· 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: February 21, 2008 -- 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: February 22, 2008 -- 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.

International Year of Sanitation 2008

The excreta of 2.6 billion people is uncollected/untreated and represents a global health crisis. More than 200 million tonnes of human waste (and untold millions of tonnes of waste water and solid waste) goes uncollected and untreated annually around the world – in parts of both developing and developed countries – exposing millions of people to disease and death and continuing a cycle of poverty. More than 2.6 billion people, including 980 million children, live without proper sanitation; every 20 seconds on average a child dies as a direct result. That’s 1.5 million preventable child deaths a year;

Proper sanitation and hygiene is a necessary and worthwhile investment for governments at every level in every country. For every dollar spent improving sanitation and hygiene, between $3 and $34 is saved in health, education and social and economic development. In addition to countless school days lost to sanitation-related illness, the lack of adequate, separate sanitation facilities denies many girls an education and future economic potential;

Achieving adequate sanitation worldwide is doable. Governments and corporations need to support household and community decision-making processes and help finance the infrastructure and prorammes required. The estimated annual cost of reaching the water and sanitation MDG target is $11.3 billion, less than annual North American spending on household pets;

Small exhibition at VDIC on this occasion provides brief information on this topic as well as display a number of publications on sanitation, with focus on Vietnam.

Library

For more information about VDIC library services and resources, please visit http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=library&op=viewDetailNews&id=354&mid=322

Selected resources on Water, Sanitation and Waste Management at VDIC library

International Year of Sanitation 2008 web site http://esa.un.org/iys/

ENV-WAS 11. The World Bank Institute. Improving municipal solid waste management in India. a sourcebook for policy makers and practitioners. The World Bank, 2008.

ENV-WAS 7. Le, Quang Thong; Nguyen, Anh Ngoc. Incentives for Wastewater Management in Industrial Estates in Vietnam. Singapore: Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia, 2004. http://www.idrc.ca/eepsea/ev-64247-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

WAT-SUP 13. Asian Development Bank. Operations Evaluation Department. The impact of water on the poor: summary of an impact evaluation study of selected ADB water supply and sanitation projects. Manila: Asian Development Bank (ADB), 2004. Water for all ; no. 9. http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Water_for_All_Series/

WAT-SUP 14. Mukherjee, Nilanjana; van Wijk, Christine. Sustainability planning and monitoring in community water supply and sanitation. A guide on the methodology for participatory assessment (MPA) for community-driven development programs. World Bank; International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC), 2003.

WAT-SUP-V1. Pham, Khanh Nam; Tran, Vo Hung Son. Household Demand For Improved Water Services in Ho Chi Minh City: Comparison of Contingent Valuation and Choice Modeling Estimates. Singapore: Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia, 2005. http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/11201072431NamRR3.pdf

WAT-SUP-V13. Adcom Consultant prepared for the World Bank. Participatory assessment of management and operation models of concentrated rural water supply systems and sanitation in Vietnam. Final report. Adcom Consultant, 2006.

WAT-SUP-V13. Công ty tư vấn Adcom chuẩn bị cho Ngân hàng Thế giới. Đánh giá các mô hình quản lý và vận hành các hệ thống cấp nước và vệ sinh tập trung ở nông thôn Việt nam. Báo cáo cuối cùng. Công ty tư vấn Adcom, 2006.

WAT-SUP-V14. Chương trình cấp nước và vệ sinh (WSP) khu vực Đông Á - Thái Bình Dương. Tiếp cận dịch vụ vệ sinh ở Việt Nam. Những gì tốt?. Ngân hàng Thế giới, 2002.

WAT-SUP-V3. Ngan hang the gioi tai Viet Nam. Chiến lược cấp nước và vệ sinh: Xây dựng trên một nền móng bền vững. World Bank, 2006. Full text in English http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEAPINFRASTRUCT/Resources/watereng.pdf

WAT-SUP-V3. World Bank. Water supply and sanitation strategy: building on a solid foundation. World Bank, 2006. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEAPINFRASTRUCT/Resources/watereng.pdf

WAT-SUP-V4. Water Sanitation Program. East Asia and the Pacific. Selling sanitation in Vietnam: What works?. jakarta: Wsp, 2002. Water and Sanitation Program.

WAT-SUP-V6. Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển Nông thôn ; Bộ Xây dựng. Chiến lược quốc gia cấp nước sạch và vệ sinh nông thôn đến năm 2020. Hà Nội: Bộ Nông nghiệp và PTNT; Bộ Xây dựng, 2000. http://www.cerwass.org.vn/pdf/chienluoc/Chien%20luoc2020.zip

WAT-SUP-V6. MARD, MOC. National rural clean water supply and sanitation strategy up to year 2020. Vietnam: Ministry of construction and MARD, 2000. http://www.cerwass.org.vn/files/tailieu/en/Strategy2020.pdf

WAT-SUP-V7. Water and Sanitation Program (WSP); WAterSPS; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, DANIDA. Towards the Vietnam development goals for water supply and sanitation: a report on the first phase of a planned support initiative. Final report July 2004. S.l.: S.n., 2004.

