* 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 29, 2008 -- Time: 10:00am to 12:00 noon

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 29, 2008 -- Time: 02:00pm to 04:00pm

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 11 July 2008: Plan to beat poverty. Plan to gain equality. Plan to beat maternal death.

In 1968, world leaders proclaimed that individuals have a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and timing of their children. Forty years later, modern contraception remains out of reach for hundreds of millions of women, men and young people.

This year’s World Population Day reaffirms the right of people to plan their families. It encourages activities, events and information that will help make this right real – especially for those who often have the hardest time getting the information and services they need to plan their families, such as marginalized populations and young people.

When people can plan their families, they can plan their lives. They can plan to beat poverty. They can plan on healthier mothers and children. They can plan to gain equality for women.

Small exhibition at VDIC on this occasion provides brief information on this topic.

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 at VDIC on Population in Vietnam

For more comprehensive list, please contact nvu2@worldbank.org.

(REF) HEA-POP-V1. General Statistics Office. The 2006 population change, labour force and family planning survey: Major findings. Statistical Publishing House, 2007.

HEA-POP 15. Ministry of Planning and Investment; UNFPA. Manual for integrating population into employment and labor force planning. Hanoi: 2005.

HEA-POP 16. Robinson, Warren C.; Ross, John A. (editors). The global family planning revolution: Three decades of population policies and programs. World Bank, 2007.

HEA-POP 3. National Committee for Population and Family Planning. Population and development in Vietnam. Hanoi: The Gioi Publishers, 2002.

HEA-REP [CD-ROM]. World Health Organization. The WHO reproductive health library 2007. World Health Organization, 2007.

HEA-REP [Internet]. World Health Organization; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers. World Health Organization; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2007. Full text http://www.infoforhealth.org/globalhandbook/

HEA-REP 1. Hecht, Robert M., Koblinsky, Marjorie A., Campbell, Oona, Danel, Isabella, Rivera, Ada, Feresu, Shinga, Nyandoro, Margaret, Mumbwanda, Leonard, Seoane, Guillermo, Equiluz, Ramiro, Ugalde, Miguel, Arraya, Juan Carlos, McCaw-Binns, Affete, World Bank. HNP. Reducing Maternal Mortality: Learning from Bolivia, China, Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe. World Bank. 2003.

HEA-REP 15. Quan, Le Nga (ed); Than, Thi Lan Huong (ed). A guide behaviour change communication in improving reproductive and sexual health of youth and adolescents. World Population Fund, 2007.

HEA-REP 16. de Francisco, Andres; Dixon-Mueller, Ruth; d'Arcangues, Catherine. Research issues in sexual and reproductive health for low- and middle- income countries. Global Forum for Health Research, 2007. Full text http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/research/srh_lowmiddleincome_countries.pdf

HEA-REP-V [Internet]. Institute for Social Development Studies. New “Common Sense”: Family-Planning Policy and Sex Ratio in Viet Nam: Findings from a qualitative study in Bac Ninh, Ha Tay and Binh Dinh. UNFPA, 2007. Full text http://www.unfpa.org/gender/docs/studies/vietnam.pdf

HEA-REP-V [INTERNET]. World Health Organization. Western Pacific Region. Maternal mortality in Viet Nam 2000-2001: an in-depth analysis of causes and determinants. geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2005. Full text http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/PUB_929061191X.htm

HEA-REP-V12. Ministry of Health. Guidlelines for monitoring, supervision and evaluation of reproductive health care services. Hanoi: Ministry of Health, 2005.

HEA-REP-V14. Trinh, Van Thang. Determinants of preference/intention to use condoms among unmarried youths in Vietnam: PhD dissertation. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007.

HEA-REP-V15. Ministry of Health. Integrated supervision in reproductive health care (IS/RHC): Trainer's manual - A training course for reproductive health managers and providers. Ministry of Health, 2005.

HEA-REP-V16. Quỹ Dân số Liên Hợp Quốc (UNFPA). Đào tạo cho người cung cấp dịch vụ chăm sóc sức khỏe sinh sản tại các tỉnh miền núi. Quỹ Dân số Liên Hợp Quốc (UNFPA), 2007.

