Ho Chi Minh City Development Learning Center celebrates its official opening on 26 June 2007, bringing a new chance for the nearly 8 million people of Ho Chi Minh City to connect with the world. The Development Learning Center will deliver knowledge and education initiatives, programs addressing community development and brokering trade between Vietnam and its neighbors in the Mekong region and beyond. Innovative new partnerships with regional and international organizations including ASEAN and APEC are being developed as well links to the private sector.

Through state of the art technology, the Center will develop local capacity for the government and development institutions by providing access to the latest knowledge and services that will stimulate development thinking, encourage collective action and enhance development outcomes. The Center will offer video conference and internet-based training, seminars and global policy dialogues that cover a wide range of development topics offered by global content providers in partnership with local Vietnamese institutions in order to ensure that the knowledge is relevant and useful.

“This is the second learning center supported by the World Bank after the first in Hanoi, which opened in 2001.” said Laurent Msellati, Acting Country Director of the World Bank in Vietnam. “These Centers reflect our commitment to fostering knowledge exchange and development, by facilitating exchanges between Vietnamese policy makers, academics and experts and their international counterparts, even if they are half way around the world.”

The Center is at the second floor of 178 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Summer Opening Hours

During July and August, VDIC opening hours will be from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm.

Normal opening hours will be resumed from 3^rd September 2007.

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.

· Please bring your own laptop to the classes if possible since these training sessions require computer use and Internet access while number of computers for class participants are limited. Wifi is provided free of charge at VDIC.

“Searching the Internet: basic skills” class

Date: July 11, 2007 -- 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: July 12, 2007 -- 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.

World Population Day 2007 -- “Men at work” – 11 July 2007

"We see men and women as partners in a relationship built on mutual respect, trust and commitment. Partnering with men promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity." Men play a key role in bringing about gender equality since, in most societies, men exercise preponderant power in nearly every sphere of life, ranging from personal decisions regarding the size of families to the policy and programme decisions taken at all levels of Government.

Men's involvement and participation can make all the difference in women's lives. Fathers often decide whether a daughter will marry young or have a chance to complete an education. Early marriage can lead to high-risk pregnancies. Husbands play a key role in deciding how many children a couple will have, and when. These decisions can shape the future of the whole family. Men often make financial decisions, including whether to pay for a midwife or transportation to a hospital. When complications arise, these decisions can be a matter of life or death. As political, community and religious leaders, men shape public opinion. Their support for women's health and well-being can affect the care that pregnant women receive. In the absence of a vaccine or cure, men’s behaviour is crucial to preventing the spread of HIV. Women are increasingly at risk..

Small exhibition at VDIC on this occasion provide brief information on this topic as well as display a number of publications on population.

Library

Selected resources on men and population from VDIC library

GEN 8. Bannon, Ian [editor]. World Bank. EXTOP. The other half of gender: men's issues in development. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2006-01-01. Full text http://go.worldbank.org/EEZWCB2UQ0.

Betron, Myra. Mainstreaming gender in the health sector : prevention of gender-based violence and male involvement in reproductive health. Washington D.C.: The World Bank, 2006-04-01. Full text http://go.worldbank.org/PD3J9L6600.

HEA-POP 9. Knowles, James C. UNFPA. Diem lai viec thuc hien chien luoc dan so Viet Nam giai doan 2001-2005: nhung nhan dinh cua mot chuyen gia quoc te = Implementation of Vietnam's population strategy: 2001-2005: an international perspective. Hanoi: UNFPA, 2006.

(REF) HEA-POP-V1. Tong cuc thong ke. Dieu tra bien dong dan so va ke hoach hoa gia dinh 1/4/2005: nhung ket qua chu yeu [Survey on population fluctuation and family planning 1/4/2005: key results]. Hanoi, Vietnam: Nha xuat ban thong ke, 2006.

HEA-POP 15. Quy dan so Lien hop quoc. Bo ke hoach va dau tu. Moi quan he dan so va phat trien: long ghep cac bien dan so vao ke hoach hoa phat trien o Viet Nam [ Relations between population and development: integrating population variables into development planning in Vietnam]. Hanoi, Vietnam: 2005.

McNicoll, Geoffrey. US Population Council. Policy Lessons of the East Asian Demographic Transition. New York: The Population Council, 2006. Electronic access: Full text http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/wp/210.pdf.

(REF) HEA-HIV-V1. National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. ORC Macro. General Statistical Office. Vietnam dieu tra mau cac chi tieu dan so va AIDS 2005 = 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.

HEA-POP 8. Feeney, Griffith. UNFPA. Vietnam's population growth : what the latest data tells us = Tang truong dan so Viet Nam : nhung so lieu moi nhat. Hanoi: UNFPA, 2006.

Highlights from the new additions to VDIC library in June 2007

Full list of new additions to VDIC library in June 2007 can be found at http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=library&op=viewDetailNews&id=161&mid=322&cmid=325

AGR-LAN-V3. Marsh, Sally P.; MacAulay, T. Gordon; Pham, Van Hung. Agricultural development and land policy in Vietnam = Phát triển nông nghiệp và chính sách đất đai ở Việt Nam. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) 2006. Full text http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/ACIA-6RG3FZ/$file/MN123.pdf

ECO 14. Barber, Benjamin R. Con$umed: how markets corrupt children, infantilize adults, and swallow citizens whole. W.W. Norton 2007. Table of contents only http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip075/2006039751.html.

ECO-DEV-A17. Gill, Indermit; Kharas, Homi; Ngân hàng Thế giới. Đông Á phục hưng: Ý tưởng phát triển kinh tế. Nhà xuất bản Văn hóa Thông tin 2007.

EDU-POL 16. Global campaign for education; ActionAid International. Education rights: A guide for practitioners and activists. ActionAid International, 2007. Full text http://www.actionaid.org/main.aspx?PageID=175.

HEA-CHI-V1. Nguyen, Tran Hien. The expanded program on immunization: Twenty years of achievements in Vietnam. National Expanded Program on Immunization; National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 2006.

IND-ENE 25. Vedavalli, Rangaswamy. Energy for Development: Twenty first century challenges of reform and liberalization in developing countries. Anthem Press, 2007. Table of contents only http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0611/2006011207.html.

TRA-FAI-V6. Ngân hàng Phát triển châu Á. 30 trường hợp nghiên cứu về hợp đồng nông sản. Ngân hàng Phát triển châu Á, 2007. Full text http://www.markets4poor.org/m4p/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=141&Itemid=63&lang=vn.

TRA-FAI-V7. Ngân hàng Phát triển châu Á. Phát triển phân khúc thị trường dành cho người có thu nhập thấp. Ngân hàng Phát triển châu Á, 2007.

TRA-INT 43. Matsushita, Mitsuo; Schoenbaum, Thomas; Mavroidis, Petros. The World Trade Ogranization: Law, Practice, and Policy. Oxford University Press, 2006. Table of contents only http://www.www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip064/2005035077.html.

WAT-SUP-V12. Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) East Asia and the Pacific. Water service pipe study in Hanoi, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City: Report on the service pipes status in PPP zone Saigon Water Supply Corporation. Southeast Asian Water Ulitilities Network (SEAWUN); Social & Environmental Development Joint Stock Company (SECO), 2006.

Selected Publications for Sale at VDIC

Vietnam Development Report 2007: Aiming high || Báo cáo phát triển Việt Nam 2007: Hướng đến tầm cao mới

Published December 2006 by World Bank Office in Vietnam

Price: English version $7.00 ; Vietnamese version: $1.00

The Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) of Vietnam is so comprehensive, and the current juncture so important, that some form of prioritization seems warranted. This report, with its proposed reading of the SEDP, represents an attempt to identify the most important policy measures to undertake in the coming years, so as to align donor support behind them. It would be tempting to interpret prioritization as choosing one SEDP pillar over the others. But Vietnam is facing important trade-offs in all of them. Hence the choice to prioritize within pillars. However, the report also recognizes that moving on all fronts is a formidable challenge, requiring stronger coordination, so that in the end result is more, not less, than the sum of the parts. In the spirit of harmonization, the report emphasizes the importance of a strong coordination mechanism for the implementation of the SEDP, cutting across all four pillars of Vietnam's reform agenda: business development; social inclusion; natural resources; and modern governance, and making the most of the donors' support to it.

Đông Á phục hưng: Ý tưởng phát triển kinh tế [An East Asian Renaissance: Ideas for Economic Growth]

của Indermit Gill & Homi Kharas – Ngân hàng Thế giới

Tiếng Việt -- Nhà xuất bản Văn hóa Thông tin -- 2007

Giá tiền: 1 USD

Cuốn sách này đánh giá tương lai của các nước Đông Á có thu nhập trung bình. Không có lợi thế về lương thấp hoặc kỹ năng cao và với nguồn tài nguyên thiên nhiên hạn chế, các nền kinh tế Đông Á này đang đi theo một con đường hội nhập khu vực mới do Trung Quốc dẫn đầu. Trên con đường này, các nhà hoạch định chính sách phải quản lý luồng di cư 2 triệu người một tháng tới các thành phố Đông Á; hiện tượng tăng nhanh chưa từng có về sự bất bình đẳng thu nhập; và sự bất mãn ngày càng tăng đối với nạn tham nhũng. Chương trình nghị sự mới về hội nhập trong nước đang là một thách thức mà chính Đông Á phải đối đầu.

Một số nhận xét về cuốn sách:

Ngoài những kỹ năng khác, “sự phục hưng” hàm chỉ sự áp dụng văn hóa, học tập và kỹ năng một cách sáng tạo. Điều này đang diễn ra một cách độc đáo chưa từng có tại Đông Á. Quá trình này mang lại hậu quả sâu sắc cho khu vực và thế giới. Liệu sự thay đổi đó có bền vững hay chỉ là nhất thời? Các xu hướng và phân tích trong cuốn sách này sẽ đưa ra những manh mối quan trọng.

- Ong Keng Yong, Tổng thư ký ASEAN

Đông Á đã thay đổi mạnh mẽ kể từ năm 1993 khi cuốn sách “Sự thần kỳ Đông Á” của Ngân hàng Thế giới ra đời. Bộ môn kinh tế học kỹ thuật cũng có nhiều thay đổi trong giai đoạn này. Cuốn “Đông Á phục hưng” đưa ra các thông tin cập nhật, gắn kết sự tăng trưởng bùng nổ của Trung Quốc vào câu chuyện, cung cấp dữ liệu về sự nổi lên rộng khắp của tầng lớp trung lưu châu Á và chỉ ra con đường tiến tới sự năng động và ổn định cao hơn.

- David Warsh, tác giả cuốn “Kiến thức và của cải của các dân tộc: Một câu chuyện về sự phát hiện kinh tế”

Trái ngược với dự đoán về một “thập kỷ bị đánh mất”, Đông Á ngày nay giàu gấp hai lần so với thời kỳ khủng hoảng tài chính 1997. Các nền kinh tế Đông Á, giàu hay nghèo, đều không chỉ hồi phục kinh tế mà còn phát triển với một mức độ tinh tế, linh họat và sáng tạo hơn nhiều. Trung Quốc là một phần của câu chuyện, nhưng không phải là toàn bộ câu chuyện. Vậy nhân tố gì giải thích cho sự “phục hưng” của Đông Á? Trong bối cảnh thay đổi mạnh mẽ, thì nghiên cứu này là một cẩm nang không thể thiếu.

- Rosemary Righter, biên tập viên tạp chí The Times

Vũ điệu với người khổng lồ: Trung Quốc, Ấn Độ và nền kinh tế toàn cầu [Dancing with the giants: China, India and the global economy]

Chủ biên: Alan Winters & Shahid Yusuf

Tiếng Việt -- Ngân hàng Thế giới & Viện Nghiên cứu Chính sách (Singapore) -- 2007

Giá tiền: 1 USD

Trung Quốc hiện là nền kinh tế lớn thứ tư thế giới và phát triển rất nhanh. Nền kinh tế Ấn Độ cũng đang trỗi dậy. Hai nền kinh tế này cùng gây ảnh hưởng sâu sắc tới tốc độ và bản chất của sự thay đổi kinh tế toàn cầu. Dựa vào những nghiên cứu mới nhất, cuốn sách phân tích ảnh hưởng của hai nền kinh tế này tới sự phát triển nhanh chóng của kinh tế toàn cầu và và xem xét tác động của hai nền kinh tế đối với các nước khác về các khía cạnh thương mại quốc tế, công nghiệp hóa, đầu tư nước ngoài và dòng vốn, cũng như tác động về mặt môi trường của hai nền kinh tế này. Cuốn sách cũng thảo luận về các cách làm của hai quốc gia này trong cuộc chiến chống đói nghèo, bất bình đẳng, giải quyết các vấn đề quản lý nhà nước.

Một số nhận xét về cuốn sách:

Một cuốn sách rất hay nên đọc.

- Tạp chí Kinh tế ngày 14-9-2006

Cuốn sách này cho thấy giá trị to lớn của những nghiên cứu của Ngân hàng Thế giới. Không quá đơn giản hóa vấn đề, nghiên cứu này đã giúp cho một vấn đề phức tạp trở nên dễ hiểu và dễ tiếp cận. Bảy chương sách do các nhà nghiên cứu hàng đầu trong một số lĩnh vực là tác giả chính đã phân tích sâu sắc triển vọng tăng trưởng của Trung Quốc và Ấn Độ cũng như tác động của các nước này tới nền kinh tế thế giới. Các phân tích hết sức công phu, kỹ lưỡng và phù hợp, làm sáng tỏ cuộc tranh luận mang tính hùng biện nhiều hơn là thực tế.

- Lawrence H. Summer, Đại học Harvard, Trường Quản lý Nhà nước JFK

Sự nổi lên của Trung Quốc và Ấn Độ tạo ra những quan ngại sâu sắc về các cơ hội phát triển đối với các nước nghèo và sự nghèo hóa của những nước giàu hơn. “Vũ điệu với những người khổng lồ” diễn giải những quan ngại này trong bối cảnh lịch sử của nó. Với những phân tích chi tiết và hợp lý, các tác giả có tên tuổi đã chỉ ra những người khổng lồ này thực sự khổng lồ trên một số lĩnh vực. Trong một số lĩnh vực khác, tăng trưởng của hai nước này mang lại nhiều cơ hội cũng như thách thức. Không có cuốn sách nào về chủ đề tương tự mà tôi thấy cần giới thiệu để bạn đọc tham khảo hơn là cuốn sách này.

- Justin Yifu Lin, Giám đốc sáng lập, Trung tâm Nghiên cứu Kinh tế Trung Quốc, Đại học Bắc Kinh

Thế giới của chúng mình [1 World Manga] (bộ truyện tranh về một số vấn đề phát triển)

Lời: Annette Roman; Minh họa: Leandro Ng.

Tiếng Việt -- Ngân hàng Thế giới xuất bản năm 2007

Giá tiền: 0.20 USD/tập (3.200 VND/tập)

Bộ truyện tranh này gồm 6 tập, mô tả cuộc phiêu lưu của Rei, chàng trai mồ côi 15 tuổi, sống sót nhờ mưu trí và lòng dũng cảm trên các đường phố nghèo khổ của thế giới. Số phận của cậu rẽ bước ngoặt kỳ lạ khi cậu gặp một huấn luyện viên, người sở hữu quyền năng của phép biến và hứa huấn luyện để cậu đạt được giấc mơ trở thành võ sĩ vĩ đại nhất thế giới. Nhưng dường như huẩn luyện viên của Rei quan tâm hơn đến việc phát triển đầu óc, tinh thần và trái tim cậu hơn là các động tác tấn, đánh. Và hóa ra võ sư của Rei lại là một con vật ! Và thực sự cậu không bao giờ biết được võ sư của cậu sẽ biến thành con vật gì tiếp theo.