WAT-SUP-V7. Water and Sanitation Program (WSP); WAterSPS; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; DANIDA. Tiến tới những mục tiêu phát triển cấp nước và vệ sinh môi trường ở Việt Nam: Báo cáo giai đoạn đầu của sáng kiến hỗ trợ. Báo cáo cuối cùng tháng 7 năm 2004. s.l.: S.n., 2004.

WAT-SUP-V8. Nguyen, Van Than; Patrick, Kim; Soussan, John; Nguyen, Thuy Nha; McGrath, Tim; Le, Tuyen Hong Hai; Do, Manh Cuong. Báo cáo hiện trạng ngành đánh giá phối hợp chính phủ Việt Nam và các nhà tài trợ về cấp nước, vệ sinh và sức khỏe nông thôn Việt Nam. Hà Nội, Việt Nam: Stockhom Environment Institute, 2005.

WAT-SUP-V8. Soussan, John; Nguyen, Thuy Nha. Báo cáo cuối kỳ của Đoàn đánh giá phối hợp Chính phủ Việt Nam và các nhà tài trợ cấp nước, vệ sinh và sức khỏe nông thôn Việt Nam. Hà Nội, Việt Nam: Stockhom Environment Institute, 2005.

WAT-SUP-V9. Hung, Samantha. Making rural water and sanitation (RWSS) gender-friendly: getting RWSS projects "right" for both women and men... Hanoi: UNICEF Vietnam, 2003.

WAT-TEC [Internet]. United Nations. Guidelines on Municipal Wastewater Management. A Practical Guide for Decision-makers and Professionals on How to Plan, Design, and Finance Appropriate and Environmentally Sound Municipal Wastewater Discharge Systems. United Nations, 2004. http://dinrac.nowpap.org/documents/GPA_Guidelines_on_Municipal_Wastewater_Management_Version_%202.1.pdf

WAT-TEC 1. Tran Hieu Nhue. Cấp nước và vệ sinh nông thôn. Hà Nội: Nha xuat ban khoa hoc va ky thuat, 2001.

Highlights from the New Additions to VDIC Library

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

BAN-ACC-V8. Bộ Tài chính. 26 chuẩn mực kế toán Việt Nam (2001-2006). Nhà xuất bản Tài chính, 2008.

BAN-FIN 49. The World Bank. Fiscal policy, stabilization, and growth: Produdence or abstinence?. The World Bank, 2008.

CUL-POL-V1. Guan, Lee Hock; Suryadinata, Leo (Editors). Language, nation and development in Southeast Asia: Vietnamese language and media policy in the service of deterritorialized nation-building. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), 2007.

EDU-ECO 3. The World Bank. Assessing national achievement levels in education. The World Bank, 2008.

EDU-HIG [Internet]. UNESCO Bangkok. The Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific: Eighth Session on the Regional Committee in Conjunction with Seminar on the Establishment of Cross-Border Higher Education Assessment Mechanism, Kunming, People's Republic of China, May 24-25, 2005. UNESCO Bangkok, 2007. Full text http://www2.unescobkk.org/elib/publications/106/index.htm

ENV-ECO 5. The World Bank. Poverty and the environment: Understanding linkages at the household level. The World Bank, 2008.

ENV-WAS 11. The World Bank Institute. Improving municipal solid waste management in India: a sourcebook for policy makers and practitioners. The World Bank, 2008.

HEA-DEV-V31. Ministry of Health. Vietnam health report 2006. Medical publishing house, 2007.

HEA-HIV [Internet]. HelpAge International. Committed to caring: Older women and HIV & AIDS in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. HelpAge International, 2007. Full text http://www.helpage.org/Resources/Researchreports/main_content/f9Qh/Committedtocaring.pdf

TOU [Internet]. World Trade Organization (WTO). Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 : Furthering the process of economic development. World Trade Organization (WTO), 2007. Full text http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/TravelandTourismReport/index.htm

Useful Web Sites for business community

More useful web sites on development issues can be viewed at http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=usefullink&mid=314

Export helpdesk for developing countries http://export-help.cec.eu.int/

The Export Helpdesk is an online service, provided by the European Commission, to facilitate market access for developing countries to the European Union. This free and user-friendly service provides relevant information required by developing country exporters interested in supplying the EU market.

Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) http://www.cbi.nl/

CBI contributes to the economic development of developing countries by strengthening the competitiveness of companies from those countries on the European (EU & EFTA) markets.

CBI stimulates and supports economic activities that are sustainable, socially responsible and environmentally sound. This implies compliance with international social standards, more specifically ILO Conventions, and European consumer health, safety and environmental requirements. Requirements are both legislative and market driven. CBI works with clients who subscribe and strive to comply with these standards and requirements.

CBI offers specific functionalities for importers, exporters and business supporters.

Development Gateway Market http://www.dgmarket.com/

dgMarket is a portal for tenders and procurement opportunities from international development banks and government agencies worldwide.

Vietnam Development Gateway Market http://www.dgmarketvietnam.org.vn/

This portal provides information on tenders and procurement opportunities from international development banks and government agencies in Vietnam.

Selected Publications for Sale at VDIC

More featured titles for sale are listed at

http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=bookstore&op=viewDetailNews&id=155&mid=328

Development and Faith: Where Mind, Heart, and Soul Work Together

by Katherine Marshall , Marisa Van Saanen

English -- Published June 2007 by World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-7173-8

Price: $ 9.00

The faith and development nexus is both a promising new focus for secular development agencies and a historic reality: for centuries, world faiths and individuals inspired by their faith have played many roles in social change and social welfare. Secular development agencies have largely operated in parallel to the world of faith-motivated development. The World Bank began in the late 1990s to explore ways in which faith and development are connected. The issue was not and is not about religion, but about the recognition that some of the best experts on development are faith leaders living and working in poor communities, where strong ties and moral authority give them unique experience and insight. The World Bank's goal is to act as a catalyst and convenor, bringing together development practitioners to find common ground, understand one another's efforts, and explore differences.

Development and Faith explores and highlights promising partnerships in the world between secular and faith development entities. It recounts the evolving history of relationships between faith and secular development institutions. It focuses on the Millennium Development Goals as a common framework for action and an opportunity for new forms of collaboration and partnership.

Endorsements

"Development and Faith: Where Mind, Hear, and Soul Work together is a significant contribution to a subject that is central to debates about the direction and shape of the twenty-first century. This inspiring book links the work of secular development practitioners to the world of faith. The largely untapped potential and the confluence of issues deserves our attention and action."

- Dr. Akbar S. Ahmed

Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies

American University

"We need to do a better job to learn from successful faith and interfaith work to make the world a better, more peaceful place. This volume describes an impressive array of innovative partnerships and alliances. It inspires us to dream bigger about what development can accomplish."

- David Saperstein

Director and Counsel

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Globalization for Development: Trade, Finance, Aid, Migration, and Policy (Revised Edition)

by Ian Goldin , Kenneth Reinert

English -- Published May 2007 by Palgrave Macmillan & World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-6929-6

Price: $ 10.00

Globalization and its relation to poverty reduction and development is not well understood. The book identifies the ways in which globalization can overcome poverty or make it worse. The book defines the big historical trends, identifies main global flows - trade, finance, aid, migration, and ideas - and examines how each can contribute to undermine economic development.

By considering what helps and what does not, the book presents policy recommendations to make globalization more effective as a vehicle for shared growth and prosperity. It will be of interest to students, researchers and anyone interested in the effects of globalization in today's economy and in international development issues.

"This book is essential reading for anyone interested in globalization and development. It provides important new insights and perspectives into how global flows of finance, trade, migrants, and ideas shape development and advances the debate by identifying urgently needed policy changes for a more inclusive globalization."

- Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize for Economics,

and Professor of Economics, Columbia University

"Globalization may need defense, but it also needs reform. The authors tell us the story so far and go on to propose ways and means of getting to a happier endng. The ways identified, based on fine empirical assessment, certainly deserve our serious attention."

- Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize for Economics,

Lamont University Professor and Professor of Economics and Philosophy, Harvard University

"This book cuts through the confusion of many discussions of globalization. In particular, it gives a clear definition in terms of the basic flows that embody interaction among countries, including trade, migration, and so on. This provides a clear analytical framework for analyzing the impact of globalization on development and thus on reducing poverty. It is a first class piece of work and a 'must-read' for those seeking clarity on one of the great issues of our time."

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

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

Edited by Vinay K. Bhargava

English -- Published August 2006 by the World Bank -- ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-6731-5

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.

From Monobank to Commercial Banking: Financial Sector Reforms in Vietnam

by Jens Kousted , John Rand , Finn Tarp

English -- Published April 2006 by Nordic Institute of Asian Studies -- ISBN-13: 978-8791114861

Price: $ 21.00 (Estimated)

* A comprehensive, detailed and up-to-date descriptive analysis of financial sector reforms in Vietnam since 1988

* Critical analyses of key problems and obstacles facing the efforts to transform the Vietnamese economy

This study analyses the difficulties and problems encountered in transforming the Vietnamese financial sector from one subordinate to government objectives and goals to an autonomous sector guided by market forces and competitive pressures. Here, the history of financial sector liberalization is traced and close attention paid to the activities and autonomy of the State Bank of Vietnam, the institution responsible for the supervision and regulation of the financial sector in Vietnam. Overall, the authors argue that ensuring a timely, fair and transparent supervision and regulation of the financial sector is of central importance to financial sector development and stability. Liberalizing financial markets is not solely a question of limiting and/or restricting government influence but may in fact involve the opposite, the influence and power of supervisory and regulatory institutions in many cases needing to be strengthened.