HEA-REP-V16. UNFPA. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals : UNFPA's responses to the needs of safe motherhood and newborn care in Viet Nam. UNFPA, 2007.

HEA-REP-V16. UNFPA. Improving the quality of reproductive health care services in Vietnam: The role of National Standards and Guidelines for Reproductive Health Care Services. UNFPA, 2007.

HEA-REP-V16. UNFPA. Knowledge and behaviour of ethnic minorities on reproductive health. UNFPA, 2007.

HEA-REP-V17. Sáng kiến Sức khỏe Sinh sản Thanh thiếu niên và Vị thành niên châu Á - Việt Nam. Bài học kinh nghiệm về vận động chính sách và mô hình toàn diện: Nghiên cứu tình huống từ chương trình RHIYA. Sáng kiến Sức khỏe Sinh sản Thanh thiếu niên và Vị thành niên châu Á - Việt Nam, 2007.

HEA-REP-V17. UNFPA. Research on reproductive health in Viet Nam: A review for the period 2000-2005. UNFPA, 2007.

Highlights from the New Additions to VDIC Library

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

ECO-POL-V57. Hansen, Henrik; Nguyen, Thang (eds); Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS). Market, policy and poverty reduction in Vietnam. Culture and Information Publishing House, 2007.

HEA-HIV-E8. Oosterhoff, Pauline; Peeters, Arno; Honderdos, Iris; Pham, Ngoc Yen. A handbook for communication skills training: Psycho-social support for women affected by HIV / AIDS. The Vietnam Women's Union; The Vietnam Red Cross; Medical Committee Netherlands Vietnam, 2008.

HEA-HIV-E8. Oosterhoff, Pauline; Peeters, Arno; Honderdos, Iris; Pham, Ngoc Yen. Sách hướng dẫn tập huấn các kỹ năng giao tiếp: Hỗ trợ tâm lý xã hội cho phụ nữ bị ảnh hưởng bởi HIV/AIDS. Hội Liên hiệp Phụ nữ Việt Nam; Hội Chữ thập đỏ Việt Nam; Ủy ban Y tế Việt Nam-Hà Lan, 2008.

SOC-DIS-V7. Le, Bach Duong; Khuat, Thu Hong; Nguyen, Duc Vinh; The Institute for Social Development Studies. People with disabilities in Vietnam: Findings from a social survey at Thai Binh, Quang Nam, Da Nang and Dong Nai. National Political Publishing House, 2008. Full text http://www.choike.org/documentos/disability_vietnam.pdf.

SOC-DIS-V7. Lê, Bạch Dương; Khuất, Thu Hồng; Nguyễn, Đức Vinh; Viện Nghiên cứu Phát triển Xã hội. Người khuyết tật ở Việt Nam: Kết quả điều tra xã hội tại Thái Bình, Quảng Nam, Đà Nẵng và Đồng Nai. Nhà xuất bản Chính trị Quốc gia, 2008.

TOU-V15. Connell, John; Rugendyke, Barbara (eds.). Tourism at the grassroots: Villagers and visitors in the Asia-Pacific. Routledge, 2008.

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

Vietnam Development Report 2008: Social Protection

Joint donor report to the Vietnam Consultative Group Meeting, Hanoi, December 6-7, 2007

English and Vietnamese -- Published December 2007 by the World Bank in Vietnam

Price: $ 7.00 (English); $ 1 (Vietnamese)

Vietnam is at the dawn of unprecedented economic and social transformation. How well will the institutional arrangements of Vietnam support this transformation? How can they contribute to making the personal journeys of millions of citizens become stories of prosperity and accomplishment, not of hardship and uncertainty? This report aims to contribute to the discussion of appropriate social protection strategies for Vietnam. It does so in the understanding that this is a new area, closer to the second-generation reforms faced by middle income countries than to the structural reforms Vietnam has so successfully gone through over the last two decades. It also does so in the understanding that a common vision exists among policy makers, academics and the population at large. But at this early stage the specifics remain unclear, often resulting in frustration in the daily implementation of social policies and programs. Because the vision is clear, the report focuses on the specifics. While its scope is wide, the topics covered can be regrouped into three main areas: opportunity to thrive, support for those left behind and insurance to cope with shocks.

