institutional mandate?people are concerned for the well being of the most vulnerable groups in society: women, the poor, and the elderly. Some would even measure the value of a political system by how well it cares for the least of its members.

Related to this is the orientation of government toward the public more generally and the extent that it listens and responds to its citizens. More specifically, it is the rules and norms?the institutional framework?of government through which it takes into account the preferences of people on a day-to-day basis, not just at the ballot box.

 

Public Expenditure Analysis explores two themes: the orientation of government towards its more vulnerable groups and the extent to which government is responsive to its citizens. The first part of the book provides tools, methodologies, and examples of how to examine the impact of government expenditures, taxes, pension systems and other policies on women, the poor, and the elderly. The second part looks at the different ways that the government listens to citizens? voices and proposes a new institutional framework for governments that wish to implement reforms that increase responsiveness: citizen-centered government and citizen?centered budgeting.

 

Economic Growth, Poverty, and Household Welfare in Vietnam

Edited by David Dollar , Paul Glewwe , Nisha Agrawal – English -- Published April 2004 by World Bank

Price: $ 9

 

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Vietnam’s economic performance was dismal, and Vietnam was one of the poorest countries in the world. With the adoption of new market-oriented policies in the late 1980?s, economic growth increased rapidly. Vietnam achieved an extremely high rate of economic growth in the 1990?s, averaging 8% per year from 1990 to 2000. This economic growth was accompanied by a large reduction in poverty (reduced from 58% in 1993 to 37% in 1998), dramatic increases in school enrollment, and a rapid decrease in child malnutrition.

Economic Growth, Poverty, and Household Welfare in Vietnam examines the causes of Vietnam?s economic growth and its prospects for future growth. It also examines the impact of economic growth on poverty, school enrollment, child health, and a variety of other socio-economic outcomes. Finally, it examines the nature of poverty and the impact of government policies that attempt to reduce poverty.

 

Based on unusually rich macroeconomic and household survey data from Vietnam, this book is an important resource for development practitioners, drawing lessons for Vietnam and for other low-income developing countries.

 

Enhancing Agricultural Innovation: How to Go Beyond the Strengthening of Research Systems

by World Bank -- English -- Published 2006 -- ISBN:  0-8213-6741-2

Price: $ 8

 

An innovation system can be defined as a network of organizations, enterprises, and individuals demanding and supplying knowledge and bringing it into a social and economic use. This book's primary aim, therefore, is to focus on the largely unexplored operational aspects of the innvoation systems concept and to explore its potential for agriculture.

Enhancing Agricultural Innovation evaluates real-world innovation systems and assesses the usefulness of the concept in guiding investments to support knowledge-intensive, sustainable agricultural development. A typology of innovation systems is developed; strategies to guide investments for strengthening innovation capacity are drawn up; and concrete interventions options defined.

 

In its conclusions, the book emphasizes the importance of mechanisms for collaboration and interaction. Intermediary organizations, innovation councils, farmer organizations, and other means to strengthen collaboration are central to creating the exchange of knowledge and perspectives that will convert knowledge into valuable new social and economic products and services.

 

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Distance Learning Center events in December 2006

 

Dec. 1: World AIDS Day Videoconference for Youth

 

This videoconference is a forum for young people from Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and students from Wesleyan University and the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, USA to talk about the most effective  steps that can be taken to address the global AIDS pandemic and the specific role of young people in meeting this challenge. The videoconference is then followed by a local discussion of the 40 young participants and facilitators from the Health Policy Initiative, Youth's House and the World Bank, who co-organized this event in Vietnam.

 

For further information, please contact the training coordinator at nnguyen2@worldbank.org; tel.: 934 6600 - ext. 706.

 

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News from other organizations

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

World Monuments Watch – call for nominations

Announced every two years, the World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites calls international attention to cultural heritage sites around the world threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict, or natural disaster. Through the Watch, WMF fosters community support for the protection of endangered sites and attracts technical and financial resources to assist in their rescue. More than 75% of Watch sites have been saved or are well on their way, thanks to timely intervention.

Sites of all types and from all time periods—from ancient to modern—are eligible. “Monuments” can be archaeological sites; residential, civic, commercial, military, or religious architecture; cultural landscapes; and townscapes.

The deadline for submission is January 15, 2007 (postmark, if mailed).

http://wmf.org/watch.html 

UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize: Call for nominations

The Prize of US$30 000 was created to commemorate the inscription of the Buljo jikji simche yojeol, the oldest known book of movable metal print in the world, in the Memory of the World Register.

The Prize is awarded every two years to individuals or institutions in recognition of their contribution to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage as a common heritage of humanity. Funded by the Republic of Korea through arrangements made with the Municipal Council of Cheongju City, this Prize was approved by UNESCO’s Executive Board in April 2004.

Each nomination must include, in English or French, a description of the candidate’s background and achievements, a summary of the work submitted for consideration and a review of the way in which this work has contributed to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage.

Nominations to this second edition of the Prize should be submitted by 31 December 2006.

http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=23342&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html  

2007 Competition for Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) in Viet Nam

The International Fellowships Program (IFP) provides opportunities for advanced study to exceptional individuals who will use this education to make outstanding contributions in their respective fields, furthering development in their own countries and greater economic and social justice worldwide. IFP will actively recruit candidates from social groups and communities that lack systematic access to higher education. More than 100 Vietnamese citizens have received IFP fellowships and are studying in 10 countries; more than 40 have completed their degrees and have returned to Viet Nam.

The International Fellowships Program provides approximately 30 awards annually to Vietnamese nationals. Each fellowship fully supports formal graduate study abroad. Applicants are encouraged to pursue master or doctoral degree programs in any academic discipline or field of study that is consistent with the interests and goals of the Ford Foundation. IFP Fellows-Elect will be able to take intensive foreign language from 3 to 6 months to enhance their language proficiency for graduate study abroad.

Applicants may choose to pursue an academic discipline or field of study related to one of the following Ford Foundation program areas:

·          Environment & Development

·          Social Sciences & Humanities

·          Health

·          Arts & Culture

·          Education

·          Governance & Civil Society

·          Media

·          Community Development

·          Development Finance & Economic Security

Deadline: April 15, 2007.

http://www.acls.org/ceevn/ifpguidelines.htm

UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi (Japan) Co-Sponsored Research Fellowships Programme

The UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme funded under a Japan Funds-in-Trust project will aim, in particular, to impact on capacitybuilding and research activities in the following areas which were of particular importance to Mr Keizo Obuchi: 1. Environment (with particular attention to Water Sciences); 2. Intercultural Dialogue; 3. Information and Communication Technologies; and 4. Peaceful conflict resolution.

Applicants, a maximum of TWO from each applying National Commission, must meet the following general criteria:

1. Candidates under this Programme must be post-graduate researchers, already holding either an M.A. or M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) and wishing to pursue research work abroad (preferably in their own region) with a view to enhancing knowledge in one of the four specific fields mentioned in paragraph D.1 below. Thus, those who are in the process of completing their Master’s degree must have completed it PRIOR to taking up their Fellowship.

2. Candidates must be persons of high intellectual promise who may be expected to make significant contributions to their country on return.

3. Candidates must be no more than 40 years of age.

Deadline for the submission of applications: 12 January 2007

http://portal.unesco.org/unesco/ev.php?URL_ID=14635&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201&reload=1153923453  

Directory of Grants and Fellowships in the Global Health Sciences

Since 1988, the Fogarty International Center, part of the National Institutes of Health, has published the Directory of International Grants and Fellowships in the Health Sciences. This current volume (NIH Publication 06-3027, February 2006), a comprehensive compilation of international funding opportunities in biomedical and behavioral research prepared by Ms. Hannah Leslie, should serve the individual or institution who seeks financial support.

http://www.fic.nih.gov/funding/directory_fellowships.htm

Fellowships and Awards information from International Journalists’ Network

A source of Fellowships & Awards information worldwide for journalists, searchable by region or country.

http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Fellowship  

Evaluation Research Awards

These awards will assist Canadian and developing-country graduate students undertake their thesis research in the field of evaluation - the systematic collection of information about the activities, characteristics, and results of projects, programs, organizations, and policies aimed to influence action and decision-making. The IDRC Evaluation Research Awards are intended to promote the growth of Canadian and developing-country capacity in evaluation and to better the theory and practice of evaluation. 

Applications will be accepted for research on evaluation at the doctoral and master’s level that focus on the themes of: (i) development or use of innovative evaluation methodologies; (ii) evaluation capacity building; (iii) development or use of evaluation processes for organizational learning.

Deadline: Applications must be received by January 15, 2007.

http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-86762-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html  

The new Prize for Innovative Ideas to Promote Ethics in Finance 2006/2007

The Robin Cosgrove Prize promotes greater awareness among young people throughout the world of the benefits of ethics in finance. This prize honours the vision of Robin, a bright investment banker who died at age 31. He believed passionately that a major barrier to economic development was the lack of integrity and ethical practice in banking and finance. The prize is aimed at young people, under the age of 35.

Candidates are invited to submit written papers that have not been previously published. Papers (maximum of 5’000 words including annexes) could be analytical in character or proposals for practical projects.

Final deadline for submission of entries is February 28th, 2007 (00:00 – CET).

http://www.robincosgroveprize.org/

Columbia University - Postdoctoral Fellowship in Modern Southeast Asian Studies

The Weatherhead East Asian Institute of Columbia University invites applications for its 2007-2008 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Modern Southeast Asian Studies. Candidates from all social science disciplines, including history, are welcome to apply. The fellowship will cover a 10 or 12-month period beginning July 1, 2007 or September 1, 2007. The Fellow will devote half time to his or her own research and will teach one graduate-level course on Southeast Asia per semester.

Applicants must have completed all Ph.D. degree requirements (completed and filed the dissertation) between July 2003 and July 2007. Applicants must have completed their Ph.D. in a social science discipline, including history, working on modern Southeast Asia. All application materials (including letters of reference) should be submitted on or before January 10, 2007. Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/weai/postdoctoral-fellowship.html

World Bank Summer Internship Program

The Internship Program is open to students who are nationals of the Bank's member countries and attracts a large number of highly qualified candidates. The goal of this Internship Program is to offer successful candidates an opportunity to improve their skills as well as the experience of working in an international environment. Interns generally find the experience to be rewarding and interesting.

To be eligible for the Internship Program, candidates must possess an undergraduate degree and already be enrolled in a full-time graduate study program (pursuing a Master's degree or PhD with plans to return to school in a full-time capacity. Generally, successful candidates have completed their first year of graduate studies or are already into their PhD programs.

The application period for the Summer Internship Program begins on December 1, 2006.

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTHRJOBS/0,,contentMDK:20515785
~menuPK:64262360~pagePK:64262408~piPK:64262191~theSitePK:1058433,00.html  

INTERNSHIP: Smithsonian Research Training Program

The Research Training Program is a museum-based, in-residence program exclusively for currently enrolled, English proficient, college-level undergraduate students interested in a career in the biological, geological or anthropological sciences. Through a competitive review process approximately 20 outstanding students from around the world are selected each year to participate.  Students partner with a Smithsonian scientist to investigate a natural history research topic as well as participate in a series of lectures, workshops, demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, and field trips that focused on exploring natural history science and developing the skills necessary to become effective researchers. Students, in collaboration with their Smithsonian research advisor, develop and test a scientific hypothesis and communicate the results through written manuscripts plus oral and poster presentations.

Application Deadline: 1 February 2007

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/rtp/ and http://www.nmnh.si.edu/rtp/other_opps/  

Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program

The Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program (AYAD) was launched by the Australian Prime Minister in 1998. The AYAD program aims to strengthen mutual understanding between Australia and countries in the Asia Pacific region. AYAD places skilled Australians on short term assignments for periods of 6 - 12 months to support development activities in various sectors.

A bilateral MOU for the program was signed by the Governments of Vietnam and Australia in 1999. Up to now, around 200 Australian Youth Ambassadors spread over 17 arrival intakes have come to work in urban and rural areas of Vietnam. The AYA Intake # 20 is scheduled to arrive in Vietnam in September 2007.

Interested organizations that have a development focus (rural development, education, health, infrastructure, environment, governance, and gender) are invited to send an application to host an Australian Youth Ambassador to the contact details below, by 29 December 2006.

For further information on the program and an application forms please contact:

Ms. Hoang Thi Hanh -- Tel: 844 762 8422 ext: 12 -- Fax: 844 762 8423 -- Mob: 0913 247 857 --
Email:
hanhh@ceci.org.vn  

Or Ms. Vo Thi Bich Lan -- Tel: 848 862 1466 -- Fax: 848 862 6056 -- Mob: 0909 639 036 -- Email: lanv@ceciasia.org

www.ausaid.gov.au/youtham

International Children’s Painting Competition for 2006/07: How Children See Our World of Tomorrow

The International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment is organized annually by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation. It has been held since 1991 and has received over 170,000 entries from children in over 100 countries.  

This year’s competition is the sixteenth and will focus on the theme of Climate Change.  Preliminary selection will be done by UNEP Regional Offices and their partners while the final selection will be done by the Foundation for Global Peace and Environment, UNEP, Bayer and Nikon.

Children who will be between the age of 6 and 14 years on World Environment Day 2007 (5 June) are eligible for this competition.

Only hard copies of paintings will be accepted. E-mail entries will not be accepted without the hard copies. Entries must reach the relevant UNEP regional offices by 31 December 2006 at the latest. Entries from Asia and the Pacific should be sent to:

UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
United Nations Bldg., Rajdamnern Avenue
10th Floor, B-Block
Bangkok 10200, THAILAND
Tel: (66-2) 2881870 Fax: (66-2) 2803829
Email: sarabuddhi@un.org

http://www.unep.org/Tunza/paintcomp/

Human rights and poverty: Writing Contest for International Human Rights Day 2006 for Children and Youth (8-18 years old)

Poverty is frequently a consequence as well as a cause of human rights abuses. Choose one of the following two topics to write about: 1. Pick one article from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and use an example from real-life to illustrate how the violation of this right is a consequence of living in poverty. Include any suggestions you may have on how poverty can be reduced so that this right is not violated; Or, 2.Pick one article from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and use an example from real-life to illustrate how the violation of this right can cause poverty. Include any suggestions you may have on what can be done to protect this right so that it does not lead to poverty. Entries should be one page only (maximum 800 words). Entries must be written in either English or French. Winners will be required to provide proof of their date of birth.

Entries for the Human Rights and Poverty Writing Contest 2006 must be received by email no later than International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2006.

http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/humanrightsday2006/guidelines1.asp

The Annual Asia-Europe Workshop Series 2007/2008 – Call for proposals

The European Alliance for Asian Studies and the Asia-Europe Foundation welcome proposals for workshops on themes of common interest to Asia and Europe, to take place in 2007/2008.

Criteria

·          Three day expert workshop, to be held between September 2007 and September 2008 in an ASEM member country.

·          Jointly organised by an Asian and a European institute from ASEM member countries.

·          Participants: coming from at least eight different ASEM countries (Asia and Europe equally); male/female parity; balance between senior experts and promising junior researchers

·          Participants are invited primarily from academia - though contributions from politicians, journalists and representatives of industry are welcome.

·          The topic should be innovative and interdisciplinary, address shared interests between Asia and Europe, be of interregional/multilateral importance, and stimulate interregional dialogue.

·          Workshops initiated by young postdocs aimed at creating an academic network are favoured.

The deadline is 1 February 2007.

http://www.asia-alliance.org/index.php?q=node/124  

Open Praxis - Call for papers – What is the role of distance education in the implementation of the right to education?

Open Praxis - ICDE’s electronic journal for members only - is launching a call for research and “good practices” papers to be published in 2008 concerning distance education and the right to education (in particular reference to article 26 of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights):

·          What is the role of distance education in the implementation of the right to education?

·          How is distance education involved when education is seen as a right?

·          What is its position in educational policy, as a factor of quality and an instrument for liberty?

This theme can be approached from multiple points of view, pedagogical, sociological, economical, political, legal, etc. as developed in the ethe more detailed description of the project.

Deadline for submitting summaries of propositions for articles (500 to 1000 maximum words): January 31st, 2007.

http://www.icde.org/oslo/icde.nsf/id/27D326E0C567060DC1257202003303A7?OpenDocument  

Call for Papers -The Pacific Science Association Session on Protected Areas and Natural Resource Management

Session on Protected Areas and Natural Resource Management at the 21st Pacific Science Congress The Pacific Science Association (PSA) is a regional non-governmental, scholarly organization founded in 1920 to advance science, technology, and sustainable development in and of the Asia-Pacific region by actively promoting interdisciplinary and international research and collaboration. PSA's activities include the quadrennial Pacific Science Congress, held in a different location every four years. The next Congress will be held in Naha, Okinawa, Japan from 12-18 June 2007.

Paper topics may include, but are not limited to, issues such as:

-          Problems and issues in protected areas management projects

-          Developing more effective conservation planning

-          Establishing successful models of community-driven conservation projects

-          Approaches to managing invasive species risks

-          Incorporating future climate changes into natural resource management

-          Biodiversity inventories and protected areas management

-          Issues unique to coral reef and mangrove conservation

-          Socio-economic valuation of biodiversity

-          Social and cultural approaches to sustainable natural resource management

Case studies on conservation and natural resource management in the Pacific and Asian regions are particularly of interest.

The deadline for submitting paper proposals is 15 January 2007. Interested researchers are encouraged to send an indication of interest before 1 December 2006. Please send proposals to:

John Burke Burnett
Executive Director, Indo-Pacific Conservation Alliance [and]
Executive Secretary, Pacific Science Association
burnett@indopacific.org or burnett@bishopmuseum.org

USAID Global Health eLearning Center

The Global Health E-Learning Center developed by the USAID Bureau of Global Health is a response to repeated requests from field staff for access to technical public health information. We have heard from USAID Population, Health, and Nutrition officers (PHNs) and from Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) that they want to be current on global health topics, yet find it a challenge to obtain the information because of logistical and time constraints. The Global Health E-Learning Center provides Internet-based courses that:

·          Provide useful and timely continuing education for health professionals

·          Offer state-of-the-art technical content on key public health topics

·          Serve as a practical resource for increasing public health knowledge

Characteristics of this learning resource:

·          A resource for USAID staff and partners around the world

·          A flexible learning program for busy professionals

·          A blend of technical and programmatic content

Currently, the Global Health E-Learning Center includes eleven courses. A total of 48 courses are envisioned in the future. Watch for more courses coming soon!

·          Antenatal Care

·          Essential Newborn Care

·          HIV Basics (Part 1)

·          IUD

·          Logistics for Health Commodities

·          M&E Fundamentals

·          Malaria

·          Postpartum Care

·          Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage

·          Standard Days Method

·          Tuberculosis Basics

·          Youth Reproductive Health

http://www.globalhealthlearning.org

Food Security Distance Learning Course on "Reporting Food Security Information" available online from EC-FAO Food Security Programme

The unit reviews the importance of analyzing the needs of the target audience within a given food security context in order to create effective reports. The unit has four lessons which cover a wide range of techniques for writing effective reports in order to provide decision makers with clear and relevant analysis and policy options. A series of guidelines for producing the various report types teach the user how to structure a food security report depending on its context and purposes. Each lesson is delivered in an interactive self-paced dynamic learning environment which uses illustrated step-by-step instructions and exercises. A series of job-aids, guidelines, and case studies which demonstrate real life applications of the concepts and procedures being taught are included.

http://www.foodsecinfoaction.org/DL/dlintro_en.asp  

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