With contributions by Luu Duc Khai , Nyugen Dihn Tai , Nyugen Van Huong , Ta Minh Thao

A Movable Feast: Ten Millennia of Food Globalization

by Kenneth F. Kiple

English -- Published May 2007 by Cambridge University Press -- ISBN-13: 978-0-521-79353-7

Price: $ 21.00 (Estimated)

In the last twenty-five years alone, the range of fruits and vegetables, even grains, that is available at most local markets has changed dramatically. Over the last 10,000 years, that change is almost unimaginable. This groundbreaking new work, from the editor of the highly regarded Cambridge World History of Food, examines the exploding global palate. It begins with the transition from foraging to farming that got underway some 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, then examines subsequent transitions in Egypt, Africa south of the Sahara, China, southeast Asia, the Indus Valley Oceanic, Europe, and the Americas. It ends with chapters on genetically modified foods, the fast food industry, the nutritional ailments people have suffered from, famine, the obesity epidemic, and a look at the future on the food front.

Food, at its most basic, fuels the human body. At its most refined, food has been elevated to a position of fine art. The path food has taken through history is a fairly straightforward one; the space which it occupies today could not be more fraught. This sweeping narrative covers both ends of the spectrum, reminding us to be grateful for and delighted in a grain of wheat, as well as making us aware of the many questions that remain unanswered about what lies ahead.

Did you know. . .

- That beans were likely an agricultural mistake?

- That cheese making was originated in Iran over 6000 years ago?

- That pepper was once worth its weight in gold?

- That sugar is the world’s best-selling food, surpassing even wheat?

- That Winston Churchill asserted, in 1942, that tea was more important to his troops than ammunition?

- That chili con carne is one of the earliest examples of food globalization?

- That, by 1880, virtually every major city in America had a Chinese restaurant?

- That white bread was once considered too nutritious?

Kenneth Kiple reveals these facts and more within A Movable Feast.

Access of the Poor to Agricultural Services: The Role of Farmers' Organizations in Social Inclusion

Edited by Bertus Wennink, Suzanne Nederlof, Willem Heemskerk

English -- Published September 2007 by KIT Publishers -- ISBN-13: 978-9068326420

Price: $ 20.00 (Estimated)

Resource-poor farmers tend to have more limited access to research, training and advisory services than do resource-rich farmers. And while access to agricultural services is not the only factor that can enhance rural people's livelihoods, it is a very important one.

What role do farmer organizations play in improving access to these services for the poor? Do poor farmers participate in farmer organizations? Or do farmer organizations have other strategies to improve the livelihoods of poor farmers?

Questions like these are key to identifying new approaches for strengthening the capacity of farmer organizations to enhance the pro-poor aspects and accessibility of agricultural services. Using case studies in Benin, Rwanda and Tanzania, researchers from the Royal Tropical Institute and partner organizations in those countries have developed and applied a framework for analyzing the functioning of farmer organizations and their role in service provision.

The results show that different types of farmer organizations have different ways of dealing with the question of social inclusion, depending on the organization's background and membership profile, as well as its purpose and organizational structure, and these differences can have important consequences for the provision of services to both members and non-members.

Distance Learning Center Events in February 2008

For more information about our Distance Learning Center services, facilities and events, please visit http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=learningevents&op=viewDetailNews&id=311&&mid=330

Kid Initiative Teachers Training Course - Module 3: Global Collaboration through Project-based Learning (registration closed)

Date & time: February 20, from 13:30 - 17:30

This course was developed by Tokyo Development Learning Center to accompany Kid Initiative, a multicultural education program for children using videoconference. The instructor plays a vital role in conducting a successful Kids session, providing guidance to children from planning to delivery. As such, the course has been created with advice from international experts and is designed to enhance instructional skills with a focus on the effective use of videoconference. The course consists of four 3-hour modules and includes a videoconference lecture, discussion, case studies and assignments.

Catalysts of Change: An Open Dialogue with Legendary Leaders of Asia (registration closed)

Dialogue 2: Interview with Mr. Fidel Ramos, former President of the Philippines

Date & time: in third week of February (tba)

This unique program is organized by the East Asia and Pacific Region of the World Bank and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), offering emerging young leaders in 13 Asian countries an opportunity to learn from senior leaders who laid the foundation for the region’s dynamic success. The senior leaders to be featured are all recognized for the extraordinary contribution they made to their country’s development and the region’s growth and stability; they are the catalysts of change who are responsible for generating the confidence, vision, policies and drive within their countries that led to sustained economic growth and dramatically reduced levels of poverty. The program consists of 4 dialogues via videoconferences to be held from December 2007 to March 2008. At the end of the program participants will be invited to submit a 750 word essay on the main lessons from the series and how they plan to apply them to their own work. A prize of $750 will be awarded to the three most insightful essays which will be publicized on World Bank, ASEAN and GDLN websites.