The report is organized under the form of "vertical", self-standing chapters dealing with each of the key issues to be addressed by the National Assembly and by policy makers in government during the next few years. These chapters can be seen as brief policy notes, trying to provide an analytical structure for the discussion. Because of their brevity, they cannot go in depth into each of the aspects covered, and can only sketch the findings of more rigorous and detailed studies. However, for those interested in digging deeper, the report includes an extensive bibliography, mainly made of references produced by local researchers and think tanks.

The report also tries to extract a few major policy recommendations, cutting across all these "vertical" chapters, which can be summarized under the form of four policy priorities: extending coverage, strengthening incentives, improving information and managing resources. These recommendations amount to basic principles which could help build a more integrated social protection system in Vietnam.

World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development

by World Bank

English and Vietnamese -- Published October 2007 -- ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-6807-7

Price: $ 8.00 (English); $ 1 (Vietnamese)

The world's demand for food is expected to double within the next 50 years, while the natural resources that sustain agriculture will become increasingly scarce, degraded, and vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In many poor countries, agriculture accounts for at least 40 percent of GDP and 80 percent of employment. At the same time, about 70 percent of the world's poor live in rural areas and most depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

World Development Report 2008 seeks to assess where, when, and how agriculture can be an effective instrument for economic development, especially development that favors the poor. It examines several broad questions:

· How has agriculture changed in developing countries in the past 20 years? What are the important new challenges and opportunities for agriculture?

· Which new sources of agricultural growth can be captured cost effectively in particular in poor countries with large agricultural sectors as in Africa?

· How can agricultural growth be made more effective for poverty reduction?

· How can governments facilitate the transition of large populations out of agriculture, without simply transferring the burden of rural poverty to urban areas?

· How can the natural resource endowment for agriculture be protected? How can agriculture's negative environmental effects be contained? This year's report marks the 30th year the World Bank has been publishing the World Development Report.

The Power of Survey Design: A User's Guide for Managing Surveys, Interpreting Results, and Influencing Respondents

by Giuseppe Iarossi

English -- Published January 2006 ; ISBN: 0-8213-6392-1

Price: $10

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

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

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

Moving Out of Poverty: Cross-disciplinary Perspectives on Mobility

Edited by Deepa Narayan , Patti Petesch

English -- Published July 2007 by Palgrave Macmillan, World Bank -- ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-6991-3

Price: $ 11.00

This book brings together the latest thinking about poverty dynamics from diverse analytic traditions. While covering a vast body of conceptual and empirical knowledge about economic and social mobility, it takes the reader on compelling journeys of multigenerational accounts of three villages in Kanartaka, India, twelve years in the life of a street child in Burkina Faso, and much more. Leading development practitioners and scholars from the fields of anthropology, economics, political science, and sociology critically examine the literature from their disciplines and contribute new frameworks and evidence from their own works.

The Moving Out of Poverty series launched in 2007 is under the editorial direction of Deepa Narayan, Senior Advisor of the World Bank and former director of the pathbreaking Voices of the Poor series. It features the results of new comparative research across more than 500 communities in 15 countries to understand how and why people move out of poverty, and presents other work which builds on interdisciplinary and contextually grounded understandings of growth and poverty reduction.

"The excellent papers in this volume should be read by economists who work on poverty dynamics in developing countries. They provide perspectives from other social science disciplines (and from economics) which are illuminating and instructive on methodology and on substance. Interdisciplinarity is key in advancing understanding of poverty dynamics. The papers in this volume show why, and how."

- Ravi Kanbur

T.H. Lee Professor of World Affairs and Economics

Cornell University

Distance Learning Center Events in July 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

Blended Learning Course on International Financial Reporting Standards (by invitation only)

July 24 & 25, 12:00 - 17:00 every videoconference day

The course is organized by the World Bank in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). The course aims to train the trainers of international financial reporting standards and will provide international certification of those trainers to disseminate this knowledge through the provision of training programs within their own countries. The course consists of 7 videoconference workshops through the Global Development Learning Network connecting 6 Asian countries, self-study using an interactive electronic learning package, remote tutor support, online forum, webinars or clinics to address participants' queries and concerns.

APO E- learning Course on Exporting Processed Food Products to Major Global Markets (Open for Registration)

July 30 - August 1, 2008, 08:30 - 17:00 every training day

Organized by the Asian Productivity Organization, the course aims to enhance participants’ knowledge on the current trends and emerging opportunities for agri-food products in major global markets and identify ways by which agribusiness enterprises from developing countries can benefit from such trends and opportunities. Participants will also understand the current and emerging import-related procedures, policies and regulations on imports of agri-food products in major global markets and be able to formulate national and enterprise levels export strategies. This three-day course, involving interactive videoconference lectures, case studies and group discussions, will be delivered to Cambodia, Mongolia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. For registration details, please visit: http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=learningevents&op=viewDetailNews&id=454&language=english&mid=&cmid

Information on Development Projects in Vietnam

New Disclosure World Bank Operational Project Documents for Vietnam

The Disclosure Unit of the World Bank is responsible for the implementation and dissemination of documents relating to the World Bank’s disclosure policy http://www1.worldbank.org/operations/disclosure/. On a regular basis, the Unit releases operational documents to the public through a network of Public Information Centers (PICs) worldwide. For assistance on disclosed documents, please contact one of the PICs at a location near you.

For previous listings, please visit http://go.worldbank.org/QU93EOHWG1. Alternatively, you are welcome to visit VDIC or World Bank’s mini Public Information Corners (mini-PICs) at your city/province libraries to view hard copies of World Bank project documents in Vietnam. List of mini-PICs in Vietnam can be found at http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=library&op=viewDetailNews&id=162&&mid=322&cmid=327.

List of World Bank’s projects in Vietnam and detail project information can be accessed at www.worldbank.org/vn >> select “Projects & Programs”.

Hanoi Urban Transport Development Project

The GEF strategic objectives of the Hanoi Urban Transport Development Project are to promote a shift to more environmentally-sustainable transport modes and urban development plans, and to promote the replication of these approaches in the country and region. The global environment objective of this project is to lower Hanoi's transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, relative to a business-as-usual scenario. The project has three components: 1) The Bus Rapid Transit Component (BRT) will support the development of segregated bus lanes and bus priority; 2) The Road Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Planning component includes the construction of a section of the Second Ring Road, construction of a resettlement site, and support for sustainable urban land development; 3) The Institutional Development Component includes equipment procurement and technical assistance for various Hanoi agencies.

Access Project Appraisal Document for this project at http://go.worldbank.org/DD1LBSDBT0

Multi-Donor Trust Fund to Support Public Financial Modernization in Vietnam

The project development objectives (PDOs) of this Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) on public financial management are for the Bank and contributing donors to support the client to develop capacities towards strengthened public finance management system through a) developing robust and efficient systems for raising and deploying resources, b) improving quality and effectiveness of expenditures in achieving government’s social and economic policies, c) supporting the introduction of market orientation for public finance management, and d) promoting transparency and accountability at all levels in the management of public finances. The PDOs are complementary to three higher level objectives of the country’s four key reform pillars, namely improved business environment, social inclusion and governance. These will also support the achievement of the country’s Socio-Economic Development Plan goal of becoming a middle income country in 2010 with strengthened public governance.

MDTF-2 is designed to be a four-year programmatic technical assistance project. The project will be administered by the World Bank and financed by a pool of funds contributed by six donors. The total funding of the project, including the government counterpart funding, is estimated to be of US$ 7.4 million. It is expected that donors may provide additional funding to the project following the mid-term review (after 2 years) and other donors may join the MDTF-2 at a latter stage.

The MDTF-2 will mainly finance technical assistance and capacity building activities, and analytical and diagnostic work. In principle, the activities will be initiated on the basis of seven key themes of the Single Strategy Document, namely state budget expenditure management, state budget revenue management (taxation and customs), public debt management, financial market supervision and bond market development, corporate finance management, public assets management and price control.

Access Project Information Document for this project at http://go.worldbank.org/TGL36BM5F0

Access Integrated Safeguards Data Sheets for this project at http://go.worldbank.org/0D23AUJK70

Mekong Transport Infrastructure Development Project

The Mekong Transport Infrastructure Development Project (MTIDP) is being implemented to improve the road and waterway transport network in the Mekong River Delta region in the south of Vietnam. The project includes the following three broad components: (i) investments on main supply corridors to improve the standard and connectivity of trunk road and canal networks; (ii) investments to connect the poor to supply corridors through feeder waterways and roads at the commune and provincial levels; (iii) and institutional support to the MOT, Province Departments of Transport (DOT) and Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration (VIWA). Some of the environmental impacts and corresponding mitigation measures are: air emissions, to be mitigated by watering the exposed areas during windy conditions; noise and vibration generation, to be mitigated by good maintenance of construction vehicles and equipment, and restricting noisy activities to daytime; erosion and sedimentation, to be mitigated by vegetating and stabilizing drainage channels; and groundwater deterioration, to be mitigated by storing chemicals and fuels/oils in covered areas.

Access Board Report on Summary of Environmental Impact Assessment for this project at http://go.worldbank.org/249GYGN4A0

Vietnam - Northern Delta Transport Development Project

The Northern Delta Transport Development Project for Vietnam development objective is to enhance the efficiency, environmental sustainability, and safety of transport infrastructure and services, through the alleviation of physical and institutional bottlenecks, in two major waterway corridors in the Northern Delta Region. There are three components to the project. The first component of the project is multimodal transport corridor investments in the Northern Delta Region consisting of: (i) dredging, bend corrections, shoal regulation and aids to navigation in the inland waterway corridors between Viet Tri and Quang Ninh and between Hanoi and the Ninh Co River estuary; (ii) an access channel bypassing the mouth of the Ninh Co River estuary and a canal connecting the Day and Ninh Co Rivers; (iii) new facilities at Viet Tri and Ninh Phuc river Ports; and (iv) a pilot maintenance contract. The second component of the project is investments in ferry boat stages. This subcomponent will include physical improvements to 15-30 pilot ferry boat stages. Access to these ferries from the road is often dangerous and has resulted in accidents and fatalities. In conjunction with the physical improvements, the Project will support the implementation and operationalization of a framework of standards for the design and operation of the different size ferry boat stages under its institutional support component. The framework will be developed under Mekong Delta Transport Infrastructure Development Project (MDTIDP). The third component of the project is institutional support to ministry of transport (MOT), Vietnam inland waterway administration (VIWA) and the provinces. This component consists of three subcomponents: institutional support to VIWA; training; and project audit services.

Access Environmental Assessments & Resettlement Instruments documents for this project at http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=
73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P095129

United Nations Projects in Vietnam - Highlights

Coastal and marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in the Con Dao islands region

Con Dao National Park (CDNP) is globally significant because of its marine life, terrestrial habitat and location. The generally shallow waters of the island group contain coral reefs, sea-grass beds, and mangroves. These diverse habitats are home to a rich and significant diversity of marine biota, including 44 endangered species listed in the Viet Nam and IUCN Red Books.

While the biodiversity in the park is in good condition relative to other areas of Viet Nam, a number of threats have been identified, including:

· Incomplete institutional setups, policies, and legal frameworks for marine protected areas;

· Insufficient levels of financial, technical, and institutional support to Con Dao National Park for effective biodiversity protection;

· Weak participation of local residents and communities in biodiversity protection activities;

· Large (relative to the Con Dao Islands Region) scale economic developments slated for Con Dao that may impose potential environmental and social impacts;

· Weak consideration of environmental impacts and environmental carrying capacity in planning for socio-economic development in the Island Region.

· This medium-sized GEF project aims to strengthen local capacity for marine and coastal biodiversity conservation, improve the integration of conservation and environmental management into development planning, establish a sustainable financing mechanism for biodiversity conservation, and link local efforts to national strategies and policy development, thus contributing to the conservation of globally significant coastal and marine biodiversity.

The main direct beneficiaries of this project are: CDNP, Con Dao District People’s Committee, Con Dao Fisheries Protection and Management Division, and Con Dao District fishing communities. The other main beneficiaries include the various government departments of BR-VT province, including the Department of Fisheries, Sub-Department of Fisheries Protection, Department of Tourism and Trade, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Science and Technology, and the coastal community in general.

Project information can be found at http://www.undp.org.vn/undpLive/System/What-We-Do/Project-Details?contentId=2438&languageId=1

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.

