AsianNGO November-December 2014

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ISSUE #10 | NOV-DEC 2014 ISSN: 2312-0924

Funds | Partnerships | Learning

On e y ear af t er H ai yan

ADRA

"If there is consensus, it’s that the international, non-government organisations were the true saviours. Without them, we’d be dead from hunger by now."

–Resident of one of Typhoon Haiyan’s worst hit communities in Central Philippines last year; lamenting on the Philippine government’s poor delivery of relief goods, weeks into their post-disaster fight for survival. Lifted from Lourd de Veyra’s Look Back in Anger piece on the anniversary of Haiyan.

Esquire Philippines, November 2014.

FEATURED GRANT

Grant to up food output, quality in Asia, Africa using satellite data The Geodata for Agriculture and Water (G4AW) invites applications for PPPs from government organisations, NGOs and research institutes for a grant to improve food security and income, spur economic development, and stimulate private investments in Asia. Partner countries targeted in the region are Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Myanmar. Vietnam Cont. page 15

FEATURED GRANT

Call for creating shared value: Nestle awards grants for 2016 Nestlé is inviting non-government organisations and social enterprises to apply for the 2016 Call for the Nestlé Creating Shared Value Prize, to improve access to water and better nutrition, and overall rural development in developing countries.

Deadline for application is on 28 February 2015.

The natural quality-quantity dilemma: food security in Asia With global population exceeding the 7-billion mark this year, developing regions face profound implications for development with serious touch-points on sustainability, urbanisation, access to health services, and youth empowerment. All these concerns tie back to the issue of food shortage. “Even with the rising middle class, we have a lot of hunger and malnutrition globally. And the real problem is here in Asia,” Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO regional representative for Asia-Pacific, says.

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BRICS, China-led development banks launched The world’s five emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa or the BRICS bloc – recently launched the New Development Bank, regarded by some to rival World Bank (WB), IMF and the ADB. Meanwhile, China also launched the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in October, proposing to pour in USD50 billion for development in the region.

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Malaysia NGOs support youth empowerment The will to create change limits no race, gender or age; and needs only one thing: the courage to act now. In this year’s ceremonies in Oslo, Norway in December, the Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded to Malala Yousafzai, the youngest laureate in the Prize’s history. At 17, she has fought for children and women’s rights to formal education in Pakistan, even if it meant putting her life on the line. Her unfaltering courage and passion show that the youth can make a change.

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FEATURED CSR EVENT

Human capital still companies’ best asset—Singapore Compact CSR Summit “A happy worker is a productive worker,” said Unilever Southeast Asia and Oceania President and CEO Peter Ter-Kulve at this year’s International Singapore Compact CSR Summit last month at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

Root crops valuable to food security page 3

Country Feature: Thailand page 4

A lesson from Myanmar on strengthening civil society page 6 CSR SPECIAL: Sustainability Ranking in Asia page 8 Exclusive interview with CAPSA on food production page 11 TechSoup calls for region-based digital change page 13 Resource on business, human rights launched in Singapore page 14 Youth achieving inclusive solutions

Middle East wild crops key to world food security?

Cont. page 10

T OP S T OR I E S

Wild-growing crops in the Middle East called the crop wild relatives (CWR) could be essential to address global food security. Found in Syria and throughout the Fertile Crescent areas in the region, they contain genes that allow them to adapt to a diverse range of habitats.

"As we become more desperate for food, the diversity we need is only going to be in these crop wild relatives,” Nigel Maxted, geneticist at the University of Birmingham, said. CWR's gene pool is seen as a potential Cont. page 3

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For more information on grants and events useful for your NGO, turn to page 15-16 or sign up for free at www.asianngo.org.

EDITORIAL Editorial

The multiplier effect in enabling the enablers One very common misconception about the works of non-government organisations, especially from unorganised or small local community groups, is that all [NGOs] need is the passion for one’s advocacy. The crusade, the activism.

But for those who have had experiences working with larger (or international) institutions – multi-lateral agencies, development and Mike Saycon aid donors from foreign governments, INGOs – mike@asianngo.org reality sinks in: as much as NGOs operate with a deeper sense of passion and concern for their causes, operationally there still needs to be a similar structure (and flow) with which corporations work.

If we go deeper into the field, we learn that the need to operate in a more structured way is underscored by the fact that many NGOs subsist on grants from foreign donors – who are particular about transparency and accountability in managing their funds.

We’ve seen do-gooders run into trouble with their donors simply because one of the accounting staff may not have fully understood the fine-print in the cooperation agreement. No one wants a problem while solving a problem.

Simply put, do NGOs need to run their operations like corporations do? Not entirely. Do they need to have the basic operating principles of a corporation? Yes, very much.

Because in the grand scheme of things, success – in any organisation – lies much on how their works are organised and more so in the way they maintain relationships with stakeholders.

This is why enabling NGOs at an operational level is very important; as much as nurturing their values, advocacies and

linkages. This is also why we can never underestimate the value of trainings, data, workshops, research and further learning.

As we close the year, we give tribute to very supportive partners from whom not only we at AsianNGO have benefited; but at a larger scale, thousands of NGOs, non-profits and social enterprises. The ADB’s NGO and Civil Society Centre, ADB Accountability Mechanism, ASSIST, Blackbaud International, Claro KC, ICOR, InsideNGO, MDF International, TechSoup Global, The Asia Foundation, among many others, have shared not only resources but more importantly, learnings that are relevant to and needed by many NGOs in Asia. This is another occasion to say Thank You. Empowering NGOs with support in making their works better has a domino enabling effect on the communities they serve; and more importantly, builds bridges between stakeholders for better cooperation in the future. First, it improves their way of doing their job and increasing efficiency in carrying out their missions; especially when they operate through grants and aid funds from outside.

Second, it sets a culture of trust, improved capacities and more commitment between them and the community, particularly local staff and their immediate circles. We have seen many local NGOs grow not only in terms of size but also in their relationships with their communities not just by the sheer work that they do; but because of how effective these works have become in the people who benefit – and that is only possible when they are institutionally empowered to do their work better.

This issue also celebrates the brave local NGOs who continually fight for maintaining the kind of enabling environment for their societies. We feature the current state of affairs in Thailand and how local NGOs face the challenges of a military rule, along with the civil conflicts that come with it; with their civil rights clipped and thus, capabilities limited.

Unfortunately as a coincidence, we see a similar struggle in other sides of Asia – the post-Arab Spring, the unrest in Syria that has victimised millions of civilians, and the rising threat of the Islamic State. Even further but still close to home, we heard of the crisis in Ukraine – and we are sharing a piece by a fellow scholar who highlights the role of NGOs and the use of social media in mobilising a community to fight back to its aggressors.

Finally, we commemorate the first year of Typhoon Haiyan that brought not only one country to its knees; it also brought the whole world to open its heart for a people in need and respond to an event that was beyond words.

Throughout all these situations the courage and dedication of aid, humanitarian, development and rescue workers are unmatched.

There had been structural questions on how governments (should have) responded, or how some organisations operate; where the money goes, who gets the goods first; and how effective everyone’s work has been or should be.

This also leads us back to the question of how empowered our NGOs are – big or small – and how we can all help them attain better efficiency on their various scopes of work. And that is even more so why enabling our NGOs institutionally and organisationally are just as important as our project managers having a better understanding of ground realities to be effective. ■ About the cover photo

Commentary

Rural network must improve In 2012, the Government of Vietnam adopted the National Green Growth Strategy (GGS), which outlines overall objectives, prioritises projects for 2015, spells out plans up to 2025 and elaborates a vision for 2100. The goals are green growth and a low-carbon economy. The government wants to reduce emissions from the energy sector by 10-20% compared with the business-as-usual case until 2020, and by 20-30% until 2030. The core challenge is to mitigate climate change and promote social and economic development at the same time.

In this context, modernising

the rural power network is Do Thi Bich Ngoc do-thi-bich.ngoc@kfw.de of high importance. Village

communities obviously need electricity to prosper. It is a major achievement that roughly 97% of rural households in Vietnam had access to electricity last year. (In 1975 only 2.5 % of rural households were connected.)

But in many places power supply is still not reliable. Services must become more efficient and sustainable, and the utility management must become more accountable.

Of 9,000 electrified municipalities, local distribution units currently serve only 5,000. Since many of them do not perform reasonably, the Government assigned the state-owned utility Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to take over all units that are not operating well. This decision was in line with the National Target Programme to Respond to Climate Change of 2008, which compliments the GGS.

demand is rising but the low-voltage system is being expanded fast, so the medium-voltage network must be enhanced, too.

Given the low electricity tariff and Vietnam’s credit ratings, EVN hardly attracts financing from the commercial market, but mainly relies on funding from development institutions.

For instance, KfW supports the climate-friendly modernisation of Vietnam’s rural networks on behalf of the German Federal Government. Other partners include the World Bank, ADB and the Agence Française de Développement (AfD). All these development institutions provide long-term loans with low interest rates plus technical assistance. But these funds are not sufficient to comprehensively improve the network.

Finally, to operate and maintain the network, competent staff is needed as modernisation and extension of rural power networks has or will have resulted in millions of new consumers.

Upgrading the rural network is a huge task, and there are three main challenges. First, the existing infrastructure was built 20-30 years ago and is now obsolete in many places, resulting in energy loss. Local grids tend to be ill-designed. The quality of the low-voltage service is frequently inadequate, and safety rules are often violated. EVN data shows the average energy loss is around 20% in rural networks, and rises to 40-50% in other areas. This requires an extensive amount of funds to be fixed.

Modernising the rural power network serves the double purpose of improving people’s lives and mitigating climate change. In this context, greater energy efficiency means that less power needs to be generated in the first place. Vietnam is a developing country at the bottom of the middle-income category. The Government wants to create a low-carbon economy without forsaking development. To achieve this two-pronged goal, Vietnam will need to continue its own effort and get further support from the international donor community.

Improving infrastructure is expensive, and funding is an issue.

EVN estimates that a comprehensive programme to upgrade the local networks will cost between $2 bn and $3 bn. Rural

(Do Thi Bich Ngoc, do-thi-bich.ngoc@kfw.de, is senior project coordinator for the energy sector in KfW’s Hanoi office. This piece also appears in Development+Cooperation, www.dandc.eu.) ■

This issue highlights the gap between the latest generation of industrialisation in Asia, along with the rapid growth of emerging economics; and the growing gap in access to sufficient and nutritious food in the region – a focus on food (in) security. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization defines food security as the state “when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”

And while Asia is largely driven by economies based on agriculture and manufacturing, leading to the rise of countries from to low- to middle-income status, half a billion of the world’s poor live in the region. This photo, ‘Bare-Hand Fishing’ by Erwin James Avelino Agumbay, pays tribute to the hard work of research professionals, NGOs and advocates, private sector investors, government agencies and civil society in the crusade to bring an answer to the dwindling quantity (and quality) of food in Asia – despite the economic boom experienced in the region.

‘Bare-Hand Fishing’ was an entry in the ‘Ten Photos to Shake the World’ 2013 Photo Competition, by ASSIST Asia in 2013.

TPSW is a social initiative to raise awareness on socially relevant issues – the environment, poverty, children’s rights, education, public health, and good governance. It has spun off a South Asia edition earlier this year, gathering hundreds of young photographers to contribute their images to raise awareness on these issues – food security among the top concerns.

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F E AT U R E S

Root crop valuable to food security—Int’l Potato Center For poor communities in developing countries, securing food is a challenge. Climate change and natural disasters are common threats that hamper access and production of food.

The International Potato Center, however, sees a sustainable approach for food security: farming root crops. Also known as Centro Internacional de la Papa or CIP, the Peru-based institution encourages the farming of root crops as sustainable means to ensure availability of food. CIP calls for consolidation to promote the production and consumption of Asian tubers.

Root crops can potentially help communities in recovering from disasters and aid them in building resilience to climate change.

“They are an effective way of improving the health, quality of life and resilience, especially of smallholder farming households,” said Julieta Roa, collaborating researcher at the CIP-Philippines.

CIP, along with Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security in South East Asia (CCAFS-SEA) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), organised a media seminar workshop in the Philippines last August.

Participants in the workshop who associated sweet potato or ‘camote’ in local language with poverty and inferiority, were in for a surprise. This is because camote has been an undervalued crop to some Filipinos. “In the Philippines, many people do not realise how nutritious and valuable sweet potato is and how useful the crop is for disaster recovery, especially for the rural communities after disasters such as that brought by Typhoon Haiyan,” said Dr. Christopher Wheatley, Interim Project Leader of Food Security Through Asian Roots and Tubers (FoodSTART).

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Malaysia NGOs support youth empowerment Malala at the World Bank on International Day of the Girl last year. This year she will be honoured in Olso with the Nobel Peace Prize. (Image: Joe Athialy/Flickr)

two offered grants: The Youth Action Grant which funds up to MYR15,000 (USD4,500) for one-off projects, and the Social Venture Fund that gives up to R250,000 ($75,000) financial support to build long-term organisations. For more information, visit www.myharapan.org. myConsti In 2009, Malaysia’s Bar Council saw the importance of teaching the country’s constitution to the youth, to help them realise their desire to make a change. Through MyConsti, the Council aims to educate citizens on the Federal Constitution and the law in general.

The same strength and passion ignited some of Malaysia’s youth to start initiatives and movements that boost nation-building, unity, political participation and youth development.

Engaging the youth through ‘myHarapan’ Before myHarapan was conceived, its creators found in focus groups that young people’s plans to start an initiative usually lack support. As a response, they thought of creating an independent platform to help the youth drive their initiatives on their own.

“We advocate social entrepreneurship and get the youngsters to do projects on their own; facilitating the process on their own, instead of spoon-feeding them,” said myHarpan CEO Nurfarini Daing. The initiative provides engagement programmes, organises workshops, develops content and offers seed grants. Those who want to start their projects can choose from one of their

“We spearheaded MyConsti to bring the contents of the Malaysian Federal Constitution to all Malaysians in a language and manner simple enough for the public to understand and appreciate without compromising the substance,“ said Firdaus Husni, chair of the Bar Council Constitutional Committee.

To spread the movement more widely, MyConsti has utilised different media platforms – from television, radio, newspapers to social media – to reach out to the youth. They have conducted a series of public forums and workshops in partnership with schools and colleges, NGOs and churches. Anyone can do their part in sharing MyConsti’s goals or to join the learning series by sending an email to perlembagaanku@gmail.com or visiting their website at www.perlembagaanku@gmail.com.

There are several other notable NGOs that focus on engaging the youth in nation-building, too; such as the Perdana Fellows Programme, UndiMsia!, Random Alphabets, Youth on Unity, The Nasi Lemak Project, EPIC Homes, Malaysian-American Alumni Partnership and Akademi Belia. (The Star)

“In normal times, sweet potato offers very good source of income through market links, value chains developing alongside the food industry, and a nutrient-rich food option for urban consumers,” he added. When Haiyan hit the Philippines, CIP’s national programme partner, Visayas State UniversityPhilRootcrops, helped in re-building the damaged communities.

Those in the response team found that “beneath fallen coconut trees, or in open fields and on slopes, sweet potato survived.”

To further strengthen the value of sweet potatoes, CIP and Visayas State University have collaborated to provide a better line of sweet potatoes that are resilient to disease. To follow their updates, visit www.cipotato.org. (BusinessMirror/MB). ■

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Middle East wild crops key to world food security?

A farm in the outskirts of Kurdistan.

(Image: Desmond Kavanagh/Flickr)

for breeders to acquire genes that could enhance crop resistance to stresses like climate change, pests and diseases. About fifty percent of these wild crops – which include relatives of wheat, barley, oats, rye, peas, beans, and fruit trees – originate in the Middle East. This information eliminates questions about the survival of temperature fruits and vegetables. Although these wild crops grow in conflict zones, Maxted believes it is a good thing for the crops, saying “you can’t do normal agriculture during conflict," which also means the weeds will have a greater chance of survival. Still, the conflicts make conservation efforts difficult as the wild crops become inaccessible to scientists. The leader of the Conservation and Availability Programme at Bioversity International, Ehsan Dulloo, adds that governments do not have the capacity to focus on conservation at times of conflict.

To date, only about 10% of CWR are preserved in various gene banks around the globe while there are no efficient efforts taken yet to preserve them in their natural habitat. A study conducted

by Maxted and his colleagues last year and published in Elsevier’s Biological Conservation, identified 173 priority crops and 1,667 of their wild relatives. Last September they announced unpublished information identifying global hotspots where protected areas could be set up to conserve CWR in their natural habitats.

“What we must do is negotiate with governments to establish a global network of CWR conservation sites,” Maxted said. The conservation sites would ensure that they are actively maintained and safeguard the long-term survival of these species and the genetic diversity within them. He also confirms discussions currently being done under the aegis of the Food and Agriculture Organization. (NatureAsia) www.asianngo.org

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C O U N T R Y F E AT U R E T H A ILAND SP E CIAL

The fighting chance of the enigmatic captive

Foundation for Children hosts poor children Bangkok-based NGO Foundation for Children helps Thai homeless and underprivileged kids; giving them hope to live a more dignified life; and offers shelter and aid to disadvantaged children.

The FFC has observed that children suffer because they lack a home that can give them warmth and love. So by taking them into its custodial care, poor children now do not have to wander aimlessly on the streets or be lured into prostitution; they are also protected from the risk of being subjected to forced labour in factories.

“Children need to be physically, emotionally and mentally sound before they step into society as adults; and be fully developed so they can make healthy choices in taking part in the society. We at the FFC believe that all these can be achieved by educating children and giving them a home. It is an alternative living community where children are taught to love themselves, their culture and the land on which they live,” said Moo Baan Dek or Children's Village School, which a project under FFC’s support.

When children are taken in by Moo Baan Dek, they are first encouraged to deal with their emotional stress and repressed feelings. By doing this, children are given the chance to be emotionally healthy, allowing them to easily adapt to their new environment. Moo Baan Dek shelters around 150 children.

Aside from education, children are provided with vocational trainings and art workshops; like ceramic molding, batik and dress-making and weaving. The village also has a farm where children are tasked to care for plants and animals through natural farming methods.

FFC’s other projects include feeding programmes for malnourished children, creative media for child learning, campaigns for the protection of children’s rights, and awareness initiatives to prevent child prostitution and child abuse.

For more information on the works of FFC or to get in touch on how you can help, visit www. ffc.or.th. ■

WHO supports Thai medical gain for Ebola vaccine Thai civil society has historically been linked to the evolution of the country’s political and economic life, along with people’s changing attitude to social movements like nongovernment organisations. In the 1990s, this transformation was closely tied to its steep economic growth in the two decades prior; and the emergence of social movements shifted from service delivery development NGOs to organising protests and campaigns as the dominant theme in CSOs’ works.

This year the world watched as the Thai military junta, calling itself the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), took power in a coup in May. In its first days as the new government, the NCPO carried out a series of arrests and raids of people at home – summoning journalists, NGO activists, academics and students. The Internet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw, www.ilaw.or.th), a local NGO advocating public access to law and information, said there have already been almost a thousand persons summoned, arrested and detained.

especially in a country like Thailand where, for most of its history, social movements and even the press have had unstable relationship with politics.

Yet despite all this roller-coaster societal evolution, what holds the country together – at least the constant being its civil society – is its long tradition of religious philanthropy.

The Asian Development Bank cites Thailand as having a stronger corporate philanthropy, CSR and social enterprises than in many other Mekong countries; with private enterprises and state-owned companies increasing their CSR projects to reach out to rural communities.

The struggle in Thailand reflects how civil society can be catapulted into state-level combat through its NGOs, but the larger picture is that of the regional and international NGOs maintaining Bangkok or Chang Mai as hub. Many of them are active in networks or through regional programmes on public health, trafficking, or HIV/AIDS prevention, education, child care and gender issues, and agriculture. Since Thailand was elevated to middle-income status, foreign donor In response, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), another NGO established soon funding for local organisations dipped; leaving after the May coup for the reparation of human the NGOs sustaining on these waning grants from outside, or tap social enterprises and rights violations, collaborated with the Cross consultancies to support their non-profit work.

Cultural Foundation to report in September on the country’s [human rights] situation, 100 Thai grant-making facilities, on the other days on the military rule. The TLHR, Cross, and another partner NGO, AI Thailand, were hand, have not embraced sustainable threatened with military court proceedings by funding strategies just yet; relying mostly police and army troops at the venue; they had on endowments. The NGO-Coordinating Committee on Development, previously set up to cancel the event. through a Canadian-funded project, eventually became the Local Development Institute This current state has, in a way, re-awakened (LDI) in 2001. It was intended to be a grantpreviously plateauing movements back into social activism. Of late, the NGO-Committee making and policy organisation closing the on Rural Development (NGO-CORD), once gaps between the public sector, civil society and community associations. the coordinator for development work in the country in the 1980s, has now been publicly denouncing the aggression of the junta against Also, many NGOs rely on volunteers for their daily operations; and on non-grant funds like activists, scholars and journalists. service delivery arrangements with government.

World Vision (Thailand) is one example of “Arrests and interrogation of academics and delivering basic services to migrant populations activists in public gatherings undermine the NCPO's own efforts to push national reforms,” in border areas and, over the years, children and young orphans needing education and health Srisuwan Khuankachorn, chairman of NGOcare.

CORD, told reporters. In late October, 17 activists were arrested by the Army after civil The implication is clear: with a continuing society groups issued a statement saying they culture of restraint on civil society, the Thais would boycott reform efforts initiated by the and their local NGOs – along with larger, NCPO, the ruling military party. international partners who have programmes in their communities – are endangered one “People [arrested] have been working closely with villagers whose land has been confiscated, way or another. The LDI, for example, (aims to) work at the community and policy levels crops destroyed, and houses relocated due to with the emphasis on empowerment and prolonged conflicts. These arrests thus have self-reliance through local initiatives and alarming effects on land rights activists and human rights defenders,” Khuankachorn added. affecting macroeconomic-policies. If we were to be guided by the current events in Thailand While NGO-CORD had somehow relegated and how the NCPO steers the country’s civil itself to an alliance of NGOs in northeast region and ceased to act as central coordinator society; the advocacy and developmental work of NGOs will need a further, stronger backing (like it did in the early-1980s), the junta has from the outside. triggered old passions into the mainstream.

One may ask, why single-out NGOs? For one – much like in the Marcos regime in the Philippines and the former communist, exSoviet states in Central Asia and Eastern Europe – NGOs in the past have been suspected of masking their underground political work. This attitude of distrust may be difficult to erode, 4

After all, NGOs exist not only to deliver aid to communities; more importantly, they are the neutral progression of democracy through expanding the number and diversity of sentiments in addressing issues where governments may have fallen short. (With reports from the Bangkok Post and ADB) ■

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 8,900 people have been diagnosed with the Ebola virus, a severe clinical condition that has killed at least 4,500 as of this writing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced they are anticipating 10,000 new cases per week by the end of the year.

They synthesised Ebola genes when developing the anti-body and tested them on similar viruses, but less dangerous, than the five Ebola variants. This was also claimed to be more effective than the existing ones. But it has not been tested with animals and humans yet.

“It is a new [anti-body] structure with a mechanism to kill the Ebola fever in the most effective manner,” Udom Kachintorn, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, said at a press conference in Bangkok in October.

Further testing are being done and WHO and the US National Institute of Health has offered support to the ongoing experiment. (Straits Times)

This anti-body can cure the disease as it is small enough to get inside the infected cells and tear down the Ebola proteins and stop it The outbreak has been alarming and several potential treatments were formulated by the US from replicating. This will not harm humans as it is made up from human cells. Researchers and Japanese researchers. Now, Thai doctors have found an anti-body that can possibly cure indicated the development of the experimental vaccine could be hastened through accessibility the disease despite not having access to the to more funds and better facilities. virus.

Thailand fights HIV through blood test ‘party’ To promote blood tests for the detection of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Thailand launched its first blood test party under the name “Fresh Up” in Bangkok last September. Fresh Up was organised by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), in partnership with TestBKK, a Thai activist group that fights the spreading of HIV and AIDS. The party was held as a strategy to encourage blood tests among male same-sex couples and transgender people. Thailand's first mass HIV testing for gay men is part of a much larger cause to counter HIV infection through awareness campaigns.

"This event is the new approach to discuss and exchange attitude about HIV, so we can reach to our target group easier. It is the new approach that will draw people in" said Philip Lim, campaign coordinator of TestBKK. The event featured stage performances, games, and discussions about HIV, aside from blood testing.

Reports over the past decade show that HIV

has rapidly spread among gay men, transgender people, and male sex workers in Bangkok.

Forty-one percent of newly infected people in Thailand are men who have sex with men (MSM), as stated in a report from UNAIDS in August 2014. According to another report

by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, HIV infection among gay men in the country has increased, from 17 percent in 2003 to 29 percent in 2011.

It was also stated in the UNAIDS report that 90 percent of the new adult HIV infections were caused by unprotected sex.

"We have a new method to promote not only condom use but also promote HIV testing.

These two things have to go together. If we only promote blood testing but not condoms, it will be impossible to control HIV," said Piyathida Smutraprapoot, head of AIDS Control Division, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

“If people know their status, they can learn how to prevent the spread to others,” she said. ■

Chevron, NGO team up to help Thai parents ‘talk’ to kids Chevron Thailand Ltd. has teamed up with the Path2Health Foundation to facilitate a ParentYouth Communication programme, which aims to curb youth-related problems by improving communication within families. Since 2011, they have organised capacity-building activities to educate parents about open communication with their children, to promote a trusting environment among families.

techniques on how to communicate effectively.

It can change a lot of things for their children.

All it takes are just tiny adjustments,” said Hatairat Articharte, policy manager for government and public affairs at Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd.

“Family members should be able to talk about everything with each other, not just about sex.

This is why we also teach and train parents on basics like listening – especially before making The company first started the awareness their judgments – and calming down. It is movement, “The Power of Human Energy,” mainly about communication. We are just using which led Chevron to join hands with Path2Health, an NGO that focuses on the Thai the topic of sex to convey the message,” added Pawana Wienrawee, director of Path2Health youth’s health development. Through one- or two-day workshops, parents are taught to avoid Foundation. shouting and maintain calmness when they deal By 2015, it is expected there will be around with their children’s issues.

20,000 participants in the programme. Over 10,000 parents have joined the workshops since Parents also undergo exercises and activities to help them talk to their children about sensitive it began in 2011. Chevron and Path2Health have initiated workshops in the provinces of topics, like sex.

Si Sa Ket and Udon Thani. The programme is expected to spread in central provinces, “For parents to have good relationship with including Bangkok. (Bangkok Post) their children, they only have to know the www.asianngo.org

COVER STORY from page 1

The natural quality-quantity dilemma: food security in Asia Over 550 million of the world’s chronically hungry are in Asia; with vast majority living on less than $1.25 daily, increasingly vulnerable to food price hikes and falling nutrition levels of basic staples.

Produce from farm plots in relatively undeveloped areas across Asia also requires improved handling outside existing food logistics. Compared to the US, where over 90% of meat, fruit and vegetables are transported in cold-storage vehicles, it is estimated that in Konuma cites rising populations and China only 15% of meat and 5% of fruit and consumerism that naturally translate to vegetables is effectively delivered to markets. increasing demand for food; while there is also In India, over 30% of fresh produce is wasted a decline in investment in the agriculture sector, because of inadequate transport, storage and stagnation of productivity, rising post-harvest other industrial infrastructure. losses and food waste, and the impact of natural disasters. According to FAO, global demand The Asian Literary Journal was less timid for food will increase by 60% in 2050 – when in 2011: “The crisis stems from flawed world population breaks the 9 bn mark. government policies. Asian policymakers have shifted their focus from a development path There is a problem… traditionally dominated by agricultural selfThe world, especially mothers and children, sufficiency to one mandated by industrialisation face an increasing risk not only on food supply; and mass-production […] but not recognising even worse, the quality of food has stunted that manufacturing-led growth can push the growth of children and endangered their agriculture to the background. Thus, ruralhealth in the process. “Malnutrition affects urban disparities unwittingly encourage overnot only children’s overall physical health, but consumption.” their ability to learn,” said (former Philippine Senator) Edgardo Angara, champion of a local …although it’s not invincible advocacy on addressing child health issues At the Aid & International Development through increased consumption of home-grown Forum (AIDF) on food security in Jakarta vegetables. He cited some statistics: 26% of last October, two incessant concepts stood school children are underweight, while 28% of out in the discussions: the question on food children aged five and below are stunted. availability (or lack thereof ); and the quality of food consumed in the region. Over 400 Another issue is anemia, with a prevalence of delegates from global and local NGOs, 56% among infants 6-11 months old, and government agencies, multi-national firms, 20% in the 6-12 age bracket. In addition, the academe, multi-lateral institutions and there is iron deficiency, Vitamin A deficiency individual advocates of inclusive economy, food and iodine deficiency disorders. This picture certification, and of development wrestled with is relatively representative in countries like one question: how to address most effectively a Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao looming food crisis in the region?

PDR and Nepal and Sri Lanka. The irony is the largely agricultural nature of these economies – It all comes back down to the basics of the food an easily logical assumption for success; yet the chain – tapping homegrown or locally available shortage of food points otherwise. resources. In the Philippines, schoolyard farming has gone through the legislative halls Still, the bigger question is the quality of of the Senate and into the mainstream media: food consumed – especially among poorer legislators and corporate foundations have now communities and marginalised groups – lobbied for the advocacy on planting fruits and which points to the overall economics of vegetables in school and household gardens. consumption: the rural poor buy processed or commercially mass-produced goods because But this is only the start. To scale up this they are cheaper. direction, there needs to be clear data and

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policy support in creating solutions. “Research and development for food safety policies, and strong accreditation programme in local supply chains, must be both centralised at a countrylevel and localised. The food chain must protect both the supplier and the consumer,” said Thanacheep Perathornich, acting director of the Thai Ministry of Health’s Bureau of Food and Water Sanitation, at the AIDF summit in October.

region. Policy reforms on integration must also improve existing supply-chain inefficiencies that result in significant food waste; and make resource conservation and management of the rural environment as central tenets in policies and planning.

Echoing Sparringa’s point earlier, a needs-based approach is still best. Some fine examples are the PPP collaborations in the region between ASSIST, an NGO working in India, Meanwhile, there is a clear need for the Philippines, and Vietnam; and TUV collaborative efforts. “Public-private partnership Rheinland and Bayer. Funded by the German (PPPs) on increased education and awareness Development Bank (KfW), the initiatives target and continued innovation are the key to structured programmes to achieve food safety sustainability and consistency in food quality,” and certification in Cambodia and Vietnam; Roy Sparringa, Indonesia’s National Agency for boost micro- and SMEs in the Philippine Food and Drug Control chair, said at AIDF – a agriculture sector; improve the efficiency sentiment strongly echoed across researchers, of solar-powered post-harvest facilities in corporations, and NGOs and multi-lateral Cambodia and India; and provide communities agencies at the summit. with knowledge for improved productivity in Indonesia and Myanmar.

The way forward “In the context of the developing economies Transformation should be linked to reforms in Asia, we need country-orientated, multithat centre on resource conservation and sectoral and integrated approaches in our environmental management – an advocacy high nutrition policies to integrate the (supply up in the non-profit and CSR discourse. But chain’s) industries and enable them to enhance for all these to happen, a robust set of reforms food quality,” said Sharad Adhikary, team lead of land ownership rights and strengthened for the WHO’s country office in Indonesia agrarian policies, along with farmers’ spacialising in environmental health and food cooperatives and access to loans for small-scale safety. farming will need the capacity-building that NGOs and community groups are mostly East-West Seed Company, a Dutch firm with known for. high presence in Asia and Africa, offers “there are three strategies to combat hidden hunger Because an integrated approach also means and ultimately ensure quality and availability of keeping in mind the real needs of communities food: dietary diversification, supplementation and aligning with ground realities – something with vitamins and minerals, and food only local NGOs and civil society groups truly fortification.” Francine Sayoc-Shiraishi, understand.

Bangkok-based communications director for East-West, says these strategies should be Still, “governments in Asia-Pacific must ensure considered complementary along with goals for inclusiveness and sustainability, mobilise strong food security, all targeted at increasing micropolitical commitments, double their efforts and nutrient intake at individual and group levels. collaborate for concerted efforts. This is not a dream; but an obligation for our children, In the end, there is no simple, one size-fits all and we need to work together,” says the FAO’s solution to what can be tantamount to a food Konuma. And that obligation is not solely crisis in Asia. Rather, a well-thought, integrated any governments; it’s everyone’s work and and needs-specific approach is needed in the commitment. ■

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GUEST WRITER

Strengthening civil society in peace building: evolving perspectives from South East Myanmar

Lahpai Seng Raw lahpai.sengraw@yahoo.com

vital subject.

One of the speeches I delivered last year after the Ramon Magsaysay Awards was at a forum where the theme was to review the prospects for peace and the reintegration of displaced persons in South East Myanmar. I have always believed that for peace to be truly established, strengthening civil society in peace-building works is a

Although I am from the North (or some may say North East) of Myanmar, I believe our concerns in our region are relevant to all other parts of the country. I am sure that you will agree that progress must be matched across the country, across all ethnic groups. In this regard, the Kachin situation can be viewed as a test case for the government, politicians, the Kachin community, the tatmadaw and all other armed groups as well as the international community. This was especially true when all armed resistance groups were negotiating with the government as one.

Creating peace requires the involvement of all parties. Everyone needs to build it and experience it. Consequently, strengthening civil society should be our priority at this point in time - that is, if we are truly seeking ‘eternal peace’.

international agencies and local organisations providing humanitarian support.

it is not possible to prioritise issues in sequence due to the complexities and uniqueness of our country’s situation.

Return and Resettlement Ensuring respect and adherence to international humanitarian laws, ethics and principles that there is a voluntary, safe, and dignified return and reintegration of the IDPs requires thorough and systematic consultation. The IDPs should be provided with all necessary information before their return; while return and resettlement support should be sustained for at least five years.

But some of the issues to be addressed in the comprehensive peace process include the following: withdrawal of troops, demining, IDP and refugee rehabilitation and settlement, time to plan for and carry out political dialogue, time for leaders to freely interact with constituents, and constitutional reforms.

And let’s not forget: as we are rebuilding a common future and peaceful co-existence, there is a need to document the facts and origins of past violence.

Monitoring To ensure that an independent monitoring group, composed of individuals and organisations acceptable to both sides, conduct objective and unbiased monitoring.

Unfortunately, before formal discussions could be conducted, renewed armed clashes can further increase populations – such as the attacks in October last year. Even governments like the United States, through its Embassy in Rangoon, admitted back then that clashes like this “affirms the need to establish a monitoring mechanism to oversee military movements and ensure the security of civilians, including IDPs.” So then we ask: will donors accept and support IDP returns led by local leaders and national NGOs?

Rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs and refugees should go in tandem with addressing and resolving the root causes of the conflict. For peace, stability and sustainability, there must be political solutions where people are properly represented and Years of mismanagement by successive governments and the consulted on all social and political issues that affect their lives. unabated armed conflicts impacted adversely on the people and Otherwise the cycle of armed revolution, ceasefire, civil conflict, paralysed them; and there is no short cut to reverse this. But displacement, and resettlement will go on. Besides, what is getting civilians to make their own choices and having their progress when refugee numbers decrease but IDP numbers voices back in the forefront of discussions, I believe, will be a key increase? deciding factor in the transformation process.

Moving forward, it should be interesting to note that the Metta We all need to focus on enhancing ways to regenerate civil Development Foundation’s community-led development work communities, as “strengthening civil society” refers to the has never encountered constraints in the operational context in flourishing and effective delivery of NGO-CBO groups. This such areas as strengthening civil society. Successive governments does not need to be a particular end goal; but simply the meeting and the various ministries as well as local authorities have of needs and challenges that will ultimately help strengthen always been supportive of our efforts in that aspect. But all communities, society and the country. too often, our work had been hindered by donor focus on short-term service delivery of projects that limit the time and Let me give you a Kachin example of how local NGOs are resources available, resulting in failure to reach our goal of local advocating and making the voices of civil society heard, in this ownership. This in turn reduces the opportunities for wider civil case that of the IDPs: society strengthening.

Since November 2012, 7 local NGOs Bridge, Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), Kachin Relief and Development Committee (KRDC), Kachin Development Group (KDG), Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS), Metta Development Foundation (Metta), Shalom Foundation, and Wunpawng Ninghtoi (WPN) have facilitated protection surveys in camps for internally-displaced people. They have completed surveys assessing IDP protection needs and concerns during displacement and at the time of eventual return to their former homes.

Besides initiating the emergence of this kind of humanitarian policy, the local NGOs also work in collaboration with the IDPs to formulate current and future plans to be implemented and managed jointly by the IDPs and the local/national NGOs. These local NGOs have come up with certain conditions pertinent to the IDP issue, hoping the KIO and the government will discuss in their negotiations, so that some kind of agreement may be reached.

Humanitarian Response To ensure agencies can safely undertake humanitarian response without restriction, avoid overlapping and gaps and to provide effective support, there should be effective coordination among

To this day, many international donors and policy makers see Myanmar NGOs as purely instrumental. Thus, I urge the many donors who will provide support to the peace process and development of our country, to be considerate in the strategic design of your funding mechanisms.

I would encourage the provision of smaller grants; for donors to enter into direct relationships with local groups; design systems and formats in local languages; and avoid complex and blueprinted mechanisms that preclude support of the communities’ own efforts. Finally, it is essential to recognise that local NGOs need core funding as much as international agencies.

In short, donors should apply a positive discrimination policy and give priority to local NGOs for whom the playing field is not at the same level as that of international NGOs. Our appeal is to respect our conditions, our context and our relationships.

Let us give space for civil society to be empowered and local NGOs to become stronger and not undermined by illconsidered programmes – however well-intended they may be.

It is also important to keep in mind that in the Myanmar context, strengthening civil society and peace-building are intertwined. The latter will be a long inclusive process; and

We are therefore looking at a comprehensive Peace Process that involves grassroots people and civil societies – not just military and political leaders. Successful transformation relies on the extent of communities empowered, and the support local organisations receive, as they are undoubtedly the foundations of a new peaceful society that will regenerate the country.

Peace agreements, of course, cannot last unless demobilised soldiers from all sides find worthwhile livelihood opportunities to re-integrate them into society and receive help to support their families and communities. I have discussed this with armed personnel from the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) about their visions for civilian life when peace eventually comes.

Many expressed the desire for a small piece of arable land to work on, be independent and provide for their families – as many foot soldiers in the frontline armies on all sides are from rural families. Such fundamental desire should not be difficult to achieve, providing that real social and political agreements are achieved.

I want to emphasise the need to acknowledge the difference between ceasefires and peace. Armies can agree to ceasefires between themselves, but they cannot make peace. Peace requires the people. It is a social state and cannot be developed by military men; and cannot be developed without the leadership and will of the people - the civil society. ■ About the Author Laureate of the 2013 Ramon Magsaysay Awards for “quietly inspiring an inclusive leadership in the midst of deep ethnic divides and prolonged armed conflict” in her home country Myanmar, Lahpai Seng Raw co-founded the Metta Development Foundation, the country’s longestrunning NGO. She began her work with refugees in the 1980s and has since then set up Metta to help rehabilitate wartorn communities along Myanmar’s borders. Under her leadership since 1997, Metta has established over 600 farmer field schools, trained more than 50,000 farmers in effective farm and forest management, built schools and training centres in early childhood education, introduced community water and sanitation systems, and funded technical support for livelihood projects.

In 2008 when Tropical Cyclone “Nargis” struck Myanmar, the country’s worst natural disaster in its recorded history, Seng Raw led a massive drive to rehabilitate, reconstruct and bring relief and development aid to hundreds of thousands of victims. With a staff of 600, branches outside Rangoon and three research and training centres, Metta has been implementing programmes to over 600,000 people in 2,352 communities in Myanmar.

The role of civil society in the fight against corruption: the story of Ukraine In this Anti-Corruption Research Network (ACRN) piece, we examine the role of civil society in trying to turn the momentum of the anti-Yanukovych Maidan protests into a viable anticorruption movement, as Niklas Kossow well as the role of social niklas.kossow@mercator-fellows.org media in sustaining this. As one of the most prominent events in recent history where civil society has had an active stake, we learn from this experience for the rest of the looming struggles in the Asia-Pacific region in the pursuit of transparency and accountability – mainly driven by an empowered civil society.

On 22 February this year, Ukrainian protesters entered Mezhyhirya, the 140-hectare private residence of former President Yanukovych who had fled Kiev the previous night. They found an abundance of luxury, and almost 200 folders of documents dumped into the lake by the residence.

The documents contained, among other things, details on misappropriated funds, money spent on the residence and a blacklist of Ukrainian journalists.

In a coordinated and concerted effort, Ukrainian activists and journalists worked together to preserve documents by drying, photographing and scanning them. Majority of the documents can now be found online, while they await 6

detailed analysis.

Resistance to rampant corruption characteristic of the Yanukovych regime until late-2013 fuelled the protests in Ukraine. Association with the EU sparked hope for reforms that would induce more transparency into the country. But months after the overthrow of Yanukovych, Ukraine was still deeply unstable and teetering on the brink of a civil war in the south and east of the country.

Eastern Europe and Central Asia overwhelmingly confirms this trend. Regressing an assessment of civil society by the Freedom House Nations in Transit Project (NiT-CS) on the Worldwide Governance Indicator for the Control of Corruption (WGI-CC) for over eight years, shows a clear co-relation between the two; while controlling for factors such as development and education. Those countries with more active civil society show better scores for the control of corruption (see table below).

Yet civil society activists continue their fight against corruption, campaigning for legal reforms and more transparency. The regime change in early 2014 provided a window of opportunity for a broad coalition of activists.

Some of the most active civil society groups formed the “Reanimation of Reform Package” initiative, to lobby the Ukrainian parliament for a range of reforms from anticorruption to constitutional, medical and media reforms.

Activists have also been pushing leaders of Western countries to help repatriate assets stolen from the Ukrainian state over the last few years.

Civil society leading the fight against corruption The recent situation in Ukraine highlights the case that by demanding more social accountability and transparency, and by furthering societal norms that proscribe corrupt practices, an active civil society can be one of the most crucial factors in fighting corruption. Quantitative data from Cont. page 11 www.asianngo.org

CSR

Responsible business for sustainable impact from page 1

Human capital still companies’ best asset—Singapore Compact CSR Summit While CSR awareness in Singapore and the ASEAN has been growing over the past decade, many businesses in the region still find it an uphill task to actively embed CSR into their business strategies, preferring to invest in the social development and philanthropic aspects of CSR. Ter-Kulve, along with UN Under-Secretary General Noeleen Heyzer who delivered a keynote on why businesses actively pursuing CSR strategies can gain competitive advantage in Asia and in the global market, reminded the 400+ delegates of the importance of keeping employees in all levels of the supply chain dignified and treated fairly.

Plenaries and parallel breakout sessions covered a range of topics on how companies can strengthen business sustainability through both strategies and operations. From corporate

governance, supply chain sustainability, productivity, impact investing and stakeholder engagement, sessions enabled CSR and sustainability practitioners, business executives and NGOs continue to build a business case for CSR in their organisations.

The business executives and CSR sustainability practitioners also engaged NGOs and members of the academe on issues of human rights and employee relations in rural communities involved in their chain of supply and outsourcing practices.

be done. The conversation must start with corporations taking the lead.” He stressed that there is still much in store for government officials, regulators and those working in nonprofit organisations in setting the agenda for a more equitable and sustainability society.

Other speakers included Roel Nieuwenkamp, Chair of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct; Magnus Bocker, CEO of Singapore Exchange; Amanda McCluskey, Head of Responsible Investment for Colonial First State Global Asset Management; Jaroslaw Kielak, Sustainability Manager for IKEA; Vivek Kamra, CEO of NatSteel Holdings; Lucas van Der Walt, General Manager for CSR at Olam International, and Bill Rylance, Founder and CEO of WATATAWA; among others.

“The topics this year were designed towards the business community, because for us to advance the CSR and sustainability agenda, we believe that there is a need for a multi-stakeholder approach where government, corporations and NGOs come together to address social concerns and find solutions,” said Singapore Compact Executive Director Christopher Ang of the programme line up.

Other speakers at the event this year include major corporations such as Unilever, City Developments Limited, Keppel Corporation, SingTel, Olam International, NatSteel, Intel, DIAGEO and Accenture and representatives from the CDP, Singapore Institute of Directors, Supply Chain Asia and Transparency International. AsianNGO was an official media partner.

Ang added that while corporations “have made great strides over the years in pushing sustainability, there is still more that can

For more information on next year’s Singapore Compact CSR Summit or to download the event output report from this year’s summit, visit www.singaporecsrsummit.org. ■

GSK launches drug bank in to help disaster victims launched a programme called "GSK Medicine Bank for Hardship Relief." Set to run for three years until 2017, the medicine bank for hardship programme has key activities that include bringing better access to medicine and engaging with community members.

IndustryWeek

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in Thailand, pharmaceutical research and development company, GlaxoSmithKline Thailand (GSK)

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The "From the Heart, For your Health" programme is crafted on an initiative undertaken by GSK for more than four years now, to improve access to medicine and health care treatment for the underprivileged

and disaster victims through a collaboration with the Thai Red Cross Society's Relief and Community Health Bureau (RCHB).

The RCHB, as a central organisation, takes charge of the donation of innovative medicines and vaccines through the GSK medicine bank.

GSK, for its part, provides a team of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and employee volunteers for site visits together with the RCHB, Royal Thai Army, participating hospitals and related organisations to help underprivileged

people and victims of disasters in provinces nationwide.

"Our mission is to provide relief services for victims of disasters, underprivileged people and those who live in remote areas," said RCHB director, Dr. Amnat Baelee. Apart from the advantages offered by the free medicines and health care, Baelee believes such initiative will encourage citizens to live a healthy life in accordance with the Red Cross’ philosophy of addressing health-related concerns. (GSK)

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CSR

ASIAN CSR

S U STAINAB ILITY RANKING FO R CO MPANI E S THAT ‘ G E T I T R I G HT’ Reporting and disclosure have been a prevalent issue in conferences dedicated to corporate social responsibility. As a response, this year’s CSR Asia Summit in Hong Kong last September launched Channel NewsAsia’s Sustainability Ranking, co-developed by CSR Asia and Sustainalytics. A first in the region, the ranking identifies leading firms in corporate sustainability across 10 key Asian economies; with the index listing the top 100 companies with the highest sustainability performance, highlights the overall top 20 companies, and the top 3 businesses per economy.

The ranking, too, highlights far-looking companies demonstrating positive economic, environmental and social impact through their works in their communities. The Coca-Cola Foundation pledged that for the second half of the decade it will empower 5 mn women, achieve 100% water replenishment and pursue energy balance for well-being; while Fuji Xerox will be moving towards net-zero impact on the environment. Here are the ranked companies for their community works;

Indonesia

Singapore Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT ranks third in all of Asia, setting a goal to source all of its agricultural raw materials from sustainablecertified suppliers by 2020. It also has CSR programmes such as SME development, water resource preservation, recycling and public health education programmes.

Digi.com Bhd takes pride in its information security management programme and network modernisation initiative to ensure customer data protection. It also wants to expand the potential benefits of telecommunications and the Internet to more Malaysians. Digi also created a team that works on the preemployment training programmes to assist disabled employees.

Bursa Malaysia Bhd adapts sustainability measures by using electricity-saving measures, minimising unnecessary business air travel and decreasing the paper consumption in the company.

The Malayan Banking Bhd, as part of its CSR efforts, implements programmes that provide financial services to poor communities; and supports small businesses in the country.

Through its Maybank MoneyTree Financial Literacy programme, it educates school children with financial literacy.

Philippines One of the top performing countries in sustainability is home to the highestranking sustainable business in Asia: Tata Consultancy Services Limited. Tata claims to be “groundwater neutral” by 2020; and its offices promote water conservation through their rainwater harvesting systems that reduce their dependency on the surrounding groundwater supply.

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Only Ayala Land Inc. is the only from the Philippines that made it to Asia’s top 100 sustainable businesses. ALI spearheaded CSR efforts that protect the rights individuals in value chains by requiring vendors to provide meaningful wage, and health and safety precautions. It also advocates for the elimination of child labour in the country.

Manila Water Co Inc. has been known in as leading provider of water and sewerage and

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd. committed to reduced water consumption and increased rate of water recycling; and has built its facilities according to green building standards. It established a TSMC Education and Culture foundation to advance educational activities among Taiwanese students.

Thailand

City Developments Ltd sets aside 5% of its project costs to invest in green design elements such as recyclable products and materials.

It applies environmental-friendly practices and reduction of GHG emissions in all its operations.

Almost three-quarters of CapitaLand Limited’s properties are given the Green Mark.

CapitaLand also organises the Kids’ Food Fund programme, including initiatives to address food insecurity among poor children in the country. It also holds Green for Hope programme where it encourages people (especially students) to recycle to earn donations for poor children.

Keppel Land Ltd has been constructing sustainable buildings like the Ocean Financial Centre. It promotes resource efficiency and capacity-building to its employees; and conducts Words on Wheels project, a mobile library that aims to make internet, library and media available to children in remote areas.

South Korea Thunderbird School of Global Management

ADCON

India

Malaysia Business Circle

China Daily

MMG created a human rights policy that protects citizens from rights risks and violations in the company. Also as part of its CSR, MMG donated light bulbs to the provincial government in support of its recent Katanga energy efficiency campaign.

PT Bukit Asam (Persero) focuses its CSR initiatives on the well-being of surrounding communities through educational programmes and financial assistance to small-scale businesses and cooperatives. This way, the local communities are empowered to improve their ways of life.

The country’s most sustainable businesses are in technology sector. United Microelectronics Corporation implements a comprehensive water reduction programme, where manufacturing end-products from landfills were recycled. Last year, the company recycled 90% of its total waste.

Qisda has been implementing its “Green Design 555” energy and materials reduction programme. It also holds environmental protection programmes that led to increased recycling of wastes and increased re-use of water.

Hong Kong

Swire Properties promotes strong consultation mechanisms with local citizens and the civil society. It holds forums to engage the community in the development of every project; while working to reduce exploitation of natural resources, prevent pollution and manage waste efficiently. It also hosts the Green Ambassador project to ignite environmental awareness among Hong Kong children.

Steve Knight

For its part, before starting a project, Energy Development Corporation (EDC) ensures Infosys Ltd’s Software Development Building consultation with indigenous groups. In is India’s first commercial building to mount doing so, they also try to engage with the a radiant cooling technology that saves energy communities by joining the meetings of through regulating the water in the embedded indigenous groups, and the Ancestral Domain pipes and cools the building’s rooms resulting to Sustainable Management planning. over 40% reduction in operating costs.

Third is Trina Solar Limited, with its projects that focus on resource-saving. In four years it has already cut its electric and water consumption by 64% and 54%, respectively. It also installs and donates solar panels to public PT Vale Indonesia, a nickel company, schools in China. rehabilitates farmlands through conducting environmental studies and community participation programmes. It also installed three environmental-friendly hydro-electric power plants to be used in their operations; and uses several strategies to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Lenovo has been a signatory and member of the UN Global Compact, conveying its principles in and commitments to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and has also pressed on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Lenovo took part in the China Greentech Initiative, which seeks to create a roadmap to drive China’s green growth.

Taiwan

LG Electronics Inc has been using 19% of Conflict-Free Smelter (CFS) certified smelters in its supply chain; and also leads the LG Talking Book that produces mobile phones designed to read books for visually impaired individuals. Life’s Green classes in Korea and India were also conducted to encourage students about green practices.

Danuch Chaveekulrat

BOE Technology Group Co. Ltd., coming in second, has been active in advancing CSR that includes earthquake relief efforts, scholarship programmes in Chinese universities; and implements Sunshine Project that gives aid to BOE’s poor employees. To strengthen these initiatives, it also conducts supplier trainings; and has internal audit team that monitors the environmental standards of its suppliers.

sanitation services to Metro Manila. The company has a programme “Tubig Para Sa Barangay,” which delivers affordable water in areas with clusters of low-income communities, with no access to piped water.

Imagesmith/Ayala Land

China Vanke Co. Ltd. topped the ranking as the country’s most sustainable company. As a real estate corporation, it employs several green practices: it protects original vegetations in their areas and bans the use of wood coming from endangered tree species. It also pioneered research on energy saving solution in most parts of China.

Wipro Ltd., the second most sustainable in India but ranks sixth in Asia, commits to sustainability through capacitating children by providing its expertise and resources to educate them in different communities. It also holds sustainability education programmes in 1,500 schools across the country.

City Developments

Beijing Scout

China

PTT Global Chemical Public Co Ltd conducted a greenhouse gas emission inventory and as part of its CSR initiatives, PTT donated clean water containers in the Karen community last August. It sesks to address water shortage in the rural communities of Thailand and outlying border regions with its neighbouring countries.

Thai Oil Public Co Ltd. pioneered the ThaiOil Tripartite Community Development model to build cooperation among the company, its local communities and local governments.

To do this, it has done monthly meetings to brainstorm and develop collaborative solutions.

It established the ThaiOil Health and Learning Centre where a public library, dental clinics and recreational areas are made available to different communities.

IRPC had been careful about the spills across its operations and tries to disclose the volume of spills during the past years. It has achieved zero spills for two years. Last August, the company planted a forest to increase the green space and reduce the global warming.

A widely discussed topic at the September summit, mandatory sustainability reporting is set to become the norm for listed companies around the region. “We will be seeing more storm-related and flood-related disasters that can be detrimental not only to communities but also to our businesses. Meanwhile, human rights, particularly modern day slavery deep down the supply chain of many companies, point to abusive labour practices. Hence, it's not good enough to audit only the first factory tier. We need to go beyond that,” said CSR Asia Chairman Richard Welford.

Welford’s message was on the need to ‘think smart’ when it comes to disclosure: “It’s not enough for companies to simply hand over a S-Oil Corp establishes a committee to monitor hundred-page document which is unlikely to the company’s ethics management activities; be read. With mandatory disclosure likely to be and pioneered the Endangered Natural introduced and stakeholders demanding more Monuments Protection Campaign, which is the visibility, we need to think innovatively about first effort to protect the endangered natural how we communicate our message.” treasures of the country.

The 2015 CSR Asia Summit will take place SK Hynix Inc. has been one of the leading on 7-8 October in Kuala Lumpur. To continue companies in emission reductions, having following updates and download resources, visit developed green products that are environment- www.csr-asia.com. ■ friendly. www.asianngo.org

F E AT U R E D N G O S

CSR

Japan Daily

GHIT

GHIT Fund awards seven new grants to from page 12 Not the solution: a lesson from Africa fight insect-borne diseases of traditional seed being abandoned. The by the World Economic Forum, the German cultivation of traditional landraces, however, implies lower costs since these plants are well-adapted to local climates. They are very resilient. Pests and diseases do not damage them much.

The New Alliance has not spelled out how exactly it intends to lift 50 million people out of poverty. Companies have submitted letters of intent, but these have not been made public.

It is unclear if they will contribute to reducing poverty or, if they do, if they will make a real difference. Only vague information on goals, target groups and tangible measures were made available.

Food Partnership (GFP) is geared to boosting productivity and improving supply chains in rural areas of developing countries. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), private-sector companies and the Gates Foundation have jointly pledged to make available €80 mn for projects. Skills training for farmers is a GFP focus area.

The Better Rice Initiative in Indonesia is an example of how private-sector companies are involved in designing and implementing such training programmes. BASF, the chemicals Seven grants amounting to a total of USD15.3 2. A consortium between the European giant, hired a project manager who heads a million have been awarded by the Global Vaccine Initiative (EVI), Germany; Research team of coordinators in the GFP context. GFP Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Institute for Microbial Diseases at Osaka Fund), a public health partnership bringing University (RIMD), Japan; and the Center test and demonstration farms use the products Japanese technology and investment to the National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Reforms developing countries implement are of companies such as BASF and thus support global fight against infectious diseases, to Paludisme (CNRFP) in Burkina Faso. They lopsided, geared only to attract private investors. marketing efforts. Whereas farmers’ groups and projects developing promising drugs and will get $1 mn for their candidate vaccine The general belief seems to be that more growth civil society in general get no say, BMZ allows vaccines to fight three insect-borne diseases: called BK-SE36, which targets young children. and higher productivity will reduce poverty. The the corporate sector to contribute to defining Chagas disease, dengue and malaria.

New Alliance ignores that people go hungry the programmes.

3. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's today because they are too poor to buy food Sabin Vaccine Institute's collaboration with partnership with Eisai Co., Ltd. and the rather than because there is no food. People in Moreover, civil society organisations in Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, Eisai Co. Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) for the need lack access to land, water and fair markets. Germany do not want German ODA money Ltd (Japan). and Aeras (a global TB-fighting development of the fastest and safest antiUnfortunately, the New Alliance has closed to support the sales of private-sector companies NGO) for the development of a new vaccine malarial drug to be used in endemic regions. its eyes to issues of distributive justice and and help them expand into new markets. formulation for Chagas disease gets the first The group will receive $3.8 mn. environmental sustainability. grant of $2 mn.

In any case, the paradigm of capital-intensive, 4. The Medicines for Malaria Venture in Hunger risks high-input agriculture is problematic: boosting Another grant recipient is Japanese vaccine Partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Large-scale PPPs lead to serious hunger risks farm productivity with more chemical fertiliser, developer KAKETSUKEN, together with Ltd., for their study on the effects of a new since they compound problems of inequality pesticide, hybrid seed and technology in the Thailand’s Mahidol University. They will get malaria drug candidate DSM265 as part of a without doing anything to support the poor green-revolution tradition is environmentally $3.45 mn to develop a tetra-valent vaccine combination therapy. A total of $1.3 mn will in a targeted way. Expansion of huge agridestructive. This approach is not an alternative that contains all four serotypes of the dengue be allocated for this programme. businesses will further marginalise impoverished to traditional farming methods and landrace virus. The fund will be used to support peasants who will thus be left behind by cultivation. studies on assay validation and dose ranging 5. Researchers from the Broad Institute and efficacy in non-human primates with the use Eisai Co., Ltd. further evaluating a series of development. Measures that only serve wellof optimally attenuated strains from screening previously identified compounds in order to placed farmers are not the right approach to Development policies must always focus on studies. select the best candidate for clinical trials. fighting hunger. those who suffer hunger, so smallholders They will get $3 mn. and their organisations must be invited to Five other grant recipients have programmes Oxfam insists there are more effective, participate in decision-making right from focused on the prevention/treatment of Since November last year, this is the third empirically tested ways to use public money the start. From a human-rights perspective, malaria: round of grant investments made through to reach out to the rural poor and protect the the overarching imperative is to involve and 1. PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) in the GHIT Fund. Since then, it has provided environment. In Germany, an alliance of twelve promote marginalised people. collaboration with Ehime University of Japan a total of US $33.5 million assistance to NGOs, including Oxfam, FIAN, Friends of for fast-track research and manufacture of a programs aimed at diseases that are affecting the Earth and others, is collecting signatures (Marita Wiggerthale, mwiggerthale@oxfam.de, novel malarial vaccine candidate called Pf75. the world’s poorest. (Asian Scientist) in a campaign called “No development works for Oxfam Germany and specialises in The team will get $766,000. assistance to agri-corporations.” In line with global food security.) the “New Vision for Agriculture,” spelled out

www.asianngo.org

9

CSR

D S YA FNEDA TP U A RE TNERS CO ON UO NR TR

Veggie center shares research to combat poverty and malnutrition Millions of people around the world suffer malnutrition due to food shortage and poverty; and this is what the World Vegetable Center wishes to alleviate: by improving the quality of vegetables and ensuring availability in developing countries.

The World Vegetable Center, formerly known as the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), is an international non-profit institute founded by the Asian Development Bank and a coalition of Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, USA, Vietnam and Taiwan. When it was established, the centre focused on developing agriculture in tropical Asia but it has now expanded its works to sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia.

The AVRDC works under the belief that promoting the consumption of good quality vegetables can address not only dietary issues but also provide livelihood opportunities to its beneficiaries. The centre’s most important projects include the management of vegetable germplasm; development of new vegetable varieties that are nutritious, high-yielding and resistant to disease; and improvement of vegetable production through the use of environment-friendly, sustainable methods.

The world’s largest public vegetable germplasm collection is maintained by the centre’s AVRDC

Genebank, which identifies vegetables’ most valuable traits and uses breeding techniques to produce an improved line of vegetables to survive in diverse environments, amidst climate change.

The agreement was signed between the Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA) and Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV).

The agreement also seeks to extend tri-lateral cooperation to Thailand’s neighbouring countries – Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar – in the area of human resource development in agriculture, through a training course on Greenhouse Crop Production and Management at Agricultural Technology Complex.

Also in September, Thai Deputy Prime Minister

and Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn also announced that Japan will invest in Thailand’s basic infrastructure development projects. These include a high-speed train, urban rail transportation, satellite technology and water management.

Patimapragorn spoke with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the 69th UN General Assembly in New York last September. He said Japan and Thailand will cooperate in international platforms including the United Nations. He also noted to Kishida that Thailand’s economic policy is “open and transparent” for bidding on state projects and assured “to provide Japanese investors excellent care.”

Kishida praised Thailand’s support to Japan’s role in the East-West Economic Corridor and assistance on helping bridge land and sea transportation gaps. (ThaiNews)

F EATURED G RA NT from page 1

Call for creating shared value: Nestle awards grants for 2016 Nestlé will award the Prize Winner an investment of up to CHF 500,000 (USD517,000) for a specified period of time to assist in the scaling up of the awarded programme.

The Nestlé Prize is worldwide in scope.

Participating entities may reside in and cover programmes in low- and middle-income countries for underserved communities.

Fields of achievement include agriculture (including plant and animal husbandry); management of natural resources; food technology and fortification; nutrition education; water management and distribution; water and sanitation, among others.

The Prize is designed to recognise initiatives for outstanding innovation in the areas of water access, better nutrition and rural development that have proven its worth on a pilot or small-scale basis. Entries are judged, among others, on the bases of their feasibility on a broad-scale basis or replicable in other settings or communities; and prospects for social impact through either improving access to nutrition, improving rural development or having significant impact on water

10

BRICS, China-led development banks launched

Late last year before the APEC meeting in Bali, China already announced the AIIB’s initial capital will likely increase to $100 bn, enough to compete with the Manila-based ADB. But along For four decades, the centre has distributed seed with the BRICS’s NDB, the AIIB is seen to samples to researchers around the world and has challenge the WB and ADB, both multi-lateral released hundreds of new vegetable varieties. lenders that count Washington and its allies as largest financial backers.

Although the centre primarily supports vegetable research, it also works on “low cost Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said in a drip-irrigation, fertilisation, and crop rotation,” statement last March, "The AIIB will mainly and other innovative production systems doable focus on infrastructure construction in Asia to for smallholder farmers. promote regional connectivity and economic cooperation."

The centre seeks to ensure its research and technologies are accessible to farmers in According to the ADB, an investment of $8 developing countries through information trillion will be needed from 2010-2020 to keep dissemination, trainings and other capacityup with the expected infrastructure needs in building activities.

Asia’s developing economies. AIIB, experts say, can help fill the vast gap of productive economic Aside from these, AVRDC also provides healthy infrastructure especially in Asia. vegetable recipes, which are improved versions of traditional recipes from different countries.

Following the 2008 financial crisis, traditional It distributes seed packs for home gardens in capacities of western-backed financial institutions communities as well. like WB has cut up to half of its pre-recession levels of support; while lending from other AVRDC collaborates with both the public and private entities for infrastructure dropped to a the private sector to implement and fund its third. projects across the globe. See more at www. avrdc.org. ■ In July, WB president Jim Yong Kim welcomed

Israel, Japan support Thailand development plans In September, an agreement was signed between Thailand and Israel in a bid to intensify bilateral cooperation; created after both countries recently discussed to extend support in the field of agricultural technology, irrigation, water resource management, and early childhood education.

from page 1

management or access to clean water.

The Creating Shared Value Council may also award the Prize to up to three winners, and the value of each Nestlé Prize for each would then depend on its various merits and needs; defined at the sole discretion of the Council, at a minimum of CHF 50,000 ($51,700) per winner. The investment may be a one-time grant or it may be awarded on a multi-year basis in increments, to be determined by the Nestlé Chairman and CEO upon the recommendation of the Council.

AIIB because he believes there is a “massive need” for new investment in the area of infrastructure.

China straightforwardly expressed they welcome other nations to be founding members of the bank.

Since its inception, AIIB has attracted 21 countries including major hubs South Korea and Singapore. Representatives from said countries along with Thailand and Indonesia also met with Chinese officials regarding the plan in last September. Earlier meetings were also participated by Australia, India and the Philippines. Australia, Indonesia and South Korea, however, skipped the AIIB launch in October.

Analysts say the AIIB is part of Beijing’s attempts to extend its influence.

Meanwhile, the NDB promotes greater cooperation among the five emerging markets.

The four original BRIC nations alone comprise over 3 bn people or 41.4% of the world’s population (2014 statistics); and accounts for over a quarter of global GDP. Unlike WB, which appropriates votes based on capital share, in the NDB each member country has one vote; while no country will have veto power. ■

World Concern International Working with the mission to transform the lives of the poor and underprivileged through disaster response and community development, World Concern has been delivering relief to disaster and poverty stricken places since 1981.

The Christian global relief agency traces its roots to Medicines for Missions, an international humanitarian service founded by physician Wilbert Saunders and pharmacist Jim McCoy in 1955. In 1970, Medicines for Missions merged with CRISTA Ministries, which later became World Concern.

The group focuses their works on the poorest and most remote places in the world. They not only offer relief; they empower and educate people to use their resources in providing for

their families and lift them out of extreme poverty.

In the last decade, the international aid organisation has provided several relief and recovery works that include the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and a response to the Myanmar cyclone Nargis in 2008. It has also helped refugees from Darfur (Sudan) who fled during the war, and those affected by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti where more than 100,00 people received assistance.

By far, World Concern's long-term disaster response and long-term development in Haiti is one of its most significant projects. To learn more about World Concern, visit www. worldconcern.org/. ■

SDL supports impoverished communities globally “For me, the experience was truly life changing… The most impactful part was being able to use my time to give back in a meaningful way to those in need. It’s clear the patients require the check in, medical support, and supplies the outreach team provides; but I think just as crucial is the emotional support – knowing they can count on an experienced team who cares being there for them on a consistent basis,” shares Russ Taufa, SDL Global Insight and Analytics Director, who volunteered in the medical efforts of Rejoice, a charity organisation that SDL supports.

While SDL focuses on engaging businesses with their customers, it has also been dedicated to its CSR recognising its obligation to the societies in which it operates. Its CSR initiatives include employee engagement, preservation of the environment and support to communities through SDL Foundation. It offers financial grants for programmes focusing on the building of physical and economic infrastructures; assisting community advancements; and promoting self-sufficiency.

Entries must be submitted in writing through the Nomination Form, available at www. nestle.com or by request from CSVPrize@ nestle.com. Only one entry per programme is allowed. Entries covering programmes already financed by Nestlé or those that have been awarded the Nestlé Prize in former nomination periods are not eligible.

“We want to be a model citizen – it is not just about what we do and where we operate, but how we operate really does matter,” a statement of SDL says. SDL engages employees through providing each with five paid days annually to volunteer in any SDL Foundation-supported charity. This approach not only widens the reach of SDL CSR initiatives but also develops and provides its employees a life-changing experience.

For more details of the application or download full guidelines of the Call, visit Nestlé’s website at www.nestle.com/csv/ what-is-csv/nestleprize/about-csv-prize. All queries about the Nestlé Prize must be sent to CSVPrize@Nestle.com. ■

Among the charities SDL Foundation supports is Rejoice, which gives medical and social support system to underprivileged sector and people living with HIV/AIDS in Chiang Mai

in Thailand. SDL supports Rejoice with a scholarship programme for children in Chiang Mai and has also participated in Rejoice’s medicine and formula milk programmes.

Aside from supporting established charities, SDL has also been conscious in its environmental impact, managing and reducing the company’s greenhouse emissions through monitoring every SDL sites’ carbon footprints; optimising energy efficiency of its offices and equipment and reducing waste.

Among its other recent projects are candlemaking and poultry-rearing programmes for families in Uganda, in partnership with Uganda Reflex and the Single Parents Association of Uganda (SPAU). The projects hope to help families gain skills to perform income generating activities. SDL Foundation also funded the first initiative of BeadforLife that gave ox plows to the communities in the country. They have also provided the communities with training that enable them to utilise the improved farming capacity.

SDL Foundation has been active in “providing support for sustainable, structural development that improves the quality of life for disadvantaged communities around the globe.”

SDL, a UK-based global Customer Experience Management firm present in over 38 countries, provides innovative solutions, technology and services to over 1,500 organisatons for managing their global customer experience. Through these solutions, it has driven growth for businesses, which results in increased global profits.

More of SDL Foundation’s projects at www. sdl.com/aboutus/corporate-citizenship/sdlfoundation. ■

www.asianngo.org

I NCTREORSVSI EAWS I A A

Knowledge and collaboration for empowerment: the CAPSA experience sector, NGOs and farmer groups came to advocate for better collaboration and share examples of successful NGO-led research and extension systems in the region. Overall, they all agreed on the need to institutionalise effective researchextension linkages through coordinated programmes; increase involvement of researchers in farmers’ fields to provide opportunities for them to be extension agents and better Given the limited support that smallholder farmers in always be built into agricultural projects so there is a research- assess their needs and socio-economic constraints; and pursue many developing and emerging economies receive from their to-adoption continuum instead of research and extension national (state-level) consultations to allow CSOs to undertake governments, what can be done to ensure that they keep working as separate entities. Experience from Malaysia shows advocacy, pitch ideas to governments, share knowledge and up with the environmental and market challenges they are that the concept of R&D and commercialisation in agricultural enable review of market distortions and subsidies. There are facing? development is a useful mechanism to commercialise, and thus, many examples of the private sector and CSOs delivering The public sector is by no means the only sector supporting apply science to work. integrated research-extension services in many countries; but farmers, and, in many cases, not even the most important their involvement can only be strengthened through creating a one. For instance we know from many countries that only How in your view can there be a better harmony between supportive legal and regulatory environment. approximately a quarter of all farmers is reached through private and non-profit sectors to augment where the public public extension systems. But the public sector, in that the sector may fall short in terms of supporting local farmers Please tell us of the kind of engagement that CAPSA offers to sector nevertheless has a very important role to play in that and community-based SMEs in the agriculture sector? communities. it should provide the appropriate legal and institutional Both the private and the non-profit sector play an important Despite the challenges, new opportunities are emerging, framework for other stakeholders, namely the private sector, role for the agricultural sector. The private sector engages in including sustainable production, through new business NGOs and other civil society organisations, to work together. the development and provision of inputs, especially seeds, opportunities, partnerships and networks in research and To support food security goals, agricultural research and to farmers, but is also responsible for providing much of the extension. One example of such network is SATNET Asia, extension systems in this region need to become much more off-farm infrastructure, for instance food processing industries, the Sustainable Agricultural Technologies Network, hosted by efficient. There is a need for change not only in the problems distribution networks and retailing. In other words, the private CAPSA, which facilitates innovative knowledge sharing and that we are addressing, but also in how we work together to sector understands what the market requires and translates that delivers capacity-building programmes to network participants, address the problems and an important role of the public sector message to farmers. The non-profit sector on the other hand supporting exchange and facilitating dialogue among NGOs, is to facilitate that collaboration. helps farmers to organize themselves, and to make their voice private sector and public organisations, to contribute to and needs better heard. The non-profit sector often supports making agriculture more resilient to the pressures it is facing, Across countries, improving the science to application farmers in accessing capital and capacity development. When while allowing farmers to make a sustainable livelihood out of interface, or the research to extension linkage in agriculture, the private and the non-profit sector work collaboratively is their farming activities. ■ is an integral part of this equation. Increased government when farmers benefit the most. funding to strengthen research-extension systems is a necessary About the Author requirement to meet the current challenges. But innovative Let’s not forget that in some countries, particularly young mechanisms to leverage additional resources from the private democracies, the government and NGOs have a challenge Katinka Margit Weinberger (k.weinberger@uncapsa. sector, such as the creation of a competitive investment cooperating. Would the public sector and civil society ever org) is a socio-economist, having led the Centre fund for agricultural extension and innovation to support have a common-ground starting-point? for the Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable entrepreneurial ideas should also be explored to address the Public policy can also leverage to promote a market-alignment Agriculture (CAPSA) since 2010. Before that she held frequent budgetary constraints faced in the region, particularly and technology-provider role for the private sector, a Senior Scientist positions at the Center for International the least developed countries. community-mobilisation role for NGOs, and a cost-sharing Forestry Research (CIFOR) and The World Vegetable and change-facilitator role for development agencies. Policy Center (AVRDC). Her professional interests include When we talk of research, it can sound academic and interventions can also be used to support innovation by small sustainable and diversified agriculture, value chains detached from the ground realities in rural Asia. Is it and medium enterprises (SME) in the agricultural sector, for poor farmers and the related aspects of posta challenge translating high-level knowledge to simple investment in research and extension systems, increased use of harvest activities and food safety, food consumption, adaptive measures in the field?

ICT, and sharing of experiences on implementation of national impact assessment, and monitoring and evaluation.

Good research should always address real problems that are agricultural extension policies and impacts through an official She has 15 years of experience in agriculture research relevant to farmers. Yet, making that connection happening can platform. for development, which has included planning, be challenging. Too often, farmers are not considered partners supervision and monitoring of research strategies and in the research process but rather beneficiaries of final research Your institute facilitated an Expert Consultation last year change management. Empirical field research has products. Farmers need to be regarded as clients undertaking that triggered very important discussion points within the been accomplished in collaboration with national and their own adaptive. Their engagement can be promoted public and private sectors – but on an implementation level international partners, with diverse professional and through mechanisms such as participatory on-farm research the burden falls back to local communities. What are your cultural backgrounds, and has included work experience and farmer-led extension. Institutional support for farmerthoughts on involving the civil society? in the Asia-Pacific, and in Eastern and Central Africa. led research and farmer-driven innovations should be made Along with representatives of governments and the private available. Adaptive research, extension and outreach should With the increasing need to improve productivity, environmental sustainability and the quality of food in Asia, the Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSA) of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), works to enhance capacity of governments in the region where agriculture still plays an important role to implement policies that support sustainable agriculture. In this edition, CAPSA Director Katinka Weinberger opens up on her thoughts on why (and how) the food crisis in Asia be faced through better integration of research to extension.

G U E ST WRITER from page 6

The role of civil society in the fight against corruption: the story of Ukraine

Various case studies show it is important to take into account the different actors constituting civil society to understand anti-corruption movements. While many scholars focus on non-governmental organisations (NGO) and other formalised institutions of civil society, it is important to take into account other actors who make up the public sphere, such as journalists, as well as the population at large.

legal framework for NGOs can suffocate efforts to fight corruption, despite the considerable potential for social capital in Russia. These limitations for civil society can be seen as one of the reasons for the continuously high levels of corruption witnessed in the Russian Federation.

Considering quantitative data and individual case studies thus confirms the importance of civil society actors in the fight They represent the potential for mobilisation (social against corruption. National and international policy-makers, capital). The different components of civil society can such as leading development institutions, should encourage equally reinforce or undermine one another in their fight their action and assist civil society in their efforts. In this against corruption. In the years following the 2004 Orange context three lessons can be drawn: revolution Ukraine already had a relatively large number of 1. Support for civil society and active civil society building active NGOs. Prior to the Maidan movement, however, these has to follow an integrated approach, by supporting failed to mobilise the wider population and thus enjoyed only NGOs and other CSOs; as well as free media and loose limited success. citizen groups.

2. CSOs should be encouraged to be more self-sufficient Maidan Protests: uniting Ukrainian civil society and reach out to citizens.

The Maidan protests managed to create momentum for 3. Social media in particular are likely to play an increasing tangible action against corruption in Ukraine. NGOs role in empowering civil society actors in the control of were not only pivotal in creating the infrastructure of corruption. the movement; they also mobilised large swathes of the population. They managed to unite people with a vision of a Civil society works best when it organises itself as counterfairer and more transparent Ukrainian state. balance to the state. An integrated approach that unites CSOs, journalists and the wider population to ensure Activists also fostered cooperation with investigative cooperation is, therefore, the most promising strategy in journalists, who played a crucial role during and after the the fight against corruption. Social media is a particularly fall of the Yanukovych regime. They exposed the scale of the useful tool to connect traditional NGOs with the wider corruption the toppled regime had engaged in and informed population and give citizens the means to publicise and share the wider population about the protests that were going on in information to hold the government to account.

Kiev and elsewhere. Together, NGO activists, journalists and the wider population formed a broad coalition against the Policy-makers should support and encourage these Yanukovych regime that stood independent from the former developments, but activists should also take the initiative political class. by seeking to further facilitate access to the internet and communications technologies for their fellow citizens. The Indeed, a united civil society is a crucial factor in controlling advantages and disadvantages of this approach are indeed an corruption in Ukraine. The example of Russia, however, interesting topic, and demand further attention by antishows how limited press freedom and an oppressive corruption researchers and advocates. www.asianngo.org

Conclusion While the eyes of the world focus on the conflict in eastern and southern Ukraine, it should not be forgotten that civil society activists are fighting for reform and against corruption throughout the country (with many others doing the same elsewhere in the world).

Based in Kiev, much of Ukraine’s civil society is trying to fulfil the promise of the Maidan movement: a legitimate government, a state based on the rule of law, real reform and politicians with a duty to their country and not their wallets. Fulfilling this promise would not only improve the situation of the people in Ukraine, it would be a welcome panacea for a united Ukraine, providing a guiding example to current and future struggles for democracy and accountability in many parts of the world. ■ About the Author Niklas Kossow is a Fellow of the Mercator Fellowship on International Affairs, currently based in New York.

He supports the Anti-Corruption Research Network as a Research Correspondent for the topic of Social Media and Anti-Corruption. His research centres on how greater accountability and transparency through the involvement of civil society actors can help fight corruption and advance democratisation. His work also includes research on the potential of social media in the context of democratisation and bridging the gap between civil society and the state. Footnotes and references for this article can be found at www. corruptionresearchnetwork.org, where it first appeared.

The author wishes to acknowledge the works and contribution of Transparency International and the ACRN.

11

C OA UC NRT O RY S SF E AA S TI AU R E

Action for Food Production The 2014 UN climate impact report has revealed that for the rest of the century, global crop yields will be reduced due to climate change. As the world's population continues to increase, the challenge of ensuring an affordable access to nutritious food for the coming years will be more profound.

In response, Action for Food Production (AFPRO) works with communities to ensure food security. The group started as a secular Indian technical service organisation in 1966 but is now a prominent local NGO in India.

They provide socio-technical support for food production and developing livelihood through proper natural resource management with unique focus on the development and management of water resources.

Water, being a vital element to crop and livestock survival, is key to food security.

AFPRO initially concentrated on developing groundwater to augment food production.

Subsequently, it shifted its focus from just offering water resources to educating and capacitating people on the proper use and conservation of water.

From AFPRO's role, regarded by grassroots agencies and many overseas donors as intermediate support organisation called upon to provide technical services, is to prepare viable project proposals and conduct feasibility studies for funding support. It has now evolved into an organisation that endeavours to bring together resources like overseas funding, government agencies, financial institutions and grassroots level NGOs for implementation of development projects – with the end-goal to improve livelihoods and quality of life of the people.

Since it started its operations, the group has had successful programmes that not only boost food production; but also help provide livelihoods to thousands of farmers, offer sanitation programmes to families, and assist in disaster response. Some of its most successful programmes include a Poly Culture Technology that helps raise temperatures during winter; the promotion of low cost irrigation in rainfed agricultural system; and a safe-water and sanitation programme for schoolchildren.

To learn more about the works of AFPRO, visit or get in contact with them at www.afpro.org. ■

Laos NGOs fear new restrictions hinder development The Lao PDR’s severe economic conditions have led to more efforts from NGOs to help the country grow; but with their increasing initiatives comes tighter scrutiny from the government. Non-profit groups were alarmed that their operations are restricted through the set of new measures that include various and prolonged approvals for their activities.

The first decree focused on INGOs, where they should be supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under the MFA, INGOs think they may be restrained to work independently from the government. They also have to get annual operational permits that can take up to two months for approval; and must gain approval to implement community projects and other activities, to hire foreign staff and establish offices in Laos. Under the same decree, they also have to submit progress and financial reports for their projects on a regular basis.

NGOs, international and local, play a central role and serve as guide in pursuing development strategies in the authoritarian nation whose civil society is still relatively young after two decades of seclusion. These new guidelines, according to NGOs, can harm the roles they play by potentially limiting their works.

Prior to these guidelines, NGOs were threatened with two consecutive events: in recent years, Laos’ most prominent civil society leader Sombath Somphone disappeared and was not seen since; and Swiss NGO Director AnneSophie Gindroz was expelled from the country.

Speculations arose that the government targets NGOs because its recent development projects focus on land concessions to make way for rubber plantations, mining operations, forestry projects and hydroelectric dams that hurt the farmers – all which NGOs, in turn, fight.

The second decree on local NGOs enforces control over foreign funding and donations.

To ensure transparency, all NGOs must report any donation more than 50 million kip (USD6,085) to the Ministry of Finance.

When international donations are higher than 100 million kip ($12,171), local NGOs need clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Department of Home Affairs. Not only does the government monitor the foreign donations; it also narrows down their work in the areas of agriculture, education, public health, sport, science, and humanitarian benefits.

“I would like to see guidelines that allow more freedom for INGOs—for example, one that allows for a Lao country director, and simpler and faster procedures for approving MoUs. This would allow more foreign aid money to come to Laos, which would contribute to the government goal of poverty alleviation,” said an NGO worker on condition of anonymity.

Go.Asia, NGO treat kids to ‘Eat Smart Little Chef’ in Hong Kong

Not the solution: a lesson from Africa

Those who violate these guidelines “shall be warned, [or their] operation permit or project suspended, depending on the nature of the transgression,” state the proposed guidelines. ■

Governments of developing countries are increasingly wooing foreign direct investors, a result of which is huge public-private partnerships (PPPs) in agriculture. But civilsociety organisations warn this is not the right approach to fighting hunger and poverty.

ADRA as ‘voice for poor’ Guided by its faith-based values of compassion and being the “voice for the poor,” serving and partnering with communities in need, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) started as a small mission by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Maryland, USA. Since its founding in 1956, it has now expanded reach from 22 to 130 countries worldwide and grew its workforce from 600 to 6,000.

Over the years, ADRA’s programmes and missions spanned from emergency and disaster reliefs to long-term development with an emphasis on food security; agriculture and economic growth; water, hygiene and sanitation; health and nutrition. In Asia, ADRA began its works shortly after its founding and since then, it has gradually established several headquarters in 16 countries in the south, southeast and northeast regions.

“Throughout the years, ADRA has developed a capacity to fundraise through private donations.

These fundraising efforts currently support the implementation of grants in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

These projects include Street Children, Development, Human Trafficking, Child Labor, Tobacco Cessation, Protection, HIV/AIDS and Opium Addiction,” ADRA’s Senior Technical Advisor for Agriculture and Economic Development, Jozimo Santos Rocha, told AsianNGO. Rocha pointed out the improvements ADRA has seen in Asia on social inclusion; poverty, hunger and malnutrition reduction; life expectancy; education; human development index; government capacity and economic well-being. In terms of food insecurity in Asia, Rocha also said it has reduced drastically. In fact, Southeast Asia’s caloric intake “reached unprecedented levels.”

“The rapid adoption of newly developed, highyielding seeds during the ‘green revolution’ triggered strong increases in yields, which resulted in greater rural incomes and food availability, as well as lower food prices. Donors and NGOs like ADRA have played a vital role in closing the gaps that public agriculture extension left, becoming the interface between small holder farmers, researchers and providers of new technologies,” Rocha added.

There has been several programmes and projects implemented by ADRA in Asia recently; some of which include polio eradication in India, health improvement for women and children in Nepal, emergency response and community development for Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines.

ADRA’s unfaltering service and credibility earned it the General Consultative Status by the United Nations since 1997. To learn more about ADRA and how to get involved, you can visit their websites on www.adraasia.org and www.adra.org or call their Asia regional office in Thailand on (66) (2) 391-4768. ■

Burkina Faso are leasing out fertile land with good transport links. Governments grant investors low lease cost for many years.

Go.Asia collaborated with the Jamie’s Italian Mozambique merely charges $1 per hectare Hong Kong and The Youth Encouragement for a period of more than 50 years; and the Foundation bringing children to a fun and creative one-day programme, the “Eat Smart government may reduce the tax rate to just The G8 nations, 10 African countries and over Little Chef ” food education activity.

100 private-sector companies are partners in the 2-5%. Depending on the investment sum, New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, Burkina Faso hands over land to investors for 18 Ten children visiting Jamie’s Italian in Hong to 99 years. begun at the G8 summit in Camp David Kong were given a mini-course on food and in 2012.

At the time, the goal was to lift 50 culture from the West. The team at Jamie’s Typically, governments prefer to deal with Italian prepared a programme for the children, million people out of poverty in ten years; and private-sector investments in African agriculture corporations. In Burkina Faso, 78% of irrigated including learning the basic ingredients of land is to be used by investors according to were considered the means to achieve it.

Italian cuisine, the shapes and names of government plans; while smallholders get different pasta, etc. The children also had the chance to see the chefs in action. a mere 22 %. Obviously, the latter hardly The African countries have since committed have opportunities to expand their farms to reforms in cooperation agreements. Main After the restaurant visit, children were gathered objective is to improve investment conditions and grow food for themselves, their families at the office of DotAsia Organisation and they in commercial agriculture. In turn, donor and communities. What is being promoted were each asked to represent one of the seven instead is huge, industrial-scale plantations. governments offer funds from their officialcolours of the rainbow and draw fruits and The distribution of land is becoming more development assistance (ODA) budgets and vegetables of that [colour]. This was followed inequitable as a handful of foreign investors private-sector companies promise to consider by a sharing of what they knew (and learned) and members of the local elite take control investments. about the fruits and vegetables they drew with of ever more land – trend confirmed in over their friends.

100 countries by researchers from GRAIN, an But non-government organisations and The children then worked on mixing their own farmers’ associations were not involved in the independent organi¬sation. orange soda. During this experiment, they negotiations, or only so, on an ad-hoc basis; helped add carbonated water, orange essence, The New Alliance for Food Security and even though reforms of this kind often put the colourings, preservatives and sugars together to livelihoods of smallholder farms at risk.

Nutrition, moreover, is supporting efforts to understand what is inside an orange soda. Each make Africa a profitable market for the seed kid received a package of souvenir sponsored industry. There is a danger of pa¬tents depriving The transfer of land to investors is a core by the DotAsia Organisation after their fun farmers of their rights to their own seed and component of large-scale PPPs in agriculture, adventure. Go.Asia would like to thank The Youth Encouragement Foundation and Jamie’s particularly in so-called ‘growth corridors’.

Countries such as Tanzania, Malawi and Italian Hong Kong. (Go.Asia) ■ Cont. page 9

12

A S I A D E V E L OP M E N T S P E C I A L

Bangladesh: no “basket case” It is one of the few countries likely to meet almost all of the Millennium Development Goals; and while the country may still be very poor, Bangladesh has made spectacular progress. It is one of the most overlooked development success stories of the past decades, steadily unfolding in one of the poorest and most populous countries. The little attention the country attracts in the international media tends to focus on floods, cyclones, (allegedly) deplorable labour conditions in the textile industry, and poor governance. Trans¬parency International’s Corruption Perception Index places the country near the bottom of its ranking.

The country’s reputation of desperate misery is decades-old. Henry Kissinger, US Secretary of State in the 1970s, derided it as a ‘basket case’.

The international public has barely noticed Bangladesh’s achievements in terms of income levels, food security, industrialisation, health, family planning, education, disaster prevention and the empowerment of women.

Perceptions began to slowly change only at the end of the past decade, when World Bank experts, for instance, noticed the ‘development surprise’, which results from several factors that cannot be easily replicated. Some of them are that Bangladesh has a vibrant civil society, spawning many NGOs that supplemented government action and – where such action was lacking – often substituted for it. Many of them focus in improving the lot of women and empowering them. International donor agencies have also played their part: well-targeted development programmes always found donor support, and [donors] knew they could rely on competent and committed local staff.

Bangladeshi culture is unusually homogenous for a developing country: 98 % of its people speak Bengali as their first language, and almost 90 % are Muslim. These characteristics have proven helpful. What works in one village is likely to work in the next village as well – and that is never far away. More¬over, development workers only need a bicycle to reach many thousands of clients.

Traumatised by war The war for independence in 1971 left millions dead and destroyed the country’s infrastructure.

At the time, the country’s future looked bleak.

The Pakistani army had murdered a whole generation of intellectuals and professionals.

Hundreds of thousands of women were systematically raped. Two years later, a devastating famine killed another estimated 1.5 mn people. There was reason to doubt that the new nation of 72 million people squeezed into an area of only 143,000 square kilometres had a future. Its population was larger than West Germany’s, but its territory was 40 % smaller.

But Bangladeshis were determined to rebuild and develop their country. Massive foreign aid arrived and civil society groups and government agencies distributed the assistance to destitute people. Some important NGOs began as part of the relief effort. Some of them, for instance BRAC and Grameen, have become internationally active organisations with global recognition and millions of members.

In the late-1970s, government relief efforts quickly evolved into effective development policies. The massive donor-funded food distribution programmes of the post-war period were transformed into rural infrastructure development programmes, headed by the Local Government Engineering Department. Among others, the extensive, meticulously planned network of rural roads, bridges, markets and boat landing sites dramatically increased the volume of marketed rice and contrib¬uted to falling real prices of rice.

High-yielding rice and wheat varieties were introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, and the markets for farm-inputs were liberalised. The introduction of various kinds of tube wells and surface irrigation boosted the dry-season rice

LEARNING A CARNODS SR EASSOI A URCES

crop. Rice production steadily increased from 10 million tons in 1972-1973 to 34 million tons in 2011-2012. Today, Bangladesh is basically self-sufficient in food.

Budding industries The war destroyed the country’s small business sector and it took years for the private sector – including the ready-made garment industry (RMG) – to emerge. Today, there are around 3,000 RMG factories, with export levels in the textiles sector second only to China.

Garment exports from Bangladesh were worth $24.5 bn in fiscal year 2013-2014 and accounted for 81 % of export earnings. The sector provides direct employment to more than 3.5 mn people – the majority poor rural women – and indirect employment and income to millions more.

Other industries – including generic pharmaceuticals, leather products and shipbuilding – are also gaining strength. Since 2004 two Bangladeshi shipbuilding companies have exported ships worth $200 mn. Industrial production now accounts for almost 30% of GDP. A massive flow of remittances from millions of Bangladeshis who work abroad has also helped, with the World Bank pegging the [remittances] at $13 bn in 2012.

Making the most of growth Social development has outpaced rising incomes. With a per-capita GNI of $900 in 2013, the World Bank still ranks Bangladesh as a low-income country. The UN classifies it among the least-developed countries, taking into account additional indicators for education, health and people’s vulnerability to shocks. But Bangladesh is on track to meet key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

The share of people below national poverty line fell from 56.6 % in 1992 to 31.5 % in 2010. It is one of the few countries likely to achieve the MDG of reducing infant, child and maternal mortality by two-thirds; and is on track to immunise 100% of one-year-old children against measles and achieve 100% net enrolment in primary school. Gender disparity has been eliminated in primary and secondary education. The country will meet or has already met most of the targets for fighting HIV/AIDs, malaria and tuberculosis.

And while experts believe that decline in fertility rate among women would only be possible in the context of rapidly rising incomes, increased levels of education for women or a powerful non-familial welfare system such as in China; in Bangladesh it was the result of strong and persistent government commitment to an innovative, multi-layered programme.

Family-planning information reached almost every village in the country through the media, local elites, NGOs and even religious leaders.

Contraceptives were widely advertised and made available at low-cost, subsidised prices. The heart of the programme consisted of 23,500 female family welfare assistants who brought health and family-planning information and free contraceptives to women in their homes, backed-up by clinical services. By mid-1990s, the Ministry of Health was employing 44,000 family planning personnel – all financed at that time by donor agencies.

The success of the programme is perhaps paradigmatic for its social development.

Government agencies and NGOs typically cooperate on implementing comprehensive policies in selected sectors and rely on international funding. Today, around 2,000 development NGOs in Bangladesh are active in education and health services, microfinance and women’s empowerment; many contributing to the successful disaster-risk reduction system.

Today, NGOs are crucial to the rural solarenergy programme that has brought solar home systems to over 7 mn Bangladeshis since 2002.

The programme, once again, was initiated by a government-owned company, is promoted by local NGOs and relies on international funding.

(Marianne Scholte, www.threadsandborders. blogspot.de)

www.asianngo.org

TechSoup Global calls for regionbased digital change The digital age has been the hotbed of innovations, reaching communities through miles apart. People are now more empowered to adapt and replicate the technology in their localities. Powered with this ability, technology and a wider access to it drives social development—one thing TechSoup Global (TSG) and its partners in Asia strongly advocate.

Last October, TechSoup Global hosted its AsiaPacific Partners’ Meeting at Asian Development Bank in Manila, where TSG’s partners shared their new initiatives and IT-related projects that bring about change in their respective communities; and shared the challenges and insights they have encountered in bridging the gap between lack of access and quality of tools.

The gathering brought together TechSoup Global’s executive management headed by founder Daniel Ben-Horin, TSG President Doug Jacquier, TSG Global VP Lynn Van Housen; and Australia counterparts ConnectingUp Simon Gee and Ryan Jones.

Partners from across the region also joined the TechSoup and ConnectingUp teams: Tim Spijker of Sols 24/7 (Malaysia), Smruti Das of Nasscom Foundation (India), Fatin Syafira of Tandemic (Malaysia), Dana Doan of Lin Foundation (Vietnam) and Aseem Thakur Balaca of GIVEasia (Singapore), among others.

Breakout sessions were also designed to pursue two tracks on the role of technology and the pressing needs it can address in the development sector: one on the forming of NGO data, and the other on NGO Skills Development in Asia-Pacific. Among the resulting highlights of the breakout discussions centred a strategic direction on: • e-Learning Platform: To help larger commnities learn more, an e-Learning Platform where educational technology electronically supports learning and teaching will be adapted by the TSG community. TSG will then have to re-visit the purpose of every e-Learning initiative— to make education easier and more accessible, and empower people to make informed decisions. Webinars can also be done as part of the platform.

• Social Enterprise Incubator: Incubators provide SEs the opportunity to learn from seasoned mentors and improve their business model, obtain start-up capital and pitch to potential investors.

Smruti Das of Nasscom said “there should be an understanding of the landscape, identified needs, a ‘curriculum’ for the social enterprises; and a pre-determined mentoring process.”

• Engaging highly-skilled volunteers: Hiring tech-savvy employees can be costly. Aseem Balaca of GIVEasia introduced engaging highly-skilled volunteers in different projects TSG wishes to implement, where volunteers can range from the developers to information technology specialists. To encourage them volunteers should be given autonomy where they have the freedom to propose projects.

TechSoup Global continues to support technology-powered efforts to enable social transformation. “Technology is a powerful enabler for social change. We’ve assembled a worldwide network of individuals and organisations that share this conviction.

This network—one that you likely belong to—is working together to develop and share innovative solutions to our most urgent social challenges,” said Van Housen at the event in the ADB. TechSoup Asia is a non-profit programme born out of the collaborative venture between TechSoup Global, based in San Francisco, and its partner network, including Connecting Up in Australia and the Hong Kong Council of Social Services; and financially supported by Microsoft. TechSoup Asia has devoted its efforts to helping NGOs, civil society and faith-based organisations across Southeast Asia to gain access to the technology resources they would need to increase the impact they’re making in their respective communities. ■

MDF C A L E N D A R OF E V E N T S ( www. m d f . n l ) 3-6 November 2014

17-21 November 2014

10-12 November 2014

24-28 November 2014

10-12 November 2014

1-5 December 2014

15-17 December 2014

9-13 March 2015

Monitoring and Evaluation for Learning Hanoi, Vietnam

Disaster Risk Reduction Kathmandu, Nepal

Knowledge Management Hanoi, Vietnam

EU Procedures: Procurement Procedures and Contract Management Bangkok, Thailand

9-13 February 2015

Monitoring and Evaluation for Learning Vientiane, Laos

23-27 February 2015

Strategic Planning and Organisational Development Bali, Indonesia

Results-based Management Bali, Indonesia

Management Skills Bali, Indonesia

Winning Proposals and Reporting Yangon, Myanmar

Leadership and People Management Yangon, Myanmar

16-20 March 2015

Human Resources Management Colombo, Sri Lanka

23-27 March 2015 Training of Trainers Bali, Indonesia

Learning step by step Developmental intervention has to fit into the socio-political context of the country concerned to have lasting impact.

Researchers from the Overseas Development Institute have assessed several success stories, concluding that donor action can be “politically smart and locally led”. They warn, however, that the institutional setup of aid agencies often does not serve that purpose.

Tackling the root causes of poverty, environmental destruction and other developmental challenges is difficult; such problems are often deeply embedded in a country’s political economy. Solutions that work must fit into this context and change its dynamics. As David Booth and Sue Unsworth from the ODI point out in a recent publication, it is necessary to test approaches in an iterative manner until something works and can be scaled up.

To find such solutions, people running a project must understand the politics of the place they are dealing with. Moreover, they must network among various interest groups and discover common goals. Scholars argue that it is possible to build coalitions to drive change on that basis. They emphasise the relevance of step-by-step learning and brokering contacts with potential partners.

Typically, people from the countries concerned will be better at finding such solutions than agency staff from abroad, the study states; though foreigners with good understanding of local conditions can also succeed. The authors’ advice is that development agencies should support projects long term, fund promising local agents and handle funding in a flexible way.

A promising approach has to be developed, and that promising approach must then be supported in a sustained manner.

A seventh case study assessed the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Action Plan (FLEGT), designed to keep illegally-felled timber from the EU’s single market and implemented in various countries.

Booth and Unsworth admit the projects were randomly chosen and do not add up to representative samples. They insist, however, that their qualitative conclusions apply to development programmes in general. They say too many developmental efforts fail because they do not fit local circumstances and fail to change the political economy.

While the publications express optimism concerning the ability of donor agencies to promote lasting change, it also demands that donor institutions do so more systematically.

The authors warn that often, agency management is counterproductive. Tight timelines to disburse funds and implement projects, for instance, restrict the leeway needed for iterative approaches.

Over-confident leaders, who believe they know what solutions work, can undermine principles of local ownership. According to Booth and Unsworth, donors should “abandon practices that assume development progress to be simple, predictable and deliverable from the outside.”

(Hans Dembowski, D+C, in www.dandc.eu)

Their data show that it helps when agency staff are involved in a country for a long time and gain in-depth knowledge of its issues.

But the authors also stress that projects need enough leeway to learn by trial and error. At the same time, experience made in successful projects can help scale up politically smart and locally led approaches internationally.

They point out that donor governments normally implement domestic reforms this way. In their eyes, the need to make this case is “a measure of how detached the aid business has become”.

The authors base their finding on case studies: three focused on rural development (in India and the Philippines), one promoted disarmament and reintegration of combatants (D.R. Congo) and two facilitated closer interaction between citizens and government bodies (Nepal and Burma).

The September 2014 publication, Politically smart, locally led development

by David Booth and Sue Unsworth of the ODI, is posted here: www.odi.org/publications/8800-politicallysmart-locally-led.

13

L EOAURNNTI RNYG FAE N DURREES O U R C E S C AT C AL E N DAR O F E VE N TS 15-16 November 2014 G20 Leaders' Summit 2014 Brisbane, Australia 18-20 November 2014 Digital Media Asia Singapore, Singapore

19 November 2014 India Toilet Summit 2014 Chennai, India 19-20 November 2014 Social Innovation Summit 2014 California, USA

20-21 November 2014 B4E Indonesia Summit 2014 Jakarta, Indonesia

20-22 November 2014 Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam 25 November 2014 Sustainable Business Awards SG Singapore, Singapore

19-20 November 2014 AIDF Disaster Relief Summit Washington DC, USA

25-26 November 2014 Responsible Business Forum Singapore Singapore, Singapore

19-21 November 2014 Clean Air Asia: BAQ 2014 EST Colombo, Sri Lanka

25-26 November 2014 Solar Energy Southeast Asia Bangkok, Thailand

19-20 November 2014 Myanmar Finance Summit Yangon, Myanmar 20 November 2014 Sustainable Business Awards IN Jakarta, Indonesia

26-27 November 2014 CIIS 2nd International Conference: Poverty Alleviation and The Social Contract South Sulawesi, Indonesia

26-28 November 2014 International Conference on Managing the Asian Century (ICMAC2014) Bali, Indonesia 29 November-4 December 2014 International Youth Leadership Conference Dubai, UAE 2-4 December 2014 Creating Shared Value (CSV) Conference 2014 Seoul, South Korea 7 December 2014 B4E COP20 Dialogue Lima, Peru 7-11 December 2014 Power Generation Week Florida, USA 9-11 December 2014 Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America Florida, USA 16-18 December 2014 Energy and Sustainability 2014 Putrajaya, Malaysia 15-17 January 2015 2015 Zaragoza Conference Aragon, Spain

20-21 January 2015 Mobiles for Development Forum Bangkok, Thailand 22-29 January 2015 ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015 Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar 5-7 February 2015 15th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS 2015) New Delhi, India 11-15 February 2015 14th World Congress on Public Health Kolkota, India 12 February 2015 Media360Summit Hong Kong 15 February 2015 3rd Philippine Pharmacy Summit Manila, Philippines 17-18 February 2015 World CSR Day Mumbai, India

26-28 February 2015 Water Expo 2015 Chennai, India

For further information and more events, visit www.asianngo.org

Leveraging digital technology for social change

Celebrating NGO efforts: the Thailand NGO Awards 2014 Over 60,000 non-government organisations in Thailand work to advance education, public health, social welfare and the promotion of local associations. Through their works, Thais are empowered and allowed to participate in the decision-making in the country; while NGOs work and coordinate with the government in conducting their activities that accelerate development. More than this, the NGO sector also contributes to the country’s socio-economic growth, creating more than 700,000 volunteering jobs since 2008.

(Image: Nikki Victoriano/TPSW 2011) Over 450 participants and more than 50 speakers gathered in Manila last October for the first-ever Digital Strategies for Development Summit 2014 on 3-4 October at the Asian Institute Management (AIM). The two-day conference served as a hub for the civil society, social enterprises, the private sector and government agencies to share ideas to harness the potentials of digital technology at a developmental framework.

Apart from the five main plenary discussions on technology for good, governance, education and employment, health, and ‘Connecting the Dots’, the event also saw parallel breakout sessions showcasing solutions and upcoming innovations on the five streams. Among the innovations introduced in the [breakout] sessions were: • The e-Governance platform, Spark Biz, where LGUs and investors can collaborate to advance local economic development through community The summit focused on five streams: Youth, Education implementation and Employment; Good Governance; Disaster • The health tool Community Health Information Management and Climate Change; Health; and Social System (CHITS), established to have electronic Innovation and Enterprises. Juan Miguel Luz, AIM medical record for improved access to public Dean, opened the event by highlighting the significant health care role digital technology plays in solving issues about the • The social initiative, Kid Camp, which caters to complexities in the world. children with Autism so they can concentrate better and comprehend further “The world is dynamic… Digital technology is relevant • The Disaster management network, ICLEI, which in making sense of the complex world and how to conducts projects for climate change mitigation handle these complexities,” he said, adding that the • The education programme 1-text message story, space of public good is no longer the sole domain of the where children’s reading is improved through daily government. He also noted in his closing remarks that text messages the private sector and NGOs have been a very vital part in bridging this challenge and pursuing the attached “Digital technology may not be the ultimate and opportunities. only answer; it can nevertheless make the work of development pioneers and thought leaders more “The new currency of information and data, and how efficient. It is through technological strategies that we to make use of them, is equally crucial. Networking can greatly enhance progress with a people-centred, is the new arithmetic; because it is not just about the innovative, inclusive and responsive development,” number of people you’re connected with; but more on Sreenivas Narayanan, Managing Director of ASSIST, the number of connections you have with friends,” Luz said. added.

DSDS also served as the launch of the three-year Meanwhile in his keynote address, Bart Edes, ADB ‘TechLab’ programme, a collaboration of ASSIST, AIM, Chair of Social Development and Poverty Community the Local Government Academy (LGA) and Civika— of Practice, gave an overview about the plausible which will be culminated in 2016. Mini-conferences applications of digital technology on different issues and workshops on technology-for-development will concerning the society. On one hand, he said ICT be rolled out in the coming years, leading up to LGA’s serves as tool shifting education towards “student25th anniversary in 2016. centred learning.” On the other, it also improves the current status of health as ICT provides greater DSDS 2014 was organised in collaboration between inclusiveness and access.

ASSIST, AIM, the Department of Interior and Local Government, Local Government Agency (DILG-LGA), Connected Action Group Chief Social Scientist Marc AsianNGO, Bridging Cultures and Civika. Among Smith spoke of Social Network Analysis and how the premium partners were TechSoup Asia, Microsoft, social network theory can be used in analysing and The Asia Foundation and Smart; and community maximising the impact of digital technology. partners Intel, (Dot)Asia, and Go.Asia. To stay tuned for the event output report, follow www.facebook.com/ digitalsummit2014. ■ 14

Recognising the significant contributions of NGOs in Thailand’s sustainable development and improving people’s lives even in the wake of a martial law; the Resource Alliance, in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, has conducted the fourth Thailand NGO Awards. The Awards scans NGOs across Thailand that applied to the competition and have selected those that exhibit “good governance and accountability, innovations in resource mobilisation, and effective programming and financial management.”

Twelve organisations were shortlisted each year, with three receiving the Thailand NGO of the Year awards across the three categories. They will get a certificate, trophy and cash prize at the awarding this November; and will qualify to apply for the Global Awards 2015. This year’s winners are: • SOS Children’s Villages Thailand for their works to support children, the youth and families. They provide care for those who cannot stay with their biological families or have

lost their [families] due to disasters, conflicts and other circumstances; and provide them with ‘family-based’ care. Children are hosted in SOS Villages where they are educated and taught life skills that help them become independent individuals.

• Goodwill Group Foundation helps disadvantaged women through skills training and career services. They provide personal and career development services focused on women's health and rights, life skills, mentoring, career placement, career paths and vocational training and career assessment.

• The Sansailuang Sub-District Health Volunteer Club “It is our belief that a vibrant, well-supported nonprofit sector is essential to enable communities and society at large to be resilient; and for poor people to access opportunities that improve their lives,” said Natalie Phaholyothin, Associate Director of The Rockefeller Foundation.

The award ceremony was presided by chief guest Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan, chair of the Centre for Philanthropy and Civil Society, National Institute of Development Administration; along with the country’s foremost non-profit and responsible business authorities including Tassanee Lerksantivong, Governor Assistant at the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority; Peredue Evans, director of The British Council Thailand; and Sukich Udindu, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at the Minor Group. ■

Resource on business, human rights launched in Singapore Business and human rights has emerged as a distinct field within the corporate governance movement; and the new book “Business and Human Rights in South East Asia,” to be launched in November in Singapore, draws on the UN Guiding Principles and recent national plans of action in providing an overview of the relevant developments in the ASEAN. Launching at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre on 24 November at the backdrop of this year’s Responsible Business Forum, the book positions both theoretical and practical knowledge at the intersection of human rights and environmental risks; shedding light on how stakeholders currently approach business and human rights; and explores how the role of ASEAN nations, and that of the bloc itself, may be strengthened.

Speakers from high-level positions in government, business and civil society will tackle the place of corporate governance and human rights in the ASEAN Charter; present a case study of the Myanmar Investment Commission's experience in promoting responsible business; access to remedies in and outside court; and the value of human rights audits in Indonesia.

The launch is organised by the Singapore Management University's Centre for Cross-border

Commercial Law in Asia (CEBCLA) and the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB); and sponsored by the British High Commission in Singapore.

Guest of Honour at the launch will be Prof.

Walter Woon, SC, David Marshall Professor of Law, National University of Singapore; along with Mahdev Mohan, Director of the Asian Business and Rule of Law Initiative at the SMU. They will be joined by Vicky Bowman, director of the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business; Cynthia Morel, Expert Adviser for the Asian Business and Rule of Law Initiative; and James Kallman, presidentdirector of the Moores Rowland Indonesia.

To register for the launch and for those attending the 24-26 November Responsible Buciness Forum as a full participant, register at http:// www.responsiblebusiness.com/events/responsiblebusiness-forum-on-sustainable-development/ using the code BHCRBF14D for a 25% discount off the original price of the book. Of the various options made available to you under ‘Other Information’, select ‘Business & Human Rights in Southeast Asia: A book launch & seminar’ from the ‘Pre-forum seminars and workshops’ category. Registration for both events will close on 21 November. Questions may be sent to abrl@smu.edu.sg ■ www.asianngo.org

LEARNING AND RESOURCES

Youth4Asia: Achieving solutions for Grant to up food output, quality in Asia, inclusive Asia Africa using satellite data initiatives that show results within the following from page 1

when demand for food is expected to increase by 70%. On the other hand, experts warn that arable land can only increase by 15%; while Deadline for submission of full application is water is still not easily accessible, and both on 27 February 2015. concerns exacerbated by climate change and natural disasters.

The project aims to reach at least 3 million smallholders to receive useful and timely “A more effective and efficient food production products to improve sustainable food is essential. Providing the right information at production; increase effective use of water, the right time to food producers like farmers, nutrients, seeds and pesticides; and deliver pastoralists and fishermen can help to improve financially sustainable services after its and increase food production in a sustainable three years’ time-frame. Applications are manner, thus ensuring food security on a global encouraged to be a collaboration between scale,” the G4AW said in a statement. an organisation from a target country and a Dutch organisation; and are to be between As a facility, G4AW will therefore develop a one public organisation and one private or platform for new partnerships between public non-government organisation. organisations, research institutes, private sector operators, NGOs, farmer cooperatives, satellite Among the factors considered in screening data/service operators, the corporations and applicants for grants are the number of transmission operators; as well as a programme smallholders targeted, user demand-driven, to promote and support private investments for expected outcome in terms of improved use large-scale, demand-driven and satellite-based of inputs (in water, nutrients), improved information services. sustainable production, increased income, a liaison function towards targeted end users The other partner/target countries in Africa (smallholders), own investment, liquidity, are Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, financial sustainability of service provision Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, after project closure, substantial use of Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South satellite data as input for service chain, Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Zambia, Zimbabwe. For South America it gender policy. covers Colombia.

proposed areas of focus will be recognised: citizenship and governance; employment and education; environment, water and climate change; and health and hygiene.

is currently a country in transition to partnership.

This project is a response to the threats of food insecurity and dwindling quality of food that are increasingly becoming inaccessible to a growing world population – expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, and

G4AW works to improve food security in developing countries by using satellite data.

For more information and to download the full application package of the 2014-2015 call, visit www.g4aw.spaceoffice.nl/en. ■

The online knowledge platform will consolidate youthled projects and youth organisations that work on the areas of focus while competition on each focus area will be implemented.

The first among the series of calls is the Environment Solution Search: Investing in Natural Capital (focal theme: Environment, Water, and Climate Change), with an initial run in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The call for the natural capital challenge for the region Around 750 million youth are in Asia-Pacific, aged accepts projects investing in natural capital in one of 15-24. While this large population benefit from the the following interventions: rapid development of the region, it also faces several • Environmental Management challenges. Majority live developing countries, making • Biodiversity Conversation them vulnerable to serious problems such as low access • Environmentally Sustainable Poverty to water and sanitation facilities, health risks, lack of Reduction and Social Entrepreneurship education, unemployment and climate change and • Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation disasters.

Despite these, and because of the youth’s strength in number, they have the potential and capacity to contribute to development: they have been active in responding to disasters and engaging in environmental activities such as river clean-ups and tree planting.

More than this, since they have greater access to education and technology, they are capacitated to be more active in the society.

Entries should also be from GMS countries: Cambodia, the Guangxi and Yunnan provinces of the People’s Republic of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. While only entries that have been implemented or ongoing shall be accepted, projects should either be run by a youthled organisation, cater to the needs of the youth, or implemented involving the youth.

The Asian Development Bank’s NGO and Civil Society Center, through its Youth Initiative programme, engages youth in ADB operations. In support of the youth, the Initiative promotes inclusion of youth in important development and policy discussions and helps in capacity building of young people.

The application is ongoing and will close on 28 December.

Winners will be awarded a package of ADB publications and free support and mentorship, among others; