VDIC NEWSLETTER
December 2008

 

 

CONTENTS

 

VDIC News. 1

Free Training Sessions Provided by VDIC.. 1

Library. 1

Highlights from the New Additions to VDIC Library.. 1

Selected Publications for Sale at VDIC.. 3

Distance Learning Center Events in December 2008. 7

Information on Development Projects in Vietnam.. 7

New Disclosure World Bank Operational Project Documents for Vietnam... 7

Funding Opportunities. 9

 

 

VDIC News  

 

Free Training Sessions Provided by VDIC

 

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

 

IMPORTANT NOTICES FOR PARTICIPANTS:

 

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

 

* 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:              December 16, 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” plus EndNote instructions

 

Date:              December 16, 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 and (iv) learn how to use EndNote software to automatically manage your referencing works.

 

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.

 

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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

 

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

 

AGR 21. World Bank; FAO; IFAD. Gender in agriculture sourcebook. The World Bank, 2008. Full text http://worldbank.org/genderinag  

 

(REF) WB 1. World Bank. Báo cáo phát triển thế giới 2009: Tái định dạng địa kinh tế. The World Bank, 2008. Full text in English www.worldbank.org/wdr2009  

 

(REF) WB 1. World Bank. World Development Report 2009: Reshaping economic geography. The World Bank, 2008. Full text www.worldbank.org/wdr2009  

 

ECO-ADM-H27. Beamish, Anne. Learning from work: designing organizations for learning and communication. Stanford Business Books, 2008.

 

ECO 21. Friedman, Daniel. Morals and markets: an evolutionary account of the modern world. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

 

ECO-POL-V [Internet]. Making Difficult Choices: Vietnam in Transition: Martin Rama Based on conversations with H. E. Võ Văn Kiệt with Professor Đặng Phong and Đoàn Hồng Quang = Những quyết sách khó khăn: Việt Nam trong giai đoạn chuyển đổi: Martin Rama Dựa trên các cuộc nói chuyện với Cố Thủ tướng Võ Văn Kiệt cùng với Giáo sư Đặng Phong và Đoàn Hồng Quang. World Bank; Commission on Growth and Development, 2008. Full text http://www.growthcommission.org/storage/cgdev/documents/gcwp040bilingualweb.pdf.  

 

GOV-POL 9. Green, Duncan. From poverty to power: how active citizens and effective states can change the world. Oxfam International, 2008.

 

HEA-EDU 13. Ferron, Suzanne ; Morgan, Joy ; O'Reilly, Marion. Hygiene promotion: a practical manual for relief and development. Practical Action Publishing; CARE, 2007.

 

PRI 16. Gassner, Katharina; Popov, Alexander; Pushak, Nataliya. Does private sector participation improve performance in electricity and water distribution?. The World Bank, 2008.

 

PUB-EXP 16. Fan, Shenggen. Public expenditures, growth, and poverty: lessons from developing countries. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.

 

SOC-COM 3. Wates, Nick. The community planning event manual: how to use collaborative planning and urban design events to improve your environment. Earthscan, 2008.

 

TOU 8. Butler, Richard ; Hinch, Thomas. Tourism and indigenous peoples: issues and implications. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2007.

 

TOU-ECO 16. Honey, Martha. Ecotourism and sustainable development: who owns paradise?. Island Press, 2008.

 

TRA-INT-VW17. Nevins, Joseph (ed.); Peluso, Nancy Lee (ed.). Taking Southeast Asia to market: commodities, nature, and people in the neoliberal age. Cornell University Press, 2008.