Lorentz Fellowships - Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS)

NIAS's basic mission is to advance the study of the humanities and social sciences. Its primary objective is to offer a carefully chosen group of scholars an opportunity to devote themselves entirely to research. The programme of the Lorentz Fellowships is a joint venture of NIAS and the Lorentz Center of Leiden University. The programme was established to promote interdisciplinary research in the fields of the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences.

The Lorentz Fellowship carries a stipend, of which the exact amount will vary according to the rank, academic position, and present salary of the recipient, and also depends on other sources of income available to the fellow.

Holding a Ph.D. degree is a prerequisite for eligibility.

Deadline: March 1, 2009

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

Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R21) - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The ultimate goal of this program announcement is to encourage empirical research on health literacy concepts, theory and interventions as these relate to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' public health priorities that are outlined in its Healthier US and Healthy People 2010 initiatives. Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

Applications may be submitted by domestic or foreign, for-profit or 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: September 24, 2008; May 25, 2009

For more information please visit http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-018.html

Summer Dissertation Seminar Scholarships - American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to announce the third annual competition for grants to individuals in the archaeology and early history of East and Southeast Asia. This program is undertaken in cooperation with the Henry Luce Foundation.

Grantees will be provided with transportation, meals, and accommodations. No additional stipends and no international travel will be provided.

Deadline: November 14, 2008

For more information please visit http://www.acls.org/grants/Default.aspx?id=518

Comparative and Collaborative Research Grant - Toyota Foundation - Japan

These grants support research that deals with two or more countries chosen for their similarities or contrasts; projects that involve participation of scholars from different countries in Southeast Asia, and across various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences; workshops and conferences on a particular theme or aspect of Southeast Asian studies; and visiting lecturers from within the region.

The grant period is one year, beginning April 1, 2009. A total of approximately U.S.$190,000 will be awarded. The maximum amount of a single grant for categories one and two is $20,000 per year; for category three, $5,000; and for category four, $15,000.

Deadline: October 1, 2008

For more information please visit http://www.seasrepfoundation.org/grant3.html

The 2008 Awards and Medals Competition

GDN is calling for submissions under the 2008 Global Development Awards and Medals Competition. This year's theme is 'Natural Resource Management and Development' . The competition awards cash prizes and a round-trip air fare with all boarding and lodging expenses paid to travel to a different country each year where the finalists show case their proposals/ papers/projects before an eminent jury for the final round. This year the final selection will be held in Kuwait. GDN's competition is among the contests that receive the largest number of applications globally from researchers working on development subjects. Submissions for fresh research proposals, completed research papers and proposals for enlarging on-going development projects are now being accepted under the categories listed below.

The three categories of awards open for competition are:

• Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development: it's for applicants who have outstanding new research proposals that adds a unique dimension to research on any of the five topics listed below

• Medals for Research on Development: is offered for excellent completed research papers on any of the five topics listed below

• Japanese Award for the Most Innovative Development Project: is for exceptional on-going development projects that have given the maximum benefit to the local communities and need further financial assistance for expanding the project.

The focus of the research proposals/ papers must be on any one of the following five topics:

• The Governance and Political Economy of Natural Resource Management

• Exploitation of Natural Resources: Trends and Environmental Implications

• The Economics of Natural Resource Management

• Foreign Direct Investment and Natural Resources

• Societies and Natural Resource Management

Deadline: August 20, 2008 for the development project; September 5, 2008 for research proposals/papers.

For more information log onto http://www.gdnet.org/2008awards or send email to awards@gdnet.org

ICTs in Education Prize: call for nominations

"Digital Opportunities for All: Preparing Students for 21st-Century Skills" is the theme of the 2008 UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICTs in Education. Funded by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the US$50,000 prize is divided between two winners. Every year, this prize rewards activities that demonstrate best practice as well as creative use of ICTs to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance.

Submissions for candidature must reach UNESCO via the governments of Member States, in consultation with their UNESCO National Commissions, or by international non-governmental organizations which maintain formal relations with the Organization.

The deadline for submissions is 31 August 2008.