Rei trải qua những tình huống như phải lòng một cô gái, bị cá mập tấn công, cưỡi voi, quan sát một người đàn ông đào lên một bộ xương, khám phá bí ẩn về một nơi những con cá biến mất, bị một nhóm lính đánh thuê bắt cóc, tình cờ biết về sự tham nhũng của các quan chức nhà nước, và thậm chí là biến thành một bé gái. Trong truyện tranh này, Rei và linh vật của mình lâm vào những tình huống như sự nghèo đói, bệnh tật, sự ấm lên toàn cầu, chiến tranh, nạn phân biệt đối xử, và nạn tham nhũng. Nhưng với sự lòng dũng cảm, tình thương, và ý chí con người không thể khuất phục, Rei và bạn bè đã vượt qua những thử thách này, chiến thắng những thế lực đen tối luôn chống lại họ, để làm cho thế giới được tốt đẹp hơn.

Bộ truyện tranh gồm 6 tập với những chủ đề : 1. Chống nghèo ; 2. Chống HIV/AIDS ; 3. Ngăn ngừa trái đất ấm lên; 4. Lính trẻ em; 5. Giáo dục cho trẻ em gái; 6. Điều tra tham nhũng.

The Many Faces of Corruption: Tracking Vulnerabilities at the Sector Level

Edited by J. Edgardo Campos , Sanjay Pradhan

Published April 2007 by World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-6725-0

Price: $ 11.00

Corruption... How can policymakers and practitioners better comprehend the many forms and shapes that this social pandemic takes? From the delivery of essential drugs, the reduction in teacher absenteeism, the containment of illegal logging, the construction of roads, the provision of water and electricity, the international trade in oil and gas, the conduct of public budgeting and procurement, and the management of public revenues, corruption shows its many faces. The Many Faces of Corruption attempts to bring greater clarity to the often murky manifestations of this virulent and debilitating social disease.

Participatory Budgeting

Edited by Anwar Shah

Published March 2007 -- by World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-6923-7

Price: $ 10.00

In the past three or four decades, public finance theorists and practitioners have struggled to identify and design institutional arrangements to help close the gap between the preferences of voters and the mix of public services actually delivered. Participatory budgeting is potentially a good approach.

This book presents an authoritative guide to the principles and practice of participatory budgeting, providing a careful analysis of the potentials of participatory budgeting in strengthening inclusive and accountable governance as well as risks associated with interest group capture of participatory processes. For interested policy makers and practitioners, the book presents the "nuts and bolts" of participatory budgeting. It provides a regional survey of such practices worldwide and draws lessons from seven individual country case studies. A CD-ROM included with the book contains these seven country case studies on Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand and the Ukraine.

Little Data Book on Private Sector Development 2007

by World Bank

Published April 2007 -- by World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-7076-6

Price: $ 5.00

The Little Data Book on Private Sector Development 2007 is one of a series of pocket-sized books intended to provide a quick reference to development data on different topics. The Little Data Book on Private Sector Development 2007 provides data for more than 20 key indicators on business environment and private sector development in a single page for each of the World Bank member countries and other economies with populations of more than 30,000. These more than 200 country pages are supplemented by aggregate data for regional and income groupings.

The data topics include:

• economic and social context

• business environment

• private sector investment

• finance and banking

• infrastructure

It is intended as a quick reference for users of World Development Indicators, WDI Online, and the Atlas of Global Development. The book also includes data from the World Bank's Doing Business project and Enterprise Surveys.

Governance Reform: Bridging, Monitoring, and Action

by Brian Levy

English -- Published February 2007 -- ISBN: 0-8213-7032-4

Price: $ 7.00

Developing-country governance and its monitoring have risen to the top of the development agenda. This mounting interest is in response to compelling evidence that links governance to development performance-policy quality, public service provision, the investment climate, and the extent of corruption.

Governance Reform: Bridging, Monitoring, and Action lays out a broad framework for analyzing and monitoring governance in developing countries. It identifies fourteen core indicators for governance monitoring- both broad measures of overall patterns and specific "actionable" measures that can be used to guide reforms and track progress.

The book also summarizes good practices for reforming public bureaucracies and checks and balances institutions (including parliaments, the justice system, media and information, and local governance); highlights improvements in transparency as a relatively low-cost and low-key way of deepening government accountability to civil society; and suggests ways to complement top-down reforms with approaches that focus directly on improving service provision and the investment climate (such as strengthening the bottom-up accountabilities of service providers to communities, firms, and citizens).

Governance Reform has no universally applicable trajectory of change. Rather, the aims are: to find country-specific entry points for reform which have development impact in the short-term; to address binding public management constraints, and to help build momentum for further change.

Global Issues for Global Citizens: An Introduction to Key Development Challenges

Edited by Vinay K. Bhargava

English -- Published August 2006 -- ISBN: 0-8213-6731-5

Price: $ 10.00

Written by 27 World Bank experts, this book draws on the Bank's unique global capabilities and experience to promote an understanding of key global issues that cannot be solved by any one nation alone in an increasingly interconnected world. It describes the forces that are shaping public and private action to address these issues and highlights the Bank's own work in these areas. Covering four broad themes (global economy, global human development, global environment, and global governance), this comprehensive volume provides an introduction to today's most pressing global issues -- from poverty, conflict, and migration to climate change, international trade, education, health, and corruption.