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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

 

World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography

by World Bank    

Vietnamese -- Published November 2008

Price: $ 2.00

 

Rising densities of human settlements, migration and transport to reduce distances to market, and specialization and trade facilitated by fewer international divisions are central to economic development. The transformations along these three dimensions—density, distance, and division—are most noticeable in North America, Western Europe, and Japan, but countries in Asia and Eastern Europe are changing in ways similar in scope and speed. World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography concludes that these spatial transformations are essential, and should be encouraged. The conclusion is not without controversy. Slum-dwellers now number a billion, but the rush to cities continues. Globalization is believed to benefit many, but not the billion people living in lagging areas of developing nations. High poverty and mortality persist among the world's "bottom billion", while others grow wealthier and live longer lives. Concern for these three billion often comes with the prescription that growth must be made spatially balanced. The WDR has a different message: economic growth is seldom balanced, and efforts to spread it out prematurely will jeopardize progress.

 

The Report:

 

- documents how production becomes more concentrated spatially as economies grow.

- proposes economic integration as the principle for promoting successful spatial transformations.

- revisits the debates on urbanization, territorial development, and regional integration and shows how today's developers can reshape economic geography.

 

How to Build M&E Systems to Support Better Government

by Keith Robin Mackay 

Vietnamese -- Published July 2007 by World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-7191-6

Price: $ 2.00

 

A growing number of governments are working to improve their performance by creating systems to measure and help them understand their performance. These systems for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are used to measure the quantity, quality and targeting of the goods and services - the outputs - that the state provides and to measure the outcomes and impacts resulting from these outputs. These systems are also a vehicle to facilitate understanding of the causes of good and poor performance.

 

The studies of this volume start by focusing on exactly what monitoring and evaluation has to offer to governments, then focuses on the experience of several countries that have succeeded in building a well functioning government. It analyzes the lessons from building government M&E systems in developing and developed countries, and at the end maps out those issues where international experience with government M&E systems is not well understood or well documented.

 

"This is an excellent report. The content is sound and likely to be highly useful to countries interested in developing or improving their M&E systems. The case studies are very useful and done very well. This is information seldom found elsewhere."

Harry Hatry

Director, Public Management Program, The Urban Institute

 

Doing Business 2009

by World Bank    

English -- Published September 2008 by Palgrave Macmillan, World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-7609-8

Price: $ 14.00

 

Doing Business 2009 is the sixth in a series of annual reports comparing business regulations in 181 economies. Doing Business 2009 measures regulations affecting 10 areas of everyday business:

 

1.      Starting a business: steps, time, cost, and minimum capital to register a new business

2.      Enforcing contracts: steps, time, and cost to enforce a commercial contract

3.      Employing workers: indices of employment law rigidities, cost of economic redundancies

4.      Getting credit: extent of credit information sharing and creditor rights

5.      Closing a business: steps, time, and cost to close down a business, recovery rate for creditor

6.      Registering property: steps, time, and cost to transfer ownership of commercial real estate

7.      Protecting investors: indices on disclosure, investor suits, and standing in court

8.      Dealing with construction permits: steps, time, and cost of business inspections and licensing

9.      Paying taxes: statutory rates, number of taxes paid, and number of hours spent on preparing tax returns

10.  Trading across borders: steps, time, and number of documents necessary to export and import

 

Doing Business 2009 updates all sets of indicators, ranks economies on their overall ease of doing business, and analyzes reforms to business regulation—identifying identifying which countries are improving the most. The indicators are used to analyze economic outcomes and identify what reforms have worked, where and why. Doing Business 2009 focuses on how complex business regulations can impact business growth and job creation.

 

Global Development Finance 2008 (Vol I. Review, Analysis, and Outlook)

by World Bank 

English -- Published June 2008 -- ISBN: 0-8213-7388-9

Price: $ 19.00

 

Global Development Finance—the World Bank's annual report on the external financing of developing countries—provides monitoring and analysis of development finance, identifying key emerging trends and policy challenges in international financial flows that are likely to affect the growth prospects of developing countries.

 

As major financial institutions currently recognize losses from the U.S. subprime mortgage market crisis and rebuild their balance sheets through a more conservative approach to lending and risk management, the central theme of this year's report will be the market for international bank credit to developing countries.It is an indispensable resource for governments, economists, investors, financial consultants, academics, bankers, and the entire development community.