The first dialogue was with the former Secretary General of ASEAN, Ong Keng Ong and Vice President of World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region, James Adams. Twenty (20) emerging young leaders have been selected from 72 applicants to participate in this program from Hanoi.

Funding Opportunities

For more funding opportunities, please read previous VDIC newsletters at http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=newsletter&op=viewDetailNews&id=230&mid=350

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

2008 Global Development Marketplace Competition

The 2008 Global Development Marketplace (DM2008) competition searches for early-stage, innovative ideas with potential for high impact in promoting Sustainable Agriculture for Development.

Proposals are welcome from all innovators: civil society groups, foundations and development agencies in the country of implementation can submit their ideas. Other applicants – individuals, government entities and businesses – can also apply, but only if they work with a local partner.

DM2008 is specifically focused on the agricultural challenges related to:

• linking small-scale farmers to input and product markets;

• improving land access and tenure for poor farmers; and

• promoting the environmental services of agriculture in addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation.

A total of US$4 million in awards is available, with a maximum award size of US$200,000 per project. Applications will undergo a rigorous review drawing on hundreds of development experts, who will narrow down the pool of finalists to about 100 finalists.

The DM will then bring the finalists to Washington DC for the Marketplace event on September 24-25, 2008. Finalists will participate in knowledge exchange workshops and will present their ideas to the public, World Bank staff and an international jury comprised of senior development specialists. Some 25-30 winners will be announced at the close of the Marketplace.

The call for proposals closes on March 21, 2008 (23:00 GMT time).

Proposals must be written in English and submitted through the DM website www.developmentmarketplace.org

Civil Society Fund 2008 by the World Bank Office in Vietnam

The Civil Society Fund (formerly known as Small Grants Program) of the World Bank was created in 1983 as a way of supporting small, nonprofit, civil society organizations (CSOs). The fund seeds and supports activities that build capacity to enhance development outcomes. Activities strengthen mechanisms for inclusion, accountability, and people’s participation. Activities also strengthen partnerships with public sector, other civil society organizations, and the private sector.

Activities eligible for grant receipt this year should focus on capacity building, empowering and strengthening the voice of vulnerable groups including disadvantage children, youth and women, people with disabilities, urban migrants and ethnic minorities. The activities should aim at supporting these vulnerable groups and promoting social inclusion.

Activities may include, but are not limited to workshops or seminars to enhance engagement skills and/or knowledge to promote the participation of the vulnerable groups to the development process; appropriate communication campaigns to improve public service delivery and policymaking process; or innovative networking efforts to build capacity.

Small Grants must be used for a specific activity to be completed within one year of the date the grant is awarded. Priority is given to organizations not supported by the Program in previous years and organizations are not eligible for more than three grants from the Small Grants Program within a five-year period.

Organizations outside Hanoi may also contact our office to get this form by mail or email.

The deadline for submission of your application is March 31, 2008 (for those outside Hanoi, the deadline is based on the date of the post-office stamp).

For more information please visit http://go.worldbank.org/HQLTRM3DI0

Fellowships - Echoing Green Foundation

Echoing Green awards two year fellowships to emerging social innovators. Fellowships are awarded to individuals with innovative ideas for creating new models for tackling seemingly unsolvable social challenges. These fellowships offer them the opportunity to develop and test their ideas. Fellows do not develop their ideas in an academic setting, but rather work in the community. They launch, manage, and grow organizations that implement and continually expand their ideas for creating lasting social change.

Deadline: December 3, 2008

For more information please visit http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship

GRANT: WCS Research Fellowship

The WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) Research Fellowship Program is a small grants program designed to build capacity for the next generation of conservationists by supporting individual field research projects that have a clear application to the conservation of threatened wildlife and wildlife habitat. WCS seeks projects that are based on sound and innovative conservation science and that encourage practices in conservation that can contribute to sustainable development. Most of the grantees are professional conservationists from the country of research focus and/or post-graduates pursuing a higher degree. The grants program supports marine or terrestrial field research in Africa, Asia, and Latin America regardless of the nationality of the applicant. In addition, the program accepts applications from Native Americans (US) and members of First Nations (Canada) who intend to conduct work on native lands on issues of direct relevance to wildlife. The program will not limit any eligible individual from applying, however, most of our grantees are: professional conservationists from the country where research is to be undertaken; and/or post-graduates pursuing a higher degree. Grants are for up to $25,000. The average grant is $10,500.

Applications due March 15, 2008.

