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CONTENTS Free Training
Sessions Provided by VDIC Selected Resources on
intellectual property at VDIC Highlights from the
New Additions to VDIC Library Selected New Publications for Sale at VDIC Distance Learning Center Events in April 2009 Information on Development Projects in Vietnam New Disclosure World
Bank Operational Project Documents for Vietnam |
VDIC
News
Free Training Sessions
Provided by VDIC
Location:
VDIC, Ground Floor, 63 Ly Thai
To, 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:
April 15, 2009 -- Time: 09:30am
to 12:00 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:
April 15, 2009 -- Time: 01:30pm
to 04:30pm 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. Student
Workshop on "Guidelines for Successful University Scholarship
Applications" Date: April 10, 2009 -- Time: 01:30pm
to 04:30pm Students are invited to
participate in a workshop on "Guidelines For Successful University
Scholarship Applications". The workshop is designed for students who plan
to enroll in a university, especially at graduate level or apply for scholarships
and funding towards this. It focuses on improving skills in the application process, in researching and
communication with the university and in the preparation of quality
applications for acceptance. The
workshop highlights the needed hard and soft skills, types of funding, the
steps in application and the mistakes to avoid. It briefly covers the
preparation of resumes (CVs), interview skills, and communication etiquette
in the context of university applications. Please note that the purpose of
the workshop is to introduce new ideas and improve application skills, which
are also useful for other occasions, NOT for those who plan to come to get a
list of places to get scholarships. The
workshop format includes a formal presentation and interactive discussion. The
opportunity will exist after the workshop for further follow-up with the workshop
facilitators. The
workshop will be conducted in English by Mr Boris Fabres, who is Senior
Advisor and Consultant to the Centre For Marinelife Conservation and
Community Development (MCD), a Vietnamese Non Governmental Organization based
in Hanoi. Workshop
participants (and other interested persons) may wish to read the draft workshop-related
material online at http://www.vdic.org.vn/data/File/Library/Guide-Applying-For-Scholarships-and-Graduate-School.pdf.
It is useful to take this material to the workshop for additional notes since
we do not provide participants with printed workshop materials. To
sign up for this scholarship applications workshop, please send an email to nvu2@worldbank.org
with your name, organisation/school name, telephone number, plus field/s of
study and future career interest. Exhibitions at VDIC
Please see Library section for lists of selected
resources on the exhibition themes below. World Intellectual Property Day -
April 26, 2009 - Green Innovation Message from Francis Gurry,
Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): Human activity, including decades
of technological development, has damaged our planet. Wide-spread pollution
and spiraling consumption of the world’s mineral and biological reserves have
put unprecedented stress on the environment. Climate change is one of the
greatest threats ever faced by society: glaciers are disappearing;
desertification is increasing; in Africa alone, between 75 and 250 million
people will face increased water shortages by 2020. As human activity caused the
problem, so too can human activity find the solutions. Green innovation – the
development and diffusion of technological means to tackle climate change –
is key to halting the depletion of the earth’s
resources. The race is on to develop accessible alternative sources of
energy, as we work to harness the wind and tides, capture the power of the
sun, and tap the geothermal energy underground. New plant varieties are being
developed to withstand drought and flooding. New environmentally friendly
materials will help us construct a more sustainable world. On World IP Day 2009, the World
Intellectual Property Organization highlights the contribution of a balanced
intellectual property system to stimulating the creation, diffusion and application
of clean technologies; to promoting green design, aimed at creating products
that are eco-friendly from conception to disposal; to green branding, helping
consumers make informed choices and giving companies a competitive edge. The power of human ingenuity is our
best hope for restoring the delicate balance between ourselves and our
environment. It is our greatest asset in finding solutions to this global
challenge, enabling us to move forward from the carbon-based, grey
technologies of the past to the carbon-neutral, green innovation of the
future. Small exhibitions at VDIC on these
occasions provide 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 on intellectual
property at VDIC
LAW-IP
10. Braga, Carlos A. Primo, Fink, Carsten, Sepulveda, Claudia Paz, World
Bank. EMTIN. Intellectual
property rights and economic development. Washington, D.C.: the World
Bank, 2000. Full text http://go.worldbank.org/XXGXZFB4S0 LAW-IP 11. Commission on Intellectual Property
Rights. Integrating intellectual
property rights and development policy. London: CIPR, 2002. LAW-IP 2. J. Michael Finger, Philip Schuler; World
Bank. DECRG. Poor people's knowledge:
Promoting intellectual property in developing countries. World Bank.
2003. Full text http://go.worldbank.org/ZOLDMX64J0 LAW-IP 2. Finger, J Michael; Schuler, Philip. Kiến thức của người nghèo: Các hoạt động
thúc đẩy việc thu lợi từ tài sản trí tuệ ở các nước đang phát triển. Hà
Nội, Việt Nam: Nhà xuất bản Tổng hợp thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, 2004. LAW-IP 3. United Nations Development Programme. Cooperation South. New York: UNDP,
2002. LAW-IP 4. Fink, Carsten, Maskus, Keith Eugene. Intellectual property and development:
lessons from recent economic research. Washington, D.C.
: the World Bank : Oxford University Press, 2005. LAW-IP 4. Fink, Carsten; Maskus, Keith Eugene. Intellectual property and development:
lessons from recent economic research. World Bank. 2005. LAW-IP 5. Pengelly, Tom. Technical assistance for the formulation and implementation of
intellectual property policy in developing countries and transition economies.