 

Vol I: Analysis and Outlook reviews recent trends in financial flows to developing countries.

Vol II. Summary and Country Tables* includes comprehensive data for 138 countries, as well as summary data for regions and income groups. Also available on CD-ROM, with more than 200 historical time series from 1970 to 2007, and country group estimates for 2008.

 

Using Training to Build Capacity for Development: An Evalution of the World Bank's Project-Based and WBI Training

by World Bank

English -- Published March 2008 by World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-7378-1

Price: $ 13.00

 

This evaluation assesses the extend to which World Bank-financed training builds the capacity of target institutions and organizations to better achieve their development goals, and identifies the training management processes that contribute to positive results.

 

Ten Steps to a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System: A Handbook for Development Practitioners

by Jody Zall Kusek , Ray C. Rist 

English -- Published June 2004 by World Bank -- ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-5823-8

Price: $ 15.00

 

An effective state is essential to achieving socio-economic and sustainable development. With the advent of globalization, there are growing pressures on governments and organizations around the world to be more responsive to the demands of internal and external stakeholders for good governance, accountability and transparency, greater development effectiveness, and delivery of tangible results. Governments, parliaments, citizens, the private sector, NGOs, civil society, international organizations and donors are among the stakeholders interested in better performance. As demands for greater accountability and real results have increased, there is an attendant need for enhanced results-based monitoring and evaluation of policies, programs, and projects.

 

This Handbook provides a comprehensive ten-step model that will help guide development practitioners through the process of designing and building a results-based monitoring and evaluation system. These steps begin with a ?Readiness Assessment? and take the practitioner through the design, management, and importantly, the sustainability of such systems. The Handbook describes each step in detail, the tasks needed to complete each one, and the tools available to help along the way.

 

Public Sector Reform: What Works and Why?: An IEG Evaluation of World Bank Support

by World Bank

English -- Published June 2008 by World Bank -- ISBN: 0-8213-7589-X

Price: $ 12.00

 

The effectiveness and efficiency of a country's public sector is vital to the success of development activities, including those the World Bank supports. Sound financial management, an efficient civil service and administrative policy, efficient and fair collection of taxes, and transparent operations that are relatively free of corruption all contribute to good delivery of public services.

 

The Bank has devoted an increasing share of its lending and advisory support to the reform of central governments, so it is important to understand what is working, what needs improvement, and what is missing. IEG has examined lending and other kinds of Bank support in 1999-2006 for public sector reform in four areas: public financial management, administrative and civil service, revenue administration, and anticorruption and transparency.

 

Although a majority of countries that borrowed to support public sector reform experienced improved performance in some dimensions, there were shortcomings in important areas and in overall coordination.

 

The frequency of improvement was higher among IBRD borrowers than among IDA borrowers.

Performance usually improved for public financial management, tax administration, and transparency, but did not usually with respect to civil service.

Direct measures to reduce corruption— such as anticorruption laws and commissions— rarely succeeded.

 

Governance Reform Under Real World Conditions: Citizens, Stakeholders, and Voice

Edited by Sina Odugbemi , Thomas Jacobson 

English -- Published June 2008

ISBN: 0-8213-7456-7    

Price: $ 15.00

 

Although necessary and often first rate, technocratic solutions alone have been ineffective in delivering real change or lasting results in governance reforms. This is primarily because reform programs are delivered no in controlled environments, but under complex, diverse, sociopolitical and economic conditions. Real-world conditions.

In political societies, ownership of reform programs by the entire country cannot be assumed, public opinion will not necessarily be benign, and coalitions of support may be scare or nonexistent, even when intended reforms really will benefit those who need them most.

 

While the development community has the technical tools to address governance challenges, experience shows that technical solutions are often insufficient. Difficulties arise when attempts are made to apply what are often excellent technical solutions. Human beings are not as amenable as are pure numbers, and they cannot be ignored. In the real world, reforms will not succeed, and they will certainly not be sustained, without the correct alignment of citizens, stakeholders, and voice.

 

Governance Reform under Real-World Conditions is a contribution to efforts to improve governance systems around the world, particularly in developing countries. The contributors, who are academics and development practitioners, provide a range of theoretical frameworks and innovative approaches and techniques for dealing with the most important nontechnical or adaptive challenges that impede the success and sustainability of reform efforts.

 

The editors and contributors hope that this book will be a useful guider for governments, think tanks, civil society organizations, and development agencies working to improve the ways in which governance reforms are implemented around the world.

 

Innovation, Inclusion, and Integration: From Transition to Convergence in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union

by Pradeep Mitra 

English -- Published June 2008 -- ISBN: 0-8213-7538-5

Price: $ 8.00

 

Innovation, Inclusion and Integration synthesizes the findings of the flagship regional reports produced by the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia Region. These have dealt with productivity growth, enhancement of job opportunities, trade and integration, migration and remittances, poverty and inequality, and the challenges posed by aging populations. This book explains the relationships among developments in each of these areas and explores the implications of these relationships for policy making in the region’s nations. It will be of particular interest to policy makers, government officials, researchers, and economists interested in fostering inclusive economic growth in the countries of the region and their deeper integration into the global economy.

- Robert B Zoellick, President, The World Bank

 

". . . This is an excellent book. I read every page, and many of them twice, which is testimony to the fact that the manuscript was relevant, interesting and a jolly good read."

- Professor Ruth Teer-Tomaselli, UNESCO Chair in Communication for Southern Africa, Culture, Communication and Media Studies, University KwaZulu-Natal

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Distance Learning Center Events in December 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

 

The Global Development Learning Network Asia Pacific (GDLN AP) Regional Business Meeting (by invitation only)

December 1 - 5 from 8:00 a.m - 17:00 p.m

 

The meeting is held as an essential part of GDLN AP annual activity, with the participation of10 countries in the region. The first 2 day GDLN AP Business Meeting  focuses on: reviewing current GDLN AP regional programs; proposing and planning for upcoming regional programs and discuss quality assurance and service delivery standards; and facilitating the development of business planning of GDLN AP members and partnership with potential local and regional clients. The rest 3 days is training conducted by WBI on "learning design" for DLC staff members as part of the GDLN AP regional capacity building initiative.

 

EAP Disaster Risk Management seminar (open for registration)

December 11 from 13:00 - 16:00 p.m

 

This is a 6 session videoconference series organized by World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Team. The first session is regarding "Lesson Learnt and knowledge sharing seminar on Post-disaster Recovery Planning; Japan and Indonesia Experiences", which connects Hanoi, Jakarta, Beijing, Manila and Vientiane.

 

Seminar Series of International Symposium for Cardiac Surgery (by invitation only)

December 11 from 19:00 p.m - 22:00 p.m.

 

The program is funded by VinaCapital Foundation in partnership with World Heart Foundation and Global Development Learning Network Asia Pacific. The series aim to improve capacity for cardiac surgery in developing countries such as: Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Bangladesh, India; with the world's best in cardio-thoracic surgery, cardiology and pediatric cardiac care. The series consists of 11 videoconferences, with webcasting and upon the completion of the Series, participants will receive a CDRom of all the lectures and materials used during the Series.

 

For more information, please contact Ms Dang Thi Thu Huong, email hdang2@worldbank.org, telephone 04-3934 6600, extension 705.

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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”.

 

Vietnam - Financial Sector Modernization and Information Management System Project: Project Appraisal Document

 

The objectives of the Financial Sector Modernization and Information Management System Project is to assist the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the Credit Information Center (CIC), and the Deposit Insurance of Vietnam(DIV) to improve the delivery of their main functions in accordance with relevant international standards for the banking sector, through: (a) developing a centralized and integrated system of advanced business processes and a modern information technology architecture; and (b) strengthening their institutional capacity in carrying out their operations. There are three components to the project. The first component is the functional strengthening and business re-engineering. This component will provide the SBV to develop a policy and institutional framework as well as capabilities for information management and informed decision making. The second component is the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) platform development. This component will provide the SBV to design and build a centralized ICT platform based on international Information Technology (IT) standards to support SBV's evolving role as a central bank, taking account of relevant international practices and all critical Vietnamese realities. If successfully implemented, the component will deliver a centralized data warehouse and a centralized core banking system which will capture data from credit institutions, financial markets and central banking operations, and then process and feed them to user groups. User groups will be equipped with business development/data interrogation tools to turn data into information in the form of customized and standard reports to support policy and supervision functions, as well as to meet the central bank's disclosure obligations. Centralized information flows through automated processes are also expected to fundamentally change the business model of SBV's accounting and internal audit function. Finally, the third component is the project implementation management. This component will provide the DIV to manage the implementation of the DIV part of the project, to ensure Bank guidelines for procurement and financial management are complied with, contract implementations are on schedule and there is good communication between the management and the project task teams regarding project implementation.

 

For more information please visit http://go.worldbank.org/18MOD2H480

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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.

 

Compendium of Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities

 

This compendium of funding opportunities was prepared by The WorldFish Center – Business Development and Communications Division in 2008, listing scholarship and fellowship opportunities in various fields of study.

 

Access full text at http://www.icra-edu.org/objects/public_eng/AfricaScholarshipCompendium.pdf

 

World Bank Internship Program

 

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

 

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

 

This Program typically seeks candidates in the following fields: economics, finance, human development (public health, education, nutrition, population), social science (anthropology, sociology), agriculture, environment, private sector development, as well as other related fields. Fluency in English is required. Prior relevant work experience, computing skills, as well as knowledge of languages such as French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, and Chinese are advantageous.

 

The Bank pays an hourly salary to all Interns and, where applicable, provides an allowance towards travel expenses. Interns are responsible for their own living accommodations. Most positions are located in Washington, DC (some positions are offered in country offices) and are a minimum of four weeks in duration.

 

The World Bank Group Internship Program is offered during two seasons:

 

Summer (June-September): The application period for the Summer Program is December 1 - January 31 each year.

 

Winter (December-March): The application period for the Winter Program is September 1 - October 31 each year.

 

All applications MUST be submitted on-line (using the "Apply Now" button on the top of this page - available during the application period only).

 

Applications submitted after the deadline are not considered.

 

Learn More about the Bank Internship Program at http://go.worldbank.org/IY07OW3WQ0   

 

E-Courses on Grant Writing/Fundraising

 

The Grant Proposal Writing & Fundraising Course provides training in effective fundraising methodology. The course focuses on the importance of grant writing; learning the "do's and don'ts" of a convincing proposal and gaining persuasive writing tips; how to be transparent and accountable to funders; resources for finding grants; acquiring expertise about effective fundraising strategies; and creating a grant writing proposal to submit after the course ends.

 

Students who complete the course, exercises, and final project plan receive a certificate and are eligible to apply for a GYCA Small Grant for $1500 to implement the project

 

Read more at http://youthaidscoalition.org/page/ecourses  

 

Call for Student Applications: Masters Course in Sustainable Tropical Forestry

 

A two-year world-class Masters Course in Sustainable Tropical Forestry (SUTROFOR) is a unique course offered by a consortium consisting of five European institutions. It consists of an initial study year at one of three institutions (Bangor University, UK; University of Copenhagen, Denmark; or Dresden University of Technology, Germany) and a specializing second study year with different topics offered by each of the five institutions: (i) agroforestry systems (Bangor), (ii) forest and livelihoods in developing countries (Copenhagen), (iii) tropical forest management (Dresden), (iv) environmental management and policies for tropical forests (Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences, France), (v) ethics in forestry and responsible trade in tropical forest products and services (University of Padova, Italy).

 

EU and European Economic Area (EEA) students are eligible for financial support and around 20 Erasmus Mundus scholarships (€21,000 per year per student) are expected to be available for third-country students. Applications for entry in the fall of 2009 must be received no later than 16 January 2009 and EU/EEA applications must be received no later than 14 August 2009. There is no separate application form for scholarships.

 

Closing Date: 16 January 2009

 

For more information and to apply click here www.sutrofor.net

 

Asia Pacific Leadership Program

 

The East-West Center is pleased to announce new fellowships for the Asia Pacific Leadership Program for 2009-10. Entering its eight year, the Asia Pacific Leadership Program (APLP) is the center of excellence for leadership education in the Asia Pacific region. The APLP is a graduate certificate program combining the development of regional expertise with the enhancement of individual leadership capacity. Based at the East-West Center in Honolulu , Hawaii , the program has created a network of dynamic leaders in 48 countries who are helping to build a peaceful, prosperous and just Asia Pacific community. All participants receive an APLP Entrance Fellowship valued at approximately $15,000.

 

The Asia Pacific Leadership Program seeks outstanding individuals with proven leadership experience or high leadership potential from across the Asia Pacific region, North America and beyond. All participants have at least a Bachelors degree with the majority having graduate degrees as well. At least 20 countries are represented in each cohort.  APLP Fellows come together from all walks of life, including areas as diverse as government, business, NGOs, health sciences, media, monastic orders, and education.

 

APLP participants will gain broad regional perspectives, become knowledgeable about the critical challenges facing the Asia Pacific region, and be trained to exercise leadership and promote cooperation. The APLP empowers leaders with the knowledge, skills, experiences, and supportive community needed to successfully navigate personal and regional change in the 21st century.

 

For more information, please visit www.eastwestcenter.org/aplp  

 

URC Postdoctoral Research Fellowships 2009 - University of Cape Town

 

The University of Cape Town invites applications for a limited number of Postdoctoral Research Fellowships to be taken up at the university during 2009. It is crucial that applicants' research interests and faculty needs are in line with those of the host department. The fellowships are based on academic merit and the number and quality of the applicant's peer-reviewed publications will be taken into account.

 

All South African and foreign candidates are eligible, but preference will be given to applicants who graduated from universities other than UCT. However, applicants who graduated from UCT at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels are ineligible.

 

Deadline: July 31, 2009

 

For more information, please visit http://www.uct.ac.za/research/pgfo/noticeboard/  

 

Monash Fellowships - Monash University

 

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

 

Applicants must not hold a current position at Monash University (including casual or sessional appointments) at the time of application or during the selection process of the Monash Fellowships Program. Applicants may be a citizen of any country, but in order to be eligible to accept the offer of a Monash Fellowship he or she must obtain the appropriate visa as required by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

 

Deadline: July 31, 2009

 

http://www.monash.edu.au/research/academics/funding/information/monash/monash-fellowships.html  

 

JSPS RONPAKU (Dissertation Ph.D.) Program - Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

 

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) has been carrying out the RONPAKU (Dissertation Ph.D.) Program since 1978. The aim of this program is to provide tutorial and financial support for promising researchers in Asia who wish to obtain their Ph.D. degrees from Japanese universities through the submission of a dissertation without matriculating a doctoral course.

 

Deadline: August 22, 2009

 

http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-ronpaku/guideline.html  

 

Harvard fellowship in Sustainability Science

 

The Sustainability Science Program at Harvard University’s Center for International Development invites applications for resident fellowships in sustainability science for the University’s academic year beginning in September 2009. The fellowship competition is open to advanced doctoral and post-doctoral students, and to mid-career professionals engaged in research or practice to facilitate the design, implementation, and evaluation of effective interventions that promote sustainable development. Applicants should describe how their work would contribute to "sustainability science," the emerging field of use-inspired research seeking understanding of the interactions between human and environmental systems as well as the application of such knowledge to sustainability challenges relating to advancing development of agriculture, habitation, energy and materials, health and water while conserving the earth’s life support systems.  This year we will give some preference to appllicants who address the challenges related to meeting human needs for water or food/agriculture/land use in the context of sustainable development. In addition to general funds available to support this fellowship offering, special funding for the Giorgio Ruffolo Fellowships in Sustainability Science is available to support citizens of Italy or developing countries who are therefore especially encouraged to apply.

 

Applications are due January 15, 2009.

 

For more information please visit http://www.cid.harvard.edu/sustsci/grants/fellows/09_fellows_RFP.htm   

 

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Global Poverty Policy

 

The Institute for Health and Social Policy at McGill University is working to build the first truly global data centre on public policies surrounding equity and poverty. This data centre is designed to make an entirely new level of global research feasible into how social conditions and policies affect the health and well-being of populations around the world – and what can be done to help improve the conditions of the worst off. To date, the WoRLD data centre already contains information on adult labour conditions, equity and anti-discrimination, and child labour provisions in 192 nations.

 

The postdoctoral fellow will lead an exciting effort to build a new module in the global policy data centre on economic policies aimed at the reduction of poverty levels globally. The Global Poverty Policy Fellowship is a full-time, residential fellowship for to two years starting in summer 2009.

 

Key Opportunities and Responsibilities:

 

• Lead conceptualization and building of a new module on economic policies aimed at poverty-reduction for the global policy data centre

 

• Lead and contribute to analyses of the global policy data aimed at understanding policy successes and limitations

 

• Participate in dissemination and translation of findings to policymakers;

 

• Prepare research manuscripts for submission and publication.

 

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in public policy, epidemiology, economics, sociology, political science, public health, geography, or related discipline. Excellent research, writing, and communication skills required. Demonstrated interest and understanding of issues relating to public policy, including poverty and equity policy. English language proficiency required. French and/or other language proficiency an asset. To Apply:

 

Send a cover letter, CV, all academic transcripts, 2 writing samples, and 3 letters of recommendation to: WoRLD Search Committee, Institute for Health and Social Policy, 1130 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A1A3, or Email to applicants.ihsp@mcgill.ca. Electronic submission is encouraged. Please specify "Poverty Policy Post-doc" in the subject heading.

 

Review of complete applications will begin December 15, 2008 and will continue until position is filled. Only complete applications will be considered and only candidates selected for an interview or to gather additional information will be contacted.

 

AAUW International Fellowship

 

The American Association of University Women Educational Foundation has a long and distinguished history of advancing educational and professional opportunities for women in the United States and around the globe. One of the world's largest sources of funding for graduate women, the Educational Foundation provided more than 250 fellowships, grants, and special awards to outstanding women.

 

International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not United States citizens or permanent residents.

 

http://www.aauw.org/education/fga//fellowships_grants/international.cfm  

 

IIE-Vietnam announces SMBC Global Foundation Scholarship Program 2008/09

 

The Institute of International Education (IIE)-Vietnam is pleased to announce the third SMBC Global Foundation Scholarship Program 2008/09. This annual scholarship program is designed to provide financial assistance to Vietnamese students at top-notch Vietnamese universities and to promote close relationships between the Foundation and communities in participating countries. 

 

Outstanding students of all study fields are encouraged to apply. The selection criteria include a strong academic record, involvement in extracurricular activities and financial need. All applicants are required to submit the application package to the appropriate participating university by January 10, 2009. For more information, please visit www.iievn.org.

 

Up to 100 students per year from five universities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will be awarded SMBC Global Foundation Scholarships in Vietnam. The participating universities include Vietnam National University-HCMC, Vietnam National University-Hanoi, University of Economics-HCMC, Hanoi University and Foreign Trade University-HCMC. 

 

The SMBC Global Foundation was established in April of 1994. Capital funds for the Foundation were provided by SMBC Capital Markets, Inc. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) is one of the world's leading commercial banks with presence in various countries in Asia and in the world, SMBC's network which includes Hanoi representative office and Ho Chi Minh City branch which was opened in June 2006. The Foundation provides scholarships to students attending 25 universities in Asian countries such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam. 

 

In announcing the third year of this IIE-administered program, Dr. Mark Ashwill, IIE-Vietnam director, praised the SMBC Global Foundation for its vision making these prestigious scholarships available to deserving Vietnamese students at five of the nation’s finest universities. 

 

The Institute of International Education-Vietnam is a branch of IIE (www.iie.org), an independent, non-profit organization headquartered in New York.  IIE was founded in 1919 to promote peace and understanding through cultural and educational exchange. 

 

For more information about IIE-Vietnam’s other programs and services, visit its revised and updated website at www.iievn.org.  

 

Royal Irish Academy Mobility Grant - Royal Irish Academy

 

The Royal Irish Academy offers grants for short visits to any country to support primary research in any subject area in 2009. Visits are generally between one week and six weeks in length, the key objectives being to initiate one-to-one collaborations, explore opportunities to build lasting networks and gain access to ideas, research facilities, complementary equipment, etc.

 

Applicants must have obtained postdoctoral level or equivalent status. Applications from researchers in their first seven years postdoctoral are particularly encouraged.

 

Deadline: October 3, 2009.

 

http://www.ria.ie/international/funding/royaljoint.html  

 

Wolfson College Non-Stipendiary Research Fellowships - University of Cambridge

 

Wolfson College invites applications for non-stipendiary research fellowships under Title BI. The fellowships are without limit of subject.

 

The fellowships are tenable for one year from October 1, 2009, and renewable up to a maximum tenure of four years. Candidates must produce satisfactory evidence that they have adequate funds to support their fellowship. The fellowships do not cover the cost of bench fees or other university fees or laboratory charges.

 

Candidates will either have a doctorate or have made substantial progress towards a doctorate or an equivalent qualification by October 2009.

 

Deadline: January 9, 2009

 

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2008-09/weekly/6123/28.html  

 

Weatherhead Fellowships - School for Advanced Research (SAR)

 

SAR awards fellowships each year to scholars who have completed their research and analysis and who need time to think and write about topics important to the understanding of humankind. Resident scholars may approach their research from the perspective of anthropology or from anthropologically informed perspectives in such fields as history, sociology, art, law, and philosophy. Both humanistically and scientifically oriented scholars are encouraged to apply.

 

Deadline: November 1, 2009

 

http://www.sarweb.org/scholars/description.htm    

 

Asian Youth Fellowship (AYF) - Japan Foundation

 

The Japan Foundation offers scholarships for Asian students to study the Japanese language, who wish to study at graduate schools in Japan and have a strong wish to contribute to regional cooperation after obtaining a masters or Ph.D. degree. The objective of AYF program is to nurture human resources for the regional cooperation and development of the area, as well as to promote and enhance friendship and mutual understanding among Asian countries.

 

Deadline: Varies

 

http://www.asiaseed.org/ayfj/    

 

Abe Fellowship Program - Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership

 

The Abe Fellowship is designed to encourage international multidisciplinary research on topics of pressing global concern. The program seeks to foster the development of a new generation of researchers who are interested in policy-relevant topics of long-range importance and who are willing to become key members of a bilateral and global research network built around such topics. 

 

This competition is open to citizens of the United States and Japan as well as to nationals of other countries who can demonstrate strong and serious long-term affiliations with research communities in Japan or the United States. 

 

Deadline: April 1 and December 31 of a given year.

 

http://fellowships.ssrc.org/abe/     

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