For more information log onto http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=26847&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Funding opportunity for microfinance groups

ADA, a non-governmental organisation based in Luxembourg that specialises in microfinance. Among our activities, we have a programme called "Luxmint" that invests in microfinance institutions in developing countries. Luxmint targets MFIs that are socially anchored and that have a real potential to develop into lasting, viable and competitive entities, benefiting the poor and the domestic economy as a whole. Luxmint provides funding below, but close to market conditions. During Luxmint's engagement, the MFIs are closely monitored and assistance is delivered in order to help them improve their financial management and their overall performance. Ultimately, Luxmint aims to disengage from the MFIs when they have become mature enough to tap commercial funding on their own.

Luxmint's main criteria for investing in a MFI are the following:

- A loan portfolio of at least 500,000 US$

- Number of clients at least 1,000

- Portfolio at risk (30 days) no more than 10% of gross portfolio

- Profitability: at least operationally break-even

- MFI in operation for at least three years

- No or insufficient access to commercial funding

If you have any question regarding this Luxmint, please contact us by the address at the end of this email. Vietnam MFWG will present you more about this funding opportunity in our semi-annual meeting 2008 tentatively organized in July 2008.

Vietnam Microfinance Working Group

Address: 88/64 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tel: +84 (4) 5131853 - 5132246

Fax: +84 (4) 5132246

Email: taichinhvimo@gmail.com

Shoot Nations 2008 - Photo competition on ‘YOUNG PEOPLE IN A CHANGING CLIMATE’

The theme for this year’s competition is ‘YOUNG PEOPLE IN A CHANGING CLIMATE’.

We want to see the environmental issues affecting young people all around the world.

Take 3 photographs or draw 3 pictures that capture the following:

How is climate change affecting your life?

Act now - be the change!

Your world in the future.

Upload your entries and be in with a chance to have your photo exhibited at the World Youth Congress in Quebec for International Youth Day, 12th August 2008.

The competition is open to anyone aged 11 – 24 from anywhere in the world. Last year the competition received over 1500 entries from 85 countries. Over 2000 people attended exhibitions of Shoot Nations photographs on 4 different continents – help us make this year even bigger and better! Read more.

The competition is open from Thursday 1st May – Thursday 31st July 2008.

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

The Global Fund for Community Foundations

The Global Fund for Community Foundations seeks to strengthen and promote institutions of local philanthropy around the world so that they can realize their potential as key players in the development process.

The Fund makes small grants to develop the capacities of community foundations and other local philanthropic institutions which are grantmakers and which raise funds from local sources.

For more information please visit http://www.wings-globalfund.org/

Young Global Leaders - Call for nominations

The Forum of Young Global Leaders has established a comprehensive selection process for identifying and selecting the most exceptional leaders 40 years of age or younger.

Every year, thousands of possible candidates from around the world are proposed and assessed according to rigorous selection criteria. Only the very best candidates are selected and all efforts are extended to create a truly representative body.

The shortlisted candidates are evaluated by the Selection Committee, which is chaired by Her Majesty Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and includes eminent international media leaders. The Selection Committee aims to assemble a group of nominees that is diverse, geographically balanced and representative of a wide range of professions, talents and perspectives.

Reflecting the diversity of stakeholders, the Young Global Leaders include leaders from the worlds of politics, business, civil society, academia, and arts and culture across the seven geographic regions. Together they form a unique community that can dramatically affect the lives of future generations and craft innovative responses to address global and regional challenges.

Potential candidates for Young Global Leaders are selected based on the following criteria:

· He/she is 40 years of age or younger at the time of nomination (to be eligible for the 2008 nomination process, the candidate must have been born on or after 1 January 1968);

· He/she has a recognized record of extraordinary achievement and a proven track record of substantial leadership experience, typically this means 5-15 years of outstanding professional work experience and a clear indication of playing a substantial leadership role for the rest of his or her career;

· He/she have demonstrated a commitment to serve society at large through exceptional contributions;

· He/she must have an impeccable record in the public eye and good standing in his/her community;

· Candidates from the Business Sector must be responsible for the full operation of a qualifying corporation or division and must hold one of the following titles: President, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, Managing Partner or Publisher, or equivalent of any of the above. If the company is a member or partner of the World Economic Forum, the candidate requires the approval of the CEO or Chairman of the Board of the respective company;

· Companies, organisations and entities can only nominate one candidate from the qualifying company every two years.