With its straightforward presentation of complex topics, use of real world examples, and suggestions for further reading on-line and in the literature, this unique volume will be an invaluable resource for students in international relations, global business, public policy, international development studies, sociology as well as other interested readers.

Pension Reform: Issues and Prospects for Non-Financial Defined Contribution (NDC) Schemes

Edited by Robert Holzmann , Edward Palmer

English -- Published February 2006 -- ISBN: 0-8213-6038-8

Price: $ 13.00

This book presents 24 state of the art papers on the conceptual foundations and issues surrounding non-financial, or notional, defined contribution plans (NDCs), country implementation of NDCs (Italy, Latvia, Poland, and Sweden), and case studies for countries where NDCs are figured in the reform debate. This book is intended as a handbook for academics and policy makers who want to become informed about what NDC is and to learn about the pros and cons of this attractive reform proposal.

Technology, Adaptation, and Exports: How Some Developing Countries Got It Right

English -- Published June 2006 -- ISBN: 0-8213-6507-X

Price: $ 10.00

The literature on technological change and growth has mainly used econometric models to establish that factors, such as the degree of openness, skills, research and development expenditures, number of patents etc., are critical determinants of innovation and its effect on growth. However, this approach fails to explain the role of institutions and policies that created the environment for innovation. Using 10 case studies from developing countries, this book examines how governments fostered technological adaptation through public-private partnerships to develop world-class exporters in high-growth, non-traditional industries.

Endorsements

"It is now widely recognized that technological learning and upgrading is an essential part of the economic development process, and that government programs have a profound influence on the effectiveness and direction of technological learning. The ten case studies contained in this volume get into the details of how learning has proceeded and the programs that have helped and shaped the process. Both scholars and those responsible for making policy will find this volume extremely illuminating."

Professor Richard R. Nelson

George Blumenthal Professor of International and Public Affairs, Business, and Law

Columbia University, New York, NY

"In this book, Vandana Chandra has assembled an exceedingly rich portfolio of case studies of successful industrial development experience in a series of poor and formerly poor countries ranging from Kenya to Taiwan. A striking generalization that emerges is that government has been involved in an important way in supporting and promoting technology development and institutional innovation in support of private sector entrepreneurship in each of the cases studied.

The industries studied range from the processing of resource-based commodities to advanced communication technology. Public support played a critical role in enabling firms in these industries to become competitive in domestic and international markets. As the technology employed in the several industries became more sophisticated, government support in the form of technical training, technological development, and scientific research, and in the reform of market and regulatory institutions, also became increasingly important.

This book should be required reading for administrators and staff development assistance agencies. It also represents an important classroom resource for courses in economic development, marketing, management, and entrepreneeurship."

Vernon W. Ruttan

Regents Professor Emeritus

University of Minnesota

Customs Modernization Handbook

Edited by Luc De Wulf , Jose B. Sokol

English -- Published January 2005 by World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-5751-4

Price: $ 13.00

Trade integration contributes substantially to economic development and poverty alleviation. In recent years much progress was made to liberalize the trade regime, but customs procedures are often still complex, costly and non-transparent. This situation leads to misallocation of resources.

Customs Modernization Handbook provides an overview of the key elements of a successful customs modernization strategy and draws lessons from a number of successful customs reforms as well as from customs reform projects that have been undertaken by the World Bank. It describes a number of key import procedures, that have proved particularly troublesome for customs administrations and traders, and provides practical guidelines to enhance their efficiency. The Handbook also reviews the appropriate legal framework for customs operations as well as strategies to combat corruption.

Customs Modernization Initiatives: Case Studies

Edited by Luc De Wulf , Jose B. Sokol

English -- Published August 2004 by World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-5752-2

Price: $ 10.00

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), while still others have approached the modernization process as a pragmatic, well-focused, result-oriented process.

Distance Learning Center Events in July 2007

A blended training course on Drug Information Searching and Analyzing Skills - Workshop 2 (By invitation only)

The second training course will be held on July 16, 17 and 18, 2007 from 08:00 a.m to 17:00 p.m.

VDIC has been supporting the Drug Information Center, Hanoi Colleague of Pharmacy in building capacity in searching and effectively utilizing drug information through a number of training courses and workshops. Participants are key teaching and researching staff of the center and other pharmacists from some provinces in the North of Vietnam. The participants learn how to evaluate and identify good information sources available on-line; analyze, select and create their own sources based on the actual needs. Trainers and facilitators of the course are specialists and experts from leading institutions of Vietnam and Sweden. The course's structure with diversified learning activities is expected to provide new technical knowledge and skills more effectively but also an opportunity exposing the learners to new ideas and choices on learning skills.

For further information, please contact Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, email: mnguyen@worldbank.org.

Invitation to a Blended Learning Course On Microfinance

In order to meet the demand for microfinance training and capacity building for a sustainable development of microfinance activities in Vietnam, VDIC is pleased to announce the forth round of the Microfinance course. This forth course combines the successes and lessons learnt of the previous 3 courses with in-depth tutoring of Vietnamese microfinance trainers who have been accredited from the previous courses. The content of each module is contextualized to the practice in Vietnam; instruction language of the tutoring classes is Vietnamese; learning materials and discussions during videoconference sessions are translated into Vietnamese language in order to attract a larger audience, who works in microfinance field in Vietnam.