For more information please visit http://www.wcs.org/international/tcbp/rfp?preview=&psid=&ph=class%252525252525252525252525253DAWC-148

International Master of Advanced Studies (IMAS) in Development Studies Scholarship

This scholarship program covers the tuition fee, transportation, cost of living in Hanoi and Geneva, depending on qualification of students.

To apply for the scholarship, the candidates should be working in governmental agencies, international and local NGOs, international organizations, bilateral cooperation agencies, or private organizations in positions related to development aspects. Candidates should be coming from the Greater Mekong Region (mainly Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar), North America or Europe.

The criteria for selection are:

- Having position dealing directly with development issues (public health, environment, SMEs, poverty alleviation, education, gender, labor, public administration, etc),

- Having at least 2 years of professional experiences in development, University degree or equivalent,

- English proficiency, basic computer skills

- University degree or equivalent,

- Being ideally between 25 and 35 years of age,

- English proficiency, basic computer skills

For further information and application forms please contact Ms. Do Tra My, tramy@aitcv.ac.vn or Dr. Nguyen Huong Thuy Phan, phan@aitcv.ac.vn; ++84 4 825 3493 or see our websites at IHEID http://www.graduateinstitute.ch or AITCV: http://www.aitcv.ac.vn

Applications should be sent no later than30 April 2008.

Alcoa Foundation Conservation and Sustainability Fellowship Programme

The World Conservation Union (IUCN), one of three Sustainability Institutes for the Alcoa Foundation Conservation and Sustainability Fellowship Programme, is calling for qualified mid-career conservation and sustainable development practitioners from NGOs to submit high-quality proposals for applied research in the following areas key to IUCN’s work:

• Detailed case study of one or more biodiversity compensation schemes

• Exploring the relationship between alternative forms of energy and their impacts on biodiversity

• Review and synthesis of corporate biodiversity management and reporting systems (including Indicators)

• Biomimicry – the use of biological systems to help design new approaches to sustainability

• Biodiversity-friendly ways of adapting to climate change

The scope of the program is broad and approved topics fall within the areas of Conservation of Fragile Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Climate Change and Energy, Sustainability, Livelihoods and Economic Growth and Integrating Sustainability into Public Policy and Governance. Other Sustainability Institutes involved in the Fellowship are WWF-USA and Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) in Mexico. Please refer to the website for specific topics and application instructions.

The completed application should be sent to the Institute of International Education no later than February 14, 2008.

For more information please visit http://www.alcoafoundationfellows.org

UQ Postdoctoral Fellowships - University of Queensland

The University of Queensland invites applications for a limited number of Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in 2008, to be awarded to persons wishing to conduct full-time research at the university in any of its disciplines.

Deadline: May 18, 2008

For more information please visit http://www.uq.edu.au/research/orps/index.html?id=4812

NIAS Fellowship Programme

Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS) basic mission is to stimulate and promote research and to disseminate knowledge in the humanities and social sciences. NIAS policy emphasises the symbiosis among various disciplines within the humanities and social sciences, and among diverse scientific methods. To improve and stimulate the quality of scholarship in these areas an exchange of knowledge and insights in an international context is considered vitally important. To this end, work at NIAS is in part organised in multidisciplinary research theme groups, that have a distinctly international character.

In practice, full financial stipends range from approximately €2,000 to €3,600 per month, depending on the amount of support the fellows receive from their own institutions as well as on their academic standing.

Deadline: March 1, 2008; July 1, 2008

For more information please visit http://www.nias.knaw.nl/en/fellowships/

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. The Canada-Asia-Pacific Awards program will support scholars in universities or research institutes in the Asia-Pacific region to undertake short-term research, including collaborative research, contributing to the understanding of bilateral and multilateral relations 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. Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a master's or better, and must have a working knowledge of either English or French.

Deadline: November 23, 2008

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

The Second International MANGA Award

Conditions of Entry Works

• MANGA (4 or more pages) must be made in countries outside Japan. It does not matter when the works were made, or whether they were published or not. However, works which received the First International MANGA Award or the International MANGA Encouragement Award will not be eligible this time.

• MANGA works must be submitted in printed form.

• Publishing companies overseas are permitted to apply for the Second International MANGA Award only if they confirm that their MANGA artists are willing to apply for it.

Works entered will not be returned to applicants. Therefore, if your work has not been published yet, make sure you submit only copies, not originals.

The Golden Prize of the Second International MANGA Award will be given to the best MANGA from all the entries and about three works of merit will receive the Silver Prize. The prize winners will be invited to Japan for about 10 days including the award ceremony.

Application Period: December 21, 2007 – February 29, 2008 (entry must arrive by Feb 29).

For more information please visit http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/culture/manga/

The Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship (DPDF) - Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship (DPDF) is a strategic fellowship program designed to help graduate students in the humanities and social sciences formulate doctoral dissertation proposals that are intellectually pointed, amenable to completion in a reasonable time frame, and competitive in fellowship competitions.

The program is organized around distinct “research fields,” subdisciplinary and interdisciplinary domains with common intellectual questions and styles of research. Each year, an SSRC Faculty Advisory Committee selects five fields proposed by pairs of research directors who are tenured professors at different doctoral degree-granting programs at U.S. universities. Fellows participate in two workshops, one in the late spring that helps prepare them to undertake predissertation research on their topics; and one in the early fall, designed to help them synthesize their summer research and to draft proposals for dissertation funding. Fellows are eligible to apply for up to $5000 from SSRC to support predissertation research during the summer.

Eligibility: Students in the humanities and social sciences undertaking doctoral dissertation research may apply for one of the five annual research fields named.

Deadline: February 8th, 2008.

For more information please visit http://programs.ssrc.org/dpdf/

4th International Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) Scholarships

Mobility International USA's (MIUSA) is currently accepting applications from emerging and established women leaders with disabilities who are:

- From Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Oceania/Pacific

- First time visitors to the USA and have NOT participated in a MIUSA WILD program

- From an organization led by and for people with disabilities, or by and for women, with particular attention to issues of women and girls with disabilities; or employed in a business or program committed to inclusion of women and girls with disabilities

**Women with disabilities who are from rural areas and/or indigenous backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply**

Generous scholarships are available for this program.

The WILD program will include workshops, site visits and practical activities on priority issues for women with disabilities

Application deadline is April 4, 2008. Late applications will be accepted as space permits.

Applications in Arabic, English and Spanish can be downloaded at http://www.miusa.org/miusa-exchange-programs/WILD2008/index_html or requested via e-mail at: womenleaders@miusa.org.

FUND: Ramsar Small Grants Fund for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use (SGF)

The Ramsar Small Grants Fund was established by Ramsar COP4 in 1990 as a mechanism to assist developing countries and those with economies in transition in implementing the Convention and to enable the conservation and wise use of wetland resources - since that time, it has provided funding and co-funding, up to 40,000 Swiss francs (about US$ 32,000) per project, for something like 198 projects in about 87 countries, totaling about 7.5 million francs.

Suitable project proposals are those which contribute to the implementation of the Convention's Strategic Plan 2003-2008 for the conservation and wise use of wetlands; provide emergency assistance for Ramsar sites; or provide 'preparatory assistance' to allow non-Contracting Parties to progress toward accession. Eligibility is restricted to countries on the List of Aid Recipients established by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (http://www.ramsar.org/sgf/sgf_oecd_dac_2005_e.pdf), effectively meaning developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

Projects may be proposed and implemented by any agency, NGO, or individual, but proposals MUST be endorsed and monitored by the Administrative Authority (the Ramsar implementing agency) in the Party's government, and seldom is more than one proposal approved from the same Party in any year. Successful proposals receive 80% of the allocated funds upon signature of the contract and the remainder upon submission of an adequate final report, but countries from which adequate final project reports have not been received may be denied further consideration for funding until those outstanding project dossiers have been closed.

The call for proposals is now being made for the 2008 cycle, with a deadline of 30 June 2008 for application and with a decision by the Standing Committee around the end of the year. The current edition of the "SGF Operational Guidelines", which includes complete information and the required forms, is now available on the Ramsar Web site (http://www.ramsar.org) in Word and PDF formats, as well as directly from the Secretariat.

The deadline for applications for the next round is 30 June 2008.

The deadline for submissions of draft proposals for the SGF advisory service is 30 April 2008.

All of the required forms for applying to the Small Grants Fund are included in the Operational Guidelines at http://www.ramsar.org/sgf/key_sgf_guide_2006-08_e.doc.

SEARCA Graduate Scholarships (MS and PhD) for school year 2009-2010

Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is offering Graduate Scholarships (MS and PhD) for school year 2009-2010 and PhD Research Scholarships to Southeast Asian nationals as well as travel grants

There are two types of SEARCA scholarship grants available:

Graduate Scholarship for MS and PhD

Initiated in academic year 1968-69, the Graduate Scholarship Program aims to ensure the relevance and responsiveness of Southeast Asia's agricultural scientists and professionals to global sustainable development issues.

The program provides support for advanced studies leading to the MS and PhD degrees in agriculture, forestry, and related fields. Thus, SEARCA aims to prepare grantees for positions of leadership in developing economies of SEAMEO member countries.

PhD Research Scholarship

Launched in November 2005, the SEARCA PhD Research Scholarship provides financial support to a limited number of qualified PhD students whose researches are relevant to the priority thrusts of SEARCA.

For more information please visit http://www.searca.org/web/scholarship/regular_scholarships/index.html

2008 TRACE Essay Contest - What Works?

What personal behaviors, what laws or policies, what deterrents or incentives, what reporting devices or transparency mechanisms, what educational campaigns, what measures of any kind have been or could be effective in resisting or curtailing bribery?