Nomination Deadline: 31 July 2008

For more information please visit http://www.younggloballeaders.org/about_the_process/About_the_Process.html

ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize: Finding light in darkness and courage in truth

ArtVenture, in association with ARTICLE 19, is proud to launch the inaugural Freedom to Create Prize. This international prize will recognise artists who use their talents to promote human rights, including the freedom of expression, empathy, equality and understanding

In all societies, the development of the arts has been a sign of culture and light. Yet not all governments provide citizens with the ‘freedom to create’ needed to foster innovation, commerce and prosperity. Some governments harass and impoverish their citizens, steal resources, stifle entrepreneurship and undermine human ingenuity and hope. In these societies, art can play an important role in giving a voice to those who are denied opportunity and resources.

ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize will consist of three categories. The main prize will be open to individuals or artistic groups in all creative fields including the visual and performance arts, music, crafts, design and literature. The winner of this award will receive $US50,000.

ArtVenture Freedom to Create Youth Prize will be open to artists who are under the age of 18 with the winner receiving US$ 25,000 scholarship and advocacy prize. The final category, the ArtVenture Freedom to Create Imprisoned Artist Prize, will focus on artists who are currently imprisoned for their artwork. The winner will receive US$ 25,000 towards supporting their family, paying legal costs and supporting advocacy efforts.

This is not an art prize. It will not simply judge the skill of the artist but recognise how the artist has used their work in speaking out in defence of human rights and freedom of expression. The inaugural prize will be a unique and significant award and will be judged by a panel of eminent artists, and human rights experts and philanthropists.

For more information please visit http://www.freedomtocreateprize.com/

2008 Annual Development Gateway Foundation Photo Contest

The Development Gateway Foundation photo competition is open to ALL photographers at least 13 years of age, except employees of the foundation and their immediate families. Your entry to the contest constitutes your agreement to allow your photograph, name, occupation, city and state of residence, to be published as the selected award winner; published or used on the foundation Web sites; and used for the promotion of the foundation including, but not limited to, Web pages, brochures, fact sheets, and other materials. Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to future use of their photographs. The Development Gateway Foundation shall have the right to verify, in its sole judgment, winner eligibility.

We are looking for compelling photographs of socio-economic development in developing countries. Four types of photographs will be accepted. 1) The images may show information and communications technologies helping ordinary people. 2) The images may show people making something, selling wares, working in a field, constructing a building or type of infrastructure, or acquiring knowledge. 3) The images could be abstract images representing hope, the future, or capacity building. 4) The photographs may also include images of original artwork from a developing country. Please do not include photographs of groups of people posing.

Each entry must include a written statement explaining how that image is representative of development. Images will be judged on technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit.

Entrants must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person.

Deadline for submitting entries is September 19, 2008.

For more information please visit http://www.dgfoundation.org/news-events/photo-contest-backup.html

Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF) Grant

Technological innovation is crucial in today's challenging market circumstances. Key players in the ICT world recognize this and are coming together to launch a new grants program for the Asia Pacific Information and Communication Technology (ICT) community.

The Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF) is a joint initiative between the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Internet Society (ISOC), and the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), aimed at stimulating creative solutions to ICT development needs in the Asia Pacific region.

ISIF provides grants of up to US$30,000 per project to help advance local and regional projects aimed at introducing, improving, and applying Internet and other digital communications technologies for the benefit of Asia-Pacific users and communities.

APNIC Director General Paul Wilson states, “Innovative projects, such as the ones funded by ISIF, are a significant driver to Internet and technology growth in our region. APNIC encourages members of the Asia Pacific ICT community to submit their projects for consideration.”

Project proposals from Asia-Pacific based public or private sector organisations, university or research and development institutions, and non-government organisations will be considered. Applications must be aligned with ISIF program objectives, selection criteria and administrative guidelines. Individuals are not eligible for grants.

The ISIF grant round for 2008 is now open and applications are due 1 September 2008.

Complete information on the program and how to apply is available on the ISIF website at http://www.isif.asia

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.

Deadline: November 23, 2008.

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

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