Geneva : International Center for Trade and
sustainable Development, 2005. LAW-IP 7. Hansen, Stephen A.; VanFleet, Justin W.;
American Association for the Advancement of Science. Traditional knowledge and intellectual property: a handbook on issues
and options for traditional knowledge holders in protecting their
intellectual property and maintaining biological diversity. Washington, D.C.:
AAAS, 2003. http://shr.aaas.org/tek/handbook/handbook.pdf
LAW-IP 8. National Office of Intellectual Property
of Vietnam; Copyright Office of Vietnam. Legal
documents of Vietnam on intellectual property. Hanoi, Vietnam:
Cartographic Publishing House, 2004. LAW-IP 6. Hansen, Stephen; Vanfleet, Justine W. Kiến thức truyền thông và sở hữu trí tuệ:
Sổ tay về các vấn đề và khả năng bảo hộ quyền sở hữu trí tuệ và gìn giữ đa
dạng sinh học cho người nắm giữ kiến thức. Washington, D.C.: AAAS. 2003. LAW-IP 9. Socialist Republic of Việt Nam. Các quy định pháp luật về sở hữu trí tuệ.
Hà Nội, Việt Nam: Nhà xuất bản Chính trị Quốc gia, 2005. LAW-IP 1. Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Luật sở hữu trí tuệ. Hà Nội, Việt Nam:
Nhà xuất bản Tổng hợp thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, 2006. 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-POL-V3.
Anderson, Kym; Martin, Will (eds.). Distortions
to agricultural incentives in Asia. World Bank, 2009. BAN-CRI 19. Furceri, Davide; Mourougane, Annabelle. Financial crises: Past lessons and policy
implications. OECD Publishing, 2009. Fulltext http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2009doc.nsf/linkto/eco-wkp(2009)9
ECO-AID-V33.
Tran, Van Tho; Koseki, Yoko; Duong, Duc Ung. Aid Effectiveness to Infrastructure: A Comparative Study of East Asia
and Sub-Saharan Africa: Vietnam Case Study. Japan Bank for International
Cooperation. JBIC Institute, 2008. Fulltext http://www.jica.go.jp/jica-ri/english/publication/archives/jbic/report/paper/pdf/rp36_e05.pdf
ECO-AID-V34.
Garnett, Harry ; Nayyar-Stone, Ritu ; Polen, Sarah. Study on Aid Effectiveness in the
Infrastructure Sector: Final Report. Urban Institute. Center on
International Development and Governance, 2009. Fulltext http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/411848_studyonaideffectiveness.pdf
EDU-HIG
17. World Bank. Vietnam: Higher
education and skills for growth. World Bank, 2008. EDU-HIG
18. Salmi, Jamil. The challenge of
establishing world-class universities. World Bank, 2009. GOV-CIV-V3.
Kerkvliet, Ben; Nguyen, Quang A; Bach, Tan Sinh. Forms of engagement between state agencies and civil society organizations
in Vietnam: Study report. VUFO-NGO Resource Center, 2008. Full text http://www.ngocentre.org.vn/files/docs/Forms_of_Engagement_FINAL_COMPLETE.pdf
HEA-FIN-V2.
Lieberman, Samuel; Wagstaff, Adam. Health
financing and delivery in Vietnam: Looking forward. The World Bank, 2009.
HEA-SYS-V
[Internet]. World Health Organization (WHO). Health situation in the Southeast Asia region, 2001-2007. World
Health Organization (WHO), 2008. Fulltext http://www.searo.who.int/en/Section1243/Section1382/Section1386.htm
LAB-SOC 30. Barrientos, Armando; Hulme,
David (eds.). Social protection
for the poor and the poorest: Concepts, policies and politics.
Palgrave, 2008. TRA 23.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Promoting consumer education: Trends,
policies and good practices. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), 2009. WBV-EVA
1. Ngân hàng Thế giới tại Việt Nam. Việt
Nam: Đánh giá tình hình thực hiện dự án quốc gia.
Ngân hàng Thế giới tại Việt Nam, 2008. WBV-EVA
1. World Bank in Vietnam . Vietnam: Country Porfolio Performance Review 2007. World Bank in Vietnam,
2008. |
Selected
New Publications for Sale at VDIC
Please note that books are only available for sale at VDIC premise and
we provide no courier service for this activity. More featured titles for sale are listed at http://www.vdic.org.vn/?name=bookstore&op=viewDetailNews&id=155&mid=328 Health
Financing and Delivery in Vietnam: Looking Forward by World Bank
English -- Published January 2009 by World Bank
-- ISBN: 0-8213-7782-5. Price: $ 12.00 Vietnam’s successes in the health sector are
legendary. Its rates of infant and under-five mortality are comparable to
those of countries with substantially higher per capita incomes. Vietnam
continues to be an over-achiever in the health sector according to data
assembled in this book. Like other countries, though, Vietnam faces
challenges in its health system. By international standards, for example, Vietnam
has a high incidence of catastrophic household health spending—a large fraction
of households make out-of-pocket payments for health care that exceeds a
reasonable fraction of their income. To address this and related issues, Vietnam
has been extending the breadth of health insurance coverage. Questions
remain, however, about how to further expand coverage, and how to put
downward pressure on health care costs, which are rising rapidly, and upward
pressure on the quality of care, which some evidence suggests is low. This
book generates new evidence and new insights on these topics, and sets out
some ideas for further reforming Vietnam’s health system. Banking
the Poor: Measuring Banking Access in 54 Economies by World Bank
English -- Published October 2008 by World Bank
-- ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-7754-3 Price: $ 13.00 How many people are using banking services in
poor countries? What financial services are used? And how could access to
banking services be expanded to include more people? Banking the Poor
explores these questions, through responses to questions in surveys undertaken
in 54 countries, mostly in Africa. The biggest contribution of this study is new
data. Banking the Poor collects information from two sources: central banks
and leading commercial banks in each surveyed country. It explores
associations between countries’ banking policies and practices and their
levels of financial access, measured in terms of the numbers of bank account
per thousand adults. Banking the Poor finds that the surest way to
increased access is job growth that leads to more income. But it also finds
that more complexity and costs such as monthly fees are linked to lower
access. Access is not enhanced by loading up accounts with features that
enhance convenience such as overdraft provision. Instead these features
appeal to people who are already banked. Even mobile banking in its current
form is primarily aimed at existing clients. On the other hand, availability
of a basic “no-frills” bank account with minimal charges is linked to more
access. Innovative
Financing for Development Edited by Suhas Ketkar , Dilip K. Ratha English -- Published September 2008 by World Bank
ISBN: 0-8213-7685-3 Price: $ 13 Developing countries need additional,
cross-border capital channeled into their private sectors to generate
employment and growth, reduce poverty, and meet the other Millennium
Development Goals. Innovative financing mechanisms are necessary to make this
happen. Innovative Financing for Development is the first book on this
subject that uses a market-based approach. It compiles pioneering methods of
raising development finance including securitization of future flow
receivables, diaspora bonds, and GDP-indexed bonds. It also highlights the
role of shadow sovereign ratings in facilitating access to international
capital markets. It argues that poor countries, especially those in
Sub-Saharan Africa, can potentially raise tens of billions of dollars
annually through these instruments. The chapters in the book focus on the structures
of the various innovative financing mechanisms, their track records and
potential for tapping international capital markets, the constraints limiting
their use, and policy measures that governments and international
institutions can implement to alleviate these constraints. "This
publication assembles several essays focusing on the new market-based ways of
raising development finance, which is a crucial complement to public funding
for creating jobs, alleviating poverty, and achieving other Millennium
Development Goals by 2015. This book will help better our understanding of
development finance. Policy makers and business leaders in the developing
world, as well as students, will benefit from it immensely." - Muhammad Yunus 2006 Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate World
Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography by World Bank
English -- Published November 2008 -- ISBN:
0-8213-7607-1 Price: $ 12 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. Global
Economic Prospects 2009: Commodities at the Crossroads by World Bank
English -- Published December 2008 by World Bank
ISBN: 0-8213-7799-X Price: $ 15 The eruption of the worldwide financial crisis
has radically recast prospects for the world economy. Global Economic
Prospects 2009 analyzes the implications of the crisis for low- and
middle-income countries, including an in-depth look at long-term prospects for
global commodity markets and the policies of both commodity producing and
consuming nations. Developing countries face sharply higher
borrowing costs and reduced access to capital, cutting into their capacity to
finance investment spending. The looming recession presents new risks, coming
as it does on the heels of the recent food and fuel crisis. Commodity markets, meanwhile, are at a
crossroads. Following decades of low prices and weak investment in supply
capacity, commodity prices first spiked and have now plummeted in response to
the financial crisis. In the longer run, commodities are not expected
to be in short supply. Prices should be higher than they were in the 1990s
but much lower than in the recent past. These higher prices should provide producers
with sufficient incentive to discover new supplies, improve output from
existing resources, and promote greater conservation and substitution with
more abundant alternatives. At the same time, slower population growth will
ease the pace at which commodity demand grows. Policies to limit carbon
emissions and boost agricultural investment, along with the dissemination of
efficient techniques, should also contribute to this long-term outcome. This year’s Global Economic Prospects also looks
at government responses to the recent price boom. "While
developing countries entered this tumultuous period with much improved
fundamentals, this crisis is expected to test severely both them and the
international financial system. In the longer run, even after developing
country growth recovers, commodity supply should keep pace with demand, but
policy will need to foster conservation efforts and technological progress.
In particular, if poor countries are to maintain domestic food
self-sufficiency, governments will need to strengthen investment in rural
infrastructure, agricultural research, and technological outreach." - Justin Yifu Lin Senior Vice President and
Chief Economist, The World Bank Development
Economics through the Decades: A Critical Look at Thirty Years of the World
Development Report by Shahid Yusuf
English -- Published December 2008 by World Bank
ISBN: 0-8213-7255-6 Since 1978, the World Bank's annual World
Development Report (WDR) has provided in-depth analysis and policy recommendations
on a specific and important aspect of international development from
agriculture, the role of the state, economic growth, and labor to
infrastructure, health, the environment, and poverty. In the process, it has
become a highly influential publication that is consulted by international
organizations, national governments, scholars, and civil society networks to
inform their decision-making processes. In this essay, Shahid Yusuf examines the last 30
years of development economics, viewed through the WDRs. The essay begins
with a brief background on the circumstances of newly independent developing
countries and summarizes some of the main strands of the emerging field of
development economics. It then provides a sweeping examination of the coverage
of the WDRs, reflecting on the key development themes synthesized by these
reports and assessing how the research they present has contributed to policy
making and development thought. The book then looks ahead and points to some
of the big challenges that the World Bank may explore through future WDRs.