The judges are interested in hearing from a wide variety of voices, including private persons who have dealt with bribery, corporate or government officials, scholars, lawyers, journalists and others. Successful essays may address any or all of the points above. Writers may speak from experience or from research, or from a combination of the two. The judges are equally interested in anecdotes and in data.

The TRACE 2008 essay contest is open to all, with the exception of TRACE employees and their immediate families.

Entries must not exceed 2,500 words and must be original, unpublished work. A brief synopsis not to exceed 150 words should precede the essay, and each submission should include the full name, e-mail address and phone number of all authors.

On or before May 31, 2008, e-mail your essay, the brief synopsis, and all necessary author information to Essay@TRACEinternational.org. Essays may be sent as attachments, but should also be pasted directly into the body of the e-mail.

The deadline for this contest is 11:59 p.m., EDT, May 31, 2008.

Prizes: 1st Place – $10,000 USD, -- 2nd Place – $5,000 USD.

https://www.traceinternational.org/essay.htm

Program Coordinator Fellowships - Foundation for Sustainable Development

The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers freestanding postdoctoral fellowships in the fields of science, engineering, and technology (SET) as well as the social sciences and humanities (SSH) for recent doctoral graduates who wish to do research in a new environment.

Program Coordinators are paid a monthly stiped commensurate with expenses in the program location ($200 to $350) and offered health insurance along with a round trip plane ticket to and from their work site.

Minimum qualifications for these positions include an undergraduate degree in a related field of study along with one to two years experience living, studying, andor working abroad - preferably in the field of development. A graduate degree in a relevant area of study is a strong plus.

Deadline: Continuous

For more information please visit http://www.fsdinternational.org/bayarea/fellowships

Full-Fee Masters Scholarships - University of Exeter

This scheme for entry offers up to 18 full-fee one-year scholarships for taught master's 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 31, 2008

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

William and Elizabeth Fisher Scholarships - Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW)

The International Scholarship will be offered to a female international student enrolled in 2008 at a Victorian university, undertaking a postgraduate research degree.

Deadline: March 31, 2008

For more information please visit http://home.vicnet.net.au/~afuwvic/PhD%20or%20Masters%20by%20Research%20guidelines.htm

Grant for Japan-Related Research Projects - Sumitomo Foundation

The Grant for Japan-Related Research Projects aims at enhancing mutual understanding between Asian countries and Japan through promoting research projects in the field of the social sciences or humanities that are related to Japan.

The researcher must be of Southeast or East Asian (but not Japanese) nationality, living outside Japan.

Deadline: October 31, 2008

For more information please visit http://www.sumitomo.or.jp/e/sub/japanrela.htm

Open Paper Competition: Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements

The Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements invites submission of papers focused on the design of international climate policy architectures. Papers should propose a complete policy framework to succeed the Kyoto Protocol in the post-2012 period.

The Harvard Project will select one or more submitted papers and award winning authors an honorarium of US$3,000 per paper. The Harvard Project will publish the winning paper through the Project’s Working Paper Series and website: www.belfercenter.org/climate

Papers should be submitted as a PDF file attachment by email to climate@harvard.edu by July 1, 2008. The Harvard Project will acknowledge receipt of all submissions by email. Notification of acceptance will be made by September 1, 2008.

This call for papers is open to policy practitioners, scholars, students, and others in all fields from developed and developing countries. Professors, researchers, students, and others affiliated with Harvard University or Resources for the Future are not eligible to participate in this competition.

Closing date: July 1, 2008.

For more information please visit www.belfercenter.org/climate

2008-2009 Lee Kong Chian NUS-Stanford Distinguished Fellowship On Southeast Asia

The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Stanford University (Stanford) invite applications from mid-career and senior Southeast Asianist scholars in the social sciences or humanities who would like to spend up to nine months between August/September 2008 and August/September 2009 at NUS and Stanford writing and doing research on or related to contemporary Southeast Asia.

Candidates may be of any nationality and reside in any country. Applicants should submit (a) a project statement (not to exceed three pages) that justifies and describes the writing and research envisaged during the fellowship and addresses the project’s central analytic question; (b) a schedule of preferred locations and dates including time in residence at each of the two campuses; (c) a sample of previous English-language publication; (d) a curriculum vitae including when and where the PhD was awarded; and (e) full contact information including email addresses for three references who are able, if asked, to evaluate the proposal and the candidate.

The exact length of the fellowship and the allocation of time spent at each campus will take into account the preferences of the successful applicant. The fellowship carries a stipend of US$ 7,500 per month plus reimbursement for air travel to and from NUS and Stanford.

Complete applications are due by 1 March 2008. Results will be announced by 15 April 2008.

For more information please visit http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/nusstanfordsea/ or http://aparc.stanford.edu/fellowships/nus_stanford

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