The course consists of the following 3 modules:

Module I: Microfinance and Product Design for Microfinance

Tentatively from 30 July to 3 August 2007

Module II: Measuring Viability of a Microfinance Institution

Tentatively from 4 to 8 September 2007

Module III: Institutional viability assessment of MFIs

Tentatively from 9 to 12 October 2007 + Videoconference # 4 on 8 November 2007

For further information, please contact Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, email: mnguyen@worldbank.org

Funding Opportunities

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

The 2007 Global Development Awards and Medals Competition

Global Development Network (GDN) is accepting submissions for the 2007 Global Development Awards and Medals Competition. The largest international competition on development research, this year nearly US $240,000 in cash and travel expenses is up for grabs! Submissions are accepted for research proposals, completed research papers and proposals for expansion of development projects.

The three categories are:

- Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development: outstanding research proposals that provide new dimensions to development research, on any of the five selected themes

- Medals for Research on Development: excellent completed research papers on any of the five selected themes

- Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project: ongoing development projects which present proposals for expanding projects with the maximum potential for impacting local communities

Research must focus on any of the five themes:

- Fragile States: Addressing Vulnerability

- Household Exposure to Risk: Effects on Poverty

- The Rule of Law: Providing Security for Development

- Women’s Rights, Security and Development: Challenges and Opportunities

- Natural Resources: Risks and Implications for Sustaining Development

Deadline: August 20, 2007 for development projects; September 17, 2007 for research awards and medals

For more information, please visit http://www.gdnet.org/middle.php?oid=1217

ICTs in Education Prize: call for nominations

Open Access to Education is the theme of the 2007 UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education.

Funded by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the US$50,000 Prize is divided between two winners. The deadline for submissions is 31 July 2007.

Launched in 2005, the prize aims to reward the projects and best practices of individuals, institutions and NGOs in using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance.

Please note: only governments and international non-governmental organizations, maintaining formal consultative relations with UNESCO, may present candidatures.

For more information, please visit http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=53369&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

IDRC Internship Awards

The IDRC Internship awards provide exposure to research for international development through a program of training in research management and grant administration under the guidance of IDRC program staff. The internship is designed to provide hands-on learning experiences in research program management - in the creation, dissemination and utilization of knowledge from an international perspective.

The intern will undertake a program of research on the topic submitted when competing for the internship award, and will be trained in the techniques of research management through hands-on experience with the Centre's policies and practices for grant administration under the mentorship of a Program Officer(s).

Internships will be considered for a program of training and research responding to IDRC’s research priorities. IDRC’s research activities focus on four Program Areas:

· Social and Economic Policy

· Environment and Natural Resource Management

· Information and Communication Technologies ICT for Development

· Innovation, Policy and Science

Deadline for receipt of applications: 12 September 2007 (awards to be announced by the end of November 2007).

For more information, please visit http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-84370-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

Jonathan Mann Award for Health and Human Rights

The Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights was established to honor this remarkable individual while calling continued attention to the vital links between health and human rights. The Award is presented annually to a leading practitioner in health and human rights internationally, be it an individual or organization. Additionally, the Award carries a substantial financial prize in order to allow its recipients a measure of freedom to pursue their work.

In reviewing the nominees for the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights, the following criteria will be considered and evaluated:

· Practical work in the field, and work under difficult circumstances;

· Actual relevance of work to the linkage of health with human rights;

· Activities in developing countries and with marginalized people;

· Evidence of serious and long-term commitment.

· Potential for Award strengthen nominee's work.

· Potential for receipt of the Award to raise the profile of the Mann Award itself.

· Likelihood funding will enhance visibility and public awareness of the issue or project the nominee is addressing; and

· Potential for attracting additional resources towards resolution of the issue.

For more information, please visit http://www.doctorsoftheworld.org/about/about_details.cfm?QID=1328

Request for Research Proposals - Earth Watch Institute

The Earth Watch Institute's Research Program provides scientists with the funding and labor they need in the form of motivated dedicated, paying volunteers. This unique funding model enables the Earth watch Institute to support research in a variety of disciplines, on the basis of a researcher's need for volunteers and Earth Wwatch's ability to find them. In particular, the Earth Watch Institute is interested in supporting typically under-represented groups, such as early career scientists, women in science, and developing country nationals.

Earth Watch awards research grants on a per capita basis; the total grant amount is determined by multiplying the per capita grant by the number of Earth watch volunteers participating on a project. Per capita grants average $850, and the average project grant range is between $17,000 and $51,000 for one full season.

Earth Watch supports doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, or researchers with equivalent scholarship or commensurate life experience. The research program welcomes proposals from advanced scholars and professionals of any nationality.

For more information please visit: http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=392425

Research on the Economics of Diet, Activity, and Energy Balance (R01) - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Obesity has become a major focus of public health efforts at the national, state, and local levels. The major focus of the program announcement (PA) is to solicit projects that enhance the state-of-the-science on the causes of obesity and to inform federal decision making on effective public health interventions for reducing the rate of obesity in the United States. Research strategies that nest economic analysis within a broader interdisciplinary context of other social and behavioral sciences as well as the epidemiological, bio-statistical, medical, and biological disciplines relevant to public health policy are especially encouraged.

Applications may be submitted by domestic or foreign, for-profit and nonprofit organizations and public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories; units of state and local governments; eligible agencies of the federal government; and faith-based or community-based organizations.

Deadline: October 5, 2007

For more information please visit: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-205.html

Asia Project Grants - Luce Foundation

The Asia Project Grants provide opportunities to improve understanding between the United States and the Asia-Pacific region. These grants typically support advanced scholarship, create new resources, or promote the exchange of ideas and information between Americans and Asians. The Asia grants are limited to the humanities and social sciences and are typically for longer-term programs or projects.

Deadline: Continuous

For more information please visit: http://www.hluce.org/4projfm.html

Postdoctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers - Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers provides opportunities to young postdoctoral researchers from foreign countries to conduct, under the guidance of their hosts, cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions. The program is aimed at providing opportunities for such researchers to help them to advance their own research while contributing to the advancement of research in Japan and the counterpart countries. All fields of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences are included under this program.

Each candidate for the fellowship must:

- be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan;

- hold a doctorate degree when the fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received within six years prior to April 2, 2007; and

- have arranged in advance a research plan with his or her Japanese host.

The award provides a round-trip air ticket; a monthly maintenance allowance of ¥382,000; a settling-in allowance of ¥200,000; an annual domestic research travel allowance of ¥58,500; and overseas travel accident and sickness insurance coverage. If a fellow resided in Japan on the date his or her award letter was issued, the above-listed ! air ticket to Japan and settling-in allowance will not be provided.

Deadline: May 11, 2008

For more information please visit http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/

Asian Youth Fellowship (AYF) - Japan Foundation

The Japan Foundation Asia Center offers scholarships to Asian students who wish to study at graduate schools in Japan and have a strong wish to contribute to regional cooperation after obtaining a master's or Ph.D. degree under the Asian Youth Fellowship program. Appropriate fields of study include those in the humanities and social sciences, such as history, archaeology, aesthetics, law, politics, economics, commerce, education, and sociology, but students may also major in engineering and the natural sciences.

The scholarship will be granted for a period of about seven months, in principle, from the date of arrival in Osaka to March 2008. After completing the AYF program, the Japanese government (Monbukagakuysho) scholarship will be granted according to its own regulations.

Deadline: Varies

For more information please visit http://www.asiaseed.org/ayfj/

Canada-Asia-Pacific Awards - International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS)

The Canada-Asia-Pacific Awards program, formerly the Canada-Asia-Pacific Award in Canadian Studies (CAPA), is administered for Foreign Affairs Canada by the International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS). The program aims to promote research activities in areas relevant to the bilateral and multilateral relationships between Canada and the Asia-Pacific region.

Applicants must be full-time members of the academic staff of a recognized institution of higher education or equivalent degree-granting institution in the Asia-Pacific region, or scholars at research and policy planning institutes who undertake significant Canadian bilateral or multilateral relations research projects.

Deadline: December 31, 2007

For more information please visit http://www.iccs-ciec.ca/pages/5_govprogs/e_capacaw.html

SIAM CEMENT Foundation Scholarships at Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok, Thailand)

In partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the International Development Studies program at Chulalongkorn University, the SIAM CEMENT Foundation Scholarships program will allow qualified individuals from Southeast Asia to study at the Master of Arts Program in International Development Studies (MAIDS) at Chulalongkorn University for the upcoming 2007-2008 academic year.

Program Requirements:

- Bachelor degree in the Social Sciences, minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0;

- 2 years work experience in a related field;

- English Proficiency (minimum 550 TOEFL score or 5.5 IELTS score),

- Due to the time constraints, test scores from recognized language testing centres in respective countries will also be considered.

Deadline: July 13th, 2007

For more information, please visit www.ids.polsci.chula.ac.th OR www.siamcementfoundation.or.th

SCHOLARSHIP: Study Environmental Management and Development at the Australian National University

The Crawford School of Economics and Government, at the Australian National University, offers a professionally tailored Master of Environmental Management and Development (MEMD) program toa powerful mix of students from around Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

The MEMD program:

* builds on individual discipline-based technical and analytical skills.

* Deepens and broadens your knowledge of the social, ecological and economic concepts and paradigms that underpin environmental management decisions.

If you are interested in applying for our program and finding out about available scholarships contact Dianne Dunne Dianne.Dunne@anu.edu.au.

For more information, please visit http://www.crawford.anu.edu.au/degrees/emd/index.php

PhD Research Scholarships, NUS (Singapore)

The Asia Research Institute is pleased to offer Ph.D. research scholarships from August 2008 in the following interdisciplinary areas:

- Asian Migration

- Religion & Globalisation In Asian Contexts

- Cultural Studies In Asia

- Cold War In Asia

- Sumatra Heritage, Archaeology And Reconstruction

The PhD scholarship is to be taken up jointly with the appropriate discipline-based department. This would normally be with a department of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, but where appropriate could also be with the Faculty of Law, School of Business or School of Design & Environment at the National University of Singapore.

Interested applicants are required to submit their application to ARI at the address stated below by 15th November 2007, indicating clearly both which ARI interdisciplinary area they wish to join and which department they would be attached to. Application procedures and forms can be obtained from the NUS website: http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/prospective/graduate/application.htm

Applicants must use the application forms in the respective Faculty websites depending on the Faculty to which they wish to seek admission. They should send their applications to ARI directly.

For more information please visit http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/article_view.asp?id=10

Monash Fellowships - Monash University

Monash University has established the Monash Fellowships to attract internationally competitive researchers to undertake research of national and international significance (including young researchers from overseas with great future potential) and provide them with the best possible environment to establish a productive laboratory or other research team and to foster collaborations.

Fellowships are open to researchers from all disciplines, from outside Monash University. Applications are not accepted from researchers currently in postdoctoral or other positions at Monash University.

Deadline: July 31, 2007

For more information, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/research/academics/funding/information/monash/monash-fellowships.html

Full-Fee Masters Scholarships - University of Exeter

This scheme for entry offers up to 18 full-fee one-year scholarships for taught Masters programmes across all subjects in the arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences, as well as the M.Phil./Ph.D. in Physics. These are aimed at high-achieving UK and international students who can demonstrate not only exceptional academic ability (typically First Class Honours or international equivalent) but also the potential and intention to progress to doctoral study at Exeter.

Deadline: March 30, 2008

For more information, please visit: http://www.admin.ex.ac.uk/academic/scholarships/postgraduate/fullmasters.shtml

Visiting Fellowships - University of Oxford

All Souls College will offer Visiting Fellowships for periods of one, two, or three terms in the academic year running from October 2007 to June 2008. Visiting Fellowships are intended to enable their holders to carry out study and research in Oxford and to participate in the academic life of the University.

There is no stipend attached to a Visiting Fellowship, but the college provides visiting fellows with free lunches, dinners, and living accommodation; a study; computing support; internet facilities; some shared secretarial assistance; and access to Oxford libraries.

Visiting Fellowships are open to men and women from all countries. Preference will be given to applicants who will be between the ages of 35 and 65 during the relevant academic year.

Deadline: September 8, 2007

For more information, please visit: http://www.all-souls.ox.ac.uk/elections/visiting.php

Rolex Awards for Enterprise - Montres Rolex S.A.

The Rolex Awards for Enterprise support outstanding initiatives in the following five key areas of human endeavour:

- Science and Medicine, contributing to human health and welfare

- Technology and Innovation, finding new ways to improve life

- Exploration and Discovery, expanding our knowledge of the world

- The Environment, protecting or improving our natural and physical surroundings

- Cultural Heritage, conserving or contributing to our common cultural/artistic heritage

Applications may be submitted by individuals only, of any age or nationality. No institutional or collective applications are allowed. If a project represents the efforts of several individuals, one person must represent the group and sign the application form.

Deadline: September 30, 2007

For more information, please visit: http://www.rolexawards.com/home-flash.html

Endeavour Research Fellowships - Australian Commonwealth Government

The Endeavour Research Fellowships aim to:

- enable high achieving scholars from around the world to undertake research in Australia;

- further develop award holders' knowledge and skills in their field of study; and

- strengthen bilateral ties between Australia and the participating countries;

- showcase Australia's education sector around the world;

- strengthen mutual understanding between the peoples of Australia and the peoples of the participating countries; and

- build international linkages and networks.

Deadline: July 31, 2007

For more information, please visit: http://www.endeavour.dest.gov.au/individual_awards/endeavour_research_fellowships.htm

SEAMEO-Australia Press Award 2007

The SEAMEO-Australia Press Award recognizes excellent coverage of education issues by journalists in Southeast Asia. Given out annually since 2000, the Award has recognized seven print journalists who have written outstanding pieces on education issues affecting their countries and the region.

SEAMEO and the Australian Government coordinate to make this recognition possible through the Department of Education, Science and Training of Australia and the Education Section of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, in coordination with the University of Melbourne and its Asia Link Centre.

The applicant must be a national of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

This award is open to journalists working in print media only.

The article to be submitted for the award must have been published from 1 November 2006 to 1 November 2007.

For more information, please visit: http://www.seameo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=58&Itemid=134

Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) Call for Proposals: November 2007 Competition

EEPSEA is inviting researchers from Southeast Asia to submit proposals for the November Competition. Research topics on any environmental concerns are welcome. EEPSEA has recently launched a research program on Economics of Adaptation (visit our website) and is still accepting proposals on this important area of concern. Topics dealing with trans-boundary issues like the haze problem from Indonesia’s forest fires and water conflicts in the Mekong Region are also encouraged. Successful applicants will be invited to present their proposals in Vietnam during the November 12-16 Biannual Meeting.

Proposals should be submitted to hfrancisco@idrc.org.sg on or before August 1, 2007.

For more information, please visit: http://www.eepsea.org

Women’s International Networking (WIN) 2007 - Scholarship Program

Each year W.I.N. offers financial support to a limited number of participants via our scholarship program. This year we plan to grant between 20-40 scholarships. A full scholarship includes a free ticket to the conference and a partly scholarship is granted for a reduced fee off 550 Euro. All scholarships include conference participation, lunches, coffee breaks, network and social events. A scholarship does not cover travel and accommodation.

If you are interested in applying for a W.I.N. scholarship, please submit an application (2 pages). The deadline for scholarship applications is August 1, 2007.

For more information, please visit http://www.winconference.net/apply_scholarship.asp

Thank you for reading this edition of the VDIC Newsletter.

As always, we're here to serve your development and distance learning needs. Please visit us!

If you would like to contribute, change your subscription details or no longer wish to receive this newsletter,

please send an email to info@vdic.org.vn.

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.