The essay is followed by five commentaries, each written by a distinguished
economist or development practitioner, which further explore this terrain
from different perspectives. Together, the contents of this volume provide an
extraordinary and remarkably compact tour of development economics through,
around, and beyond the WDR. It will be invaluable to anyone interested in the
evolution of development economics over the past three decades as well as for
students, scholars, and policy makers in the field of development. "Shahid
Yusuf's essay on the World Development Reports is a masterful overview of
what has at the same time been 30 years of development economics at the World
Bank." - Kemal Dervis Head, United Nations
Development Programme "The
reader benefits from Dr. Yusuf's insights into how development economics has
changed and how political priority in development has changed over more than
30 years." - Takatoshi Ito Graduate School of Economics,
University of Tokyo, and Former Deputy Vice Minister
for International Finance, Ministry of Finance of Japan "This
volume not only offers an invaluable retrospective of the World Bank's best
thinking on development but also has the analytical caliber and policy
insights to become an indispensable source for those dealing with the present
and future growth and equity challenges faced by the developing countries." - Ernesto Zedillo Former President of Mexico
and Director, Yale Center for the
Study of Globalization |
Distance
Learning Center Events in April 2009
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
Seminar on How to Survive the Economic Crisis:
Challenges toward Proactive Fiscal Policy (by invitation only) April 16
from 8:30-11.00 a.m Having
gone through so much turmoil and turbulence in the financial market in 2008,
the global economy is now spiraling deeper into recession and uncertainty
looms large as to where the world economy will be heading. It is common
challenge for policymakers worldwide to stimulate their economy out of the
crisis by more effective policies. This seminar is organized to concentrate
on the fiscal policy tackling the financial crisis and consider the potential
constraints, its effectiveness and negative impacts on the economic
development in the long run; and to summarize and compare the experiences
from the past crises and share the fiscal policies currently taken by many
economies to boost demand. Seminar Series on Strengthening Disaster Risk
Management in East Asia and Pacific - Housing and Community Reconstruction
after Disasters April 28
from 14:00 - 17:00 p.m As part
of the EAP Sector Management Unit Initiatives, which is a program promoting
outreach and knowledge-sharing, the East Asia and Pacific Disaster Risk
Management (DRM) team, in collaboration with the Global Development Learning
Network (GDLN), has planned a learning and knowledge sharing seminar series
to reach counterparts in countries of the region, as well as staff working in
country offices. This video-conferencing based seminar series will highlight
three areas: (i) Post-disaster recovery planning and lessons learned; (ii)
Risk financing and the World Bank’s new financial products; and (iii) Local
approaches to disaster risk
management. For
more inforamtion, please contact Ms Dang Thi Thu Huong, email hdang2@worldbank.org, telephone:
04-3934 6600, ext. 706. |
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 found
at www.worldbank.org/vn >>
select “Projects & Programs”. Vietnam
- Higher Education Development Policy Program Project - Project Information
Document Document Date:
2009/03/03 The Higher Education Development Policy Program, along
with the Second Higher Education Project (HEP2) and the New-Model
Universities Project (NMUP), is designed to support the Government’s
implementation of its “Socio-Economic Development Plan 2006-2010” (SEDP) and
its “Higher Education Reform Agenda” (HERA).
In particular, HEDPP aims to strengthen governance, rationalize
financing, improve the quality of teaching and research, improve
accountability for performance, and enhance transparency in financial
management within the higher education sector. The proposed operation would be the first
in a programmatic series of three annual single-tranche Development Policy
Credits (DPCs) to support the sustained implementation of the reform elements
of this Government program. The World Bank’s five-year Country Partnership Strategy
(CPS) supports
the GOV’s “Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan 2006-2010.” Under CPS
Pillar I, which aims to assist the Government in its transition to a market
economy, the World Bank’s program will help to “develop a higher education
system that produces graduates better suited to the new economy’s needs,”
measured by changes in the proportion of students finding employment within
six months of graduation by field of study.
The project contributes directly to this objective by improving the
quality of higher education in ways that enable central government and
universities to: (i) produce graduates
with the knowledge and skills that meet labor market demands, and (ii)
support the national innovation system through relevant basic and applied
research. http://go.worldbank.org/EB9NZUQQO0
Vietnam -
Northern Mountains Poverty Reduction Project - Implementation Completion and
Results Report Document Date:
2008/06/23 Ratings for the Northern Mountains Poverty Reduction
Project (NMPRP) for Viet Nam were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, the
risk to development outcome was moderate, Bank performance was satisfactory,
and Borrower performance was also satisfactory. Some lessons learned
included: tailored public information and awareness rising are essential for
community participation, accountability and investments ownership - NMPRP
managed to develop an effective communication strategy up to the commune
level. Efforts were made to reach vulnerable groups including non literate
people at village's levels but results seemed to vary between communes.
Information must be tailored as appropriate to diverse target groups and
audiences with different backgrounds in terms of ethnicity, age, gender and
social status. A variety of communication media should be employed.
Transparent, competitive and decentralized procurement methods are most
likely to provide assurance of cost effectiveness and efficiency for small
scale infrastructure component at local levels. This includes social audit
function of community level oversight over procurement decisions, etc. For
very small, labor intensive works at village level for which locally
available materials and skills are required, community participation in
procurement helps build local capacity, creates employment and reduces costs.
Strong institutional reform and leadership of the coordinating agency is
essential to project success and sustainability. The strong ownership and
coordinating leadership of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has
enabled a series of institutional and regular reforms (circulars, staff
commitment and capacity building) which greatly influenced the project
performance. Coordination between institutional actors, information
dissemination and program management capacity is a key factor for the success
of integrated, sustainable local development programs. http://go.worldbank.org/4Y9BU5IPY0
Vietnam -
PCBs Management Project - Integrated Safeguards Data Sheets (Revised) Document Date:
2009/03/13 http://go.worldbank.org/23RCVHL2D0 Vietnam -
PCBs Management Project - Project Information Documents (Revised) Document Date:
2009/03/03 The project development objective (PDO) is to develop
capacity in Vietnam to actively manage the vast bulk of Polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) in the country, consistent with the provisions of the
Stockholm Convention, and for Vietnam to become ready for the follow-on phase
of destruction of all PCB-contaminated oils and equipments. To achieve this objective, the project
proposes to carry out a series of activities including, among others,
improvement of the regulatory and institutional framework for PCB management,
piloting of the safe management of PCBs in 15 demonstration facilities, and
development of a prototype PCB management program for ten selected provinces
in which the 15 demonstration facilities are located. http://go.worldbank.org/KFZLTSYI00 Vietnam -
Poverty Reduction Support Credit 8 - Project Information Documents Document Date:
2009/02/05 Vietnam weathered two crises in 2008, first, one of
domestic macro instability, then the ripple effects of the global financial
crisis. It is now looking to navigate
2009, which promises to be challenging, with its characteristic resilience
and increasing skillfulness. This is a
critically important time for engagement by the international community. Vietnam’s ability to withstand the global
financial crisis so as to resume its growth trajectory and continued fight
against poverty may be determined during this period. Active engagement should contribute to
improving the content and coherence of such reforms. Vietnam has been implementing its Socio-Economic
Development Plan (SEDP) 2006-10, which was presented to the Board in 2006 as Vietnam’s
Poverty Reduction Strategy. In it, Vietnam
expresses its ambition to become a middle-income country by 2010. The reform actions to be supported under
the SEDP fall under four broad heads: (a) the promotion of growth and
transition to a middle-income market economy, (b) reducing poverty and
ensuring social inclusion, (c) managing environmental and natural resources
in a sustainable manner, and (d) building institutions to support the above
actions and promote modern governance. The cross-cutting nature of the policy dialogue PRSCs
support strengthens coordination among line ministries and government
agencies. Their emphasis on a selected
number of policy actions facilitates an in-depth discussion of their
content. Their demanding annual
sequence, combined with the forward-looking nature of the triggers used to
launch the preparation of the next operation in the cycle, helps keep the
pace of reform. Progress made on
public financial management over the last decade mitigates the risks
associated with direct budget support.
In addition to providing resources to the budget, PRSC operations
serves as an effective donor coordination device, supported by an
increasingly large number of development partners. PRSCs have been co-financed by bilateral
and multilateral agencies, either through grants or through parallel
lending http://go.worldbank.org/3Z6VA5QWH0
Vietnam
- Rural Energy II - Environmental Assessments (Revised) Document Date: March 16, 2009 Vietnam
- Rural Energy II - Indigenous People's Plan (Revised) Document Date: March 16, 2009 Vietnam
- Rural Energy II - Resettlement Instrument Reports (Revised) Document Date: March 16, 2009 Vietnam -
Rural Energy II - Additional Financing - Environmental Assessments (4 vols.) Document Date: March 3, 2009 Vietnam
- Rural Energy II - Additional Financing - Environmental
Assessments (English) (2 vols.) Document Date: March 17, 2009 Vietnam -
Rural Energy II - Additional Financing - Indigenous People's Plan (3 vols) (English) Document Date: March 3, 2009 Vietnam
- Rural Energy II - Additional Financing - Indigenous Peoples Plans (2 vols) Document Date: March 17, 2009 Vietnam -
Rural Energy II - Additional Financing - Resettlement Instrument
Reports (5 vols.) Document Date: March 3, 2009 Vietnam
- Rural Energy II - Additional Financing - Resettlement Instrument
Reports (2 vols.) Document Date: March 17, 2009 Vietnam
- School Education Quality Assurance Project (SEQAP) - Integrated Safeguards
Data Sheet Document Date:
2009/02/27 The overall program implementation does not raise any
significant environmental or social concerns. Potential minor impacts
concerning civil works of classrooms can be mitigated through proper program
design processes and implementation arrangements. SEQAP will finance construction of primary school
classrooms (including student classrooms, teacher and multi-functional rooms
as needed) and, if needed, toilets, within existing premises. Given the nature and scale of civil works
for classroom and sanitary toilet construction, a formal environmental
assessment report was not necessary.
The program builds on existing practices of the on-going PEDC project,
where a standardized classroom and sanitary toilet construction design is in
line with policy guidance of MoET.The Education Equipment, Facilities and
Toys Department of the MoET is responsible for setting construction standards
of educational facilities and monitoring implementation activities. Classroom design will include appropriate
ventilation, lighting, toilet facilities and ramps for disabled students, as
appropriate. The assessment of PEDC confirmed that these types of
construction activities only have temporary environmental impacts. They are normally limited to the
construction phase. The impacts
included dust and generation of construction waste which can be mitigated
through good construction practices, including proper housekeeping measures,
proper storage and disposal of excavated earth materials, and pollution
control. Civil work contracts and
procedures to address these impacts will be adopted for this program.
Mitigation measure required to be applied are common and ordinary for civil
construction activities, so they will be proposed and required in one (or
some) of the clauses of civil work contracts. The program strives to support the Government of Vietnam
in its commitment towards achieving high quality basic Education For All and
promoting equitable access to quality education—inclusive of girls, ethnic
minorities, children with disabilities and disadvantaged children. In addition, strengthening decentralized
school planning and monitoring will motivate community participation,
ownership and accountability. The program will be implemented in about 30 provinces
country-wide of Vietnam. Selected provinces represent the most disadvantaged
areas, including the mountainous and ethnic minority areas. Of the proposed
32 provinces, ethnic minorities are found in at least 20 provinces. The main
ethnic minority groups in the North include Muong, Thai, Hmong, Dao, Tay, and
Nung. In the Central Highland, the main ethnic minority groups are Ede, Ba
na, Gia rai, and Xudang. The Khmer and Cham groups represent the ethnic
population in the Mekong Delta. While the proposed SEQAP is anticipated to have positive
impacts on improving education quality and decreasing inequity in learning
outcomes, by supporting the Government’s transition to Full Day Schooling (FDS),
overall and for disadvantaged groups, including the ethnic minorities,
program’s ethnically sensitive measures and interventions are needed to
ensure that ethnic minorities will meaningfully participate and benefit from
the program. During the program preparation, an international
consultant team with social development expertise was hired to carry out the
Social Assessment. Key points to emerge from the fieldwork so far are: - Central majority-designed services may not recognize
competing indigenous knowledge systems, communal activities, festivals,
ceremonial practices, or agricultural calendar. These issues will need to be considered in
the design of FDS, if it is to increase the learning outcomes of
disadvantaged groups - Local language instruction is permitted, but its
availability is limited - Language constraints affect the quality and extent of
relationships between teachers and parents.
Teachers also value EM language skills. - Kindergarten benefits family through faster Vietnamese
language learning, andreduces the labor demands on older children - Distance to school hinders access Government of Vietnam’s policy on Ethnic Minorities is
similar to the World Bank policy OP 4.10 on Indigenous People. An Ethnic
Minority Development Plan (which is the name for an Indigenous People Plan in
Vietnam) will be developed for the program.
The draft EMDP will be reviewed and found satisfactory to IDA. The
Ethnic Minority Development Plan will then be implemented in the provinces
with ethnic minority students and population. Each participating province
having ethnic minority population must formally adopt the EMDP before it is
eligible for program financing. http://go.worldbank.org/KR59HSYOJ0
Vietnam -
School Education Quality Assurance - Project Information Documents (Revised) Document Date:
2009/02/18 The School Education Quality Assurance Program (SEQAP)
aims to improve learning outcomes and completion, and decrease inequity in
learning outcomes and completion, for primary education students, by
supporting the government’s transition to Full Day Schooling (FDS) overall
and for disadvantaged groups. This education investment program is organized around
three focal areas with the last component for project management, monitoring
and evaluation: Component 1: Improved Policy Framework for Transition to
FDS: Aiming at completing the requirements for the transition to FDS in the
2009-2015 period but also at building a more efficient and equitable
framework for scaling-up the reform in the 2015-2025 time period. Component 2: Improved Human Resources for Transition to
FDS: Aiming at supporting the training and professional development of
teachers, school leaders and education managers to successfully move to FDS
in the provinces which are beneficiary of the program, with focus on teaching
methods, teacher standards and school management. Component 3: Improved Physical and Other Recurrent
Resources for Transition to FDS: Aiming at supporting the upgrade of
infrastructure and facilities and support recurrent expenditures as needed in
about 1,600 schools (4,800 sites) to successfully move to FDS. Component 4:
Program Management: Aiming at supporting the management, monitoring
and evaluation of SEQAP to ensure smooth implementation and results on the
ground. http://go.worldbank.org/0D2COWYJ10
Vietnam - Second Northern Mountains Poverty
Reduction Project - Project Information Document Document Date: 2009/02/06 The
overall goal of the Project is to contribute to continued poverty reduction
efforts and improved rural livelihoods in the poorest upland provinces of Northwestern
Viet Nam. The Project Development Objective is: ‘The rural poor and ethnic
minorities of disadvantaged communes and districts in the northern mountains
benefit from improved production, income, employment and market opportunities
contributing to sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction’. http://go.worldbank.org/FQ2M96VQA0
Vietnam
- Second Transmission and Distribution Project - Environmental
Assessments (English) (2 vols.) Document Date: February 17, 2009 Vietnam -
Second Transmission and Distribution Project - Resettlement Instrument
Reports (English) (2 vols.) Document Date: February 17, 2009 Vietnam - Urban Upgrading Project - Additional
Finance - Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet Document
Date: 2009/03/23 The
Project will improve urban environmental living conditions through the
improved access and expansion of urban infrastructure, mainly waste water
collection, storm water drainage, access roads and paving, water supply,
public lighting and community facilities, the benefits of which would accrue
to approximately two million people, including approximately 1,000,000
low-income urban residents in the cities of Ho Chi Minh, Can Tho, Nam Dinh
and Hai Phong. It will also enable the
future scaling-up of the poverty targeted urban upgrading program to
additional cities through the development of the National Urban Upgrading
Program. http://go.worldbank.org/5Z2TFPKVQ0 Vietnam -
Urban Upgrading Project - Additional Finance - Project Information
Documents Document Date:
2009/02/19 The Vietnam Urban Upgrading Project (VUUP) credit in the
amount of SDR 148.8 million, then equivalent to US$ 222.47 million, was
approved by the Board of Executive Directors on April 29, 2004 and became
effective on October 6, 2004. A
Japanese PHRD implementation grant in the amount of 4.5 million was approved
at the same time. The Project is due
to close on December 31, 2012. The
Government of Vietnam has requested additional financing for this Project in
order to complete the project as designed and attain the original Project
objectives. The additional financing of US$160 million would serve
two purposes: - Allow for the completion of the Project as designed by
covering an approximately US$150 million financing gap that is related
to: (i) the failure to secure
financing from other sources for the Tom Hoa – Lo Gom canal improvement in Ho
Chi Minh City; and (ii) the unusually high inflation in the construction
sector in 2007-8; and - Scaling-up of the National Urban Upgrading Program
component to prepare upgrading projects for additional cities (US$5.0 to 10.0
million). To achieve the objectives of the Project, and in
particular to ensure that benefits accrue to the estimated 2.0 million
Project beneficiaries, it is estimated that an additional US$151 million will
be required (HCMC $120.0, Can Tho $11.62, Hai Phong $10.45 and Nam Dinh $9.14
million). The additional financing
would cover the financing gap resulting from inflation (US$30 million) for
Phase 2 investments in Can Tho, Hai Phong and Nam Dinh and to cover the cost
of completing the upgrading of the Tom Hoa – Lo Gom Canal which will not be
financed by other donors as originally expected. The cost of upgrading the canal will be
$120 million and is based on the final detailed engineering designs as of
December, 2008 representing the most accurate costs and the cost increases
since appraisal. In addition,
approximately $5-10 million of additional financing will be used to
supplement that National Urban Upgrading component to prepare a pipeline of
ready projects for future financing. The additional financing will allow the Project to
achieve its objectives in all four cities.
The financing of the Tom Hoa – Lo Gom Canal, the largest piece of the
additional financing, in particular is a critical piece of the Project to
ensure the sustainability of the investments in the low-income communities in
the Tom Hoa – Lo Gom canal district of Ho Chi Minh City – the focus of the
Project in Ho Chi Minh City and one of the lowest income areas in Ho Chi Minh
City.. The canal is a source of direct
pollution and flooding in the basin due to its low hydraulic capacity. Houses in the basin are frequently
inundated by up to a meter of mixed flood water and sewage which gives rise
to water borne diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid and flooding seriously
impacts economic activities. Nearly
1.0 million people will benefit from the improvement of the canal. http://go.worldbank.org/RU68BJIH50
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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. Please let us know if you
have directly benefited from an opportunity
information disseminated by VDIC. 2009 Goi Peace Foundation
UNESCO International Essay Contest for Young People The United Nations has designated 2001-2010 as the
"International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the
Children of the World" and 2005-2014 as the "United Nations Decade
of Education for Sustainable Development." Not only should young people
benefit from these global initiatives, but they should be empowered to play a
leading role in them. The theme of this year's International Essay Contest is
"The role of science in building a better world." Young people from
around the world are invited to submit their innovative ideas on this theme. Scientific progress has brought many benefits to humanity, while
some applications of science have had adverse impacts. What kind of science
and technology do you think is needed for realizing a more equitable,
prosperous and sustainable world for all? Please express your vision for the
future of science, including examples of studies or researches you wish to
engage in. Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June
30, 2009) in one of the following age categories: a) Children (ages up to 14)
b) Youth (ages 15 - 25). Essays must be 800 words or less, typed or printed in English,
French, Spanish or German. Deadline: Entries must be received by June 30, 2009. For more information please visit http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0901.html 2010 PANASONIC SCHOLARSHIP
FOR VIETNAM Eligibility: - Applicants must be citizens of Vietnam - Applicants must be graduated or pending graduate of
universities and have a distinguished academic record (Applicants must have
completed their bachelor degrees no more than 4 years prior to the date of
their arrival in Japan) - Applicants must major in one of the science and technology
discipline (This excludes medical science, pharmacology and dentistry) - Applicants must have English Certificate (Level C and above).
Applicants must be medically fit and must be strongly motivated to study in Japan Remark: - Applicants who are receiving or will receive other
scholarships including Japanese Government Scholarship are not eligible for
the Panasonic Scholarship. - Applicants who are already enrolled at graduate schools in Japan
are not eligible for the Panasonic Scholarship Contact details: Panasonic Scholarship Office Vietnam Panasonic Vietnam Co., Ltd. Plots J1-J2 Thang Long Industrial Park, Dong Anh District, Hanoi,
Vietnam Tel: 04 3 9550 111/2/3 Fax:
04 3 9550 144 ATTN: Ms. Bui Viet Anh Tel: 04 3955 0111/2/3 (Ext: 1215) Hand phone: 0989 336 318 Email: vietanh.bui@vn.panasonic.com For more information please visit http://panasonic.net/scholarship/ Essay competition
"Young Voices in Research for Health: Innovating for the health of all” If you are a young professional (under 30) working on or
interested in the broad spectrum of research for health, please feel free to
submit your original, provocative, idealistic and passionate ideas on this
year's theme, taking established practices to task in a constructive fashion. This year's competition focuses on "Innovating for the
health of all". "Innovation" encompasses the entire process
from the generation of new ideas, to their transformation into something
useful, to their implementation. Innovation for health includes the
development of new and more cost-effective services, products, methods,
management practices and policies to improve health outcomes. It involves
both social and technological innovation. Deadline: 3 May 2009. For more information please visit http://www.globalforumhealth.org/shlinks/yvhr2009.php Call for nomination for the
13th Itoga Kazuo Award for disabilities The 13th Itoga Kazuo Award will be given to an individual with
disabilities in East Asia, South East Asia and the Western Pacific(not Australia
or NZ), who have made a great contribution to disability community in a
country of their residence. For more information please visit http://www.itogazaidan.jp/english/guidelines_for_applicants/index.htm Essay Contest for 11th and
12th Graders Worldwide 24th Annual Essay Contest is on Ayn Rand's Novel, The
Fountainhead. This is for 11th and 12th Graders The Fountainhead—Topics Select ONE of the following three topics: - Dominique Francon loves Roark yet struggles to destroy him.
Why? And how does this conflict connect to the novel's theme and meaning? - In asking Roark to design Cortlandt, Keating says he would
sell his soul for Roark’s help. Roark replies, “To sell your soul is the
easiest thing in the world. That’s what everybody does every hour of his
life. If I asked you to keep your soul—would you understand why that’s much
harder?” (Part 4, Chapter 8). Fully explain the meaning of this scene. - In a single, unified essay, compare and contrast one of the
following pairs of characters, their approach to life, and their basic
motivation: i) Howard Roark and Henry Cameron; ii) Peter Keating and
Ellsworth Toohey; iii) Gail Wynand and Dominique Francon. Entry Deadline: April 25, 2009. For more information please visit http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_contests_tf The Australian Leadership
Awards (ALA) Scholarships The Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Scholarships are provided
by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) with the aim
of developing leadership and linkages within the Asia-Pacific region. The Scholarships are offered to high
achievers from the region to undertake postgraduate study in Australia and a
Leadership Development Program. Study programs must relate to AusAID’s
priority areas of disability, economic growth, education, environment, food
security, gender, governance, health, human rights, infrastructure, regional
stability, rural development and water & sanitation. ALA Scholarships seek to empower awardees to lead social and
economic policy and development in their own countries and in the region. To
enhance leadership skills, AusAID has invested A$10.128 million over four
years to deliver a comprehensive Leadership Development Program (LDP) to all ALA
scholars. The LDP comprises of a three day conference in Canberra, regional
workshops, leadership coaching and practice opportunities. The LDP aims to
help scholars explore and harness their full leadership potential and enhance
their understanding of development challenges at national, regional and
global levels. The LDP also provides
important networking and collaborative opportunities for participants. Applications for the commencement of the 2010 academic year will
open on 19 March 2009 and will close on 30 June 2009. Mandatory requirements for ALA Scholarships application: - A record of high-level undergraduate or post-graduate academic
achievement; - Appropriate results in one of the following English language
proficiency tests being achieved for no longer than two years prior to the
date of the application ie IELTS with an overall result of at least 6.5 and
no individual band less than 6; or the equivalent level of TOEFL - see the
AusAID website below for further details; - An Unconditional Letter of Offer from an Australian
university; - Willingness to return to your country for at least two years
immediately upon completion of the scholarship to help build capacity there. For detailed information on ALA Scholarships please visit www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/default.cfm 2009 GE Foundation Scholar
- Leaders Program The Institute of International Education (IIE) in Vietnam is
pleased to announce the GE Foundation Scholar-Leaders Program 2009. The
program is administered by IIE on behalf of the GE Foundation, the
philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company. Through this initiative, the GE Foundation seeks to increase
access to higher education by identifying and recognizing up to 15
economically disadvantaged first-year undergraduate students from
participating universitiesacross Vietnam who are pursuing degrees in the
fields of business, engineering and the sciences. Only applicants who meet the eligibility criteria described
below will be considered for the award - Are Vietnamese citizens - Are first-year full-time students at a participating
Vietnamese university - Are studying business, engineering or the sciences - Exhibit excellent performance, as demonstrated by first
semester university results and high school transcripts - Are economically disadvantaged, as evidenced by proper
documents/certifications The application package must be submitted by May 29, 2009. For more information please visit http://www.iievn.org/webpage/default/DetailNews.aspx?parentCateId=98&id=282 Directory of Grants and
Fellowships in the Global Health Sciences A comprehensive compilation of international funding
opportunities in biomedical and behavioral research, separated by category. Website: http://www.fic.nih.gov/funding/directory_fellowships.htm International Women's Media
Foundation Invites Neuffer Fellowship Applications The International Women's Media Foundation (http://www.iwmf.org)
is accepting applications for the 2009-10 Elizabeth Neuffer
Fellowship, which is awarded to women journalists who focus on human rights
and social justice. Full-time, part-time, or freelance journalists working on human
rights or social justices issues are eligible to apply. Recipients spend nine
months (September 2009 to May 2010) in a specialized academic research
program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (http://www.mit.edu).
During that time, Neuffer fellows may also work with the Boston Globe or New
York Times. Deadline: April 15, 2009. For more information please visit www.iwmf.org/neuffer/ Announcement - Brown
International Advance Research Institutes - Accepting Applications International Affairs at Brown University is proud to announce
the launch of an exciting new faculty development initiative, the *Brown
International Advanced Research Institutes (BIARI)*. The objective of the program is to provide
a platform for promising young faculty from the Global South and emerging
economies to engage in a high level and sustained intellectual and policy
dialogue with leading scholars in their fields, and to foster scholarly
networks among young faculty, while providing them with an opportunity to
develop their scholarship agendas. This ambitious new program is designed to provide needed
professional development opportunities for young scholars embarking on lives
in research and teaching. The Brown
International Advanced Research Institutes, under the guidance of
International Affairs aims to make a significant contribution to global
research through transnational academic collaboration, promoting Brown University's
vision of the global university. We are seeking your assistance in identifying promising young
scholars who you believe would most benefit from this innovative new program.
While there are no specific qualifications required,
BIARI will give particular consideration to the applicant's track record in
terms of scholarship and teaching. The application process for participation in the June 2009
BIARIs is now open through the BIARI website http://www.Brown.edu/BIARI SCHOLARSHIP: World
Agroforestry Centre Memorial Fellowship (2009) ICRAF is pleased to announce the availability of thesis research
fellowships for postgraduate students wishing to conduct thesis research in
collaboration with ICRAF Scientists. The fellowships are tenable at any
university in countries where ICRAF has effective scientific contacts. The
upper limit for the support is US $ 5,000 to cover field research and thesis
production. Eligibility: a) Be a national of a developing country involved in
Agroforestry research, education or development b) Candidates must be 35 years of age or under c) Be registered for a postgraduate degree at a recognised
university (evidence required) d) Show evidence of interest in Agroforestry research by
producing an Agroforestry research concept (max 3 pages, covering title,
objectives, hypotheses, methods and tools, location, duration and budget) e)Have completed or be close to completing coursework for the
graduate degree for which she/he is registered f) Be an employee of a university or a national research
institute Closing date for submission of application is 30 April 2009. For details and electronic application go to http://www.worldagroforestry.org/Training/memorial_scholarships.asp World Forestry Institute (WFI)
International Fellowship Program WFI International Fellowship Program - term: 6-12 months -
applications accepted year-round. The
WFI Fellowship brings professionals in natural resources to conduct a
practical research project at the World Forestry Center. In addition to projects, Fellows
participate in weekly field trips, interviews and site visits to Northwest
forestry organizations, research labs, universities, public and private
timberlands, trade associations, mills, and corporations. The Fellowship is a unique opportunity to
learn about sustainable forestry from the Pacific Northwest forestry sector,
and to work with colleagues from around the world. Fellowships are open to any country, and
there is a matching grant from the Harry A. Merlo Foundation. Over 70 Fellows from 23 countries have
participated to date. Applications are
accepted year-round. For details, visit: http://wfi.worldforestry.org/fellowship-1.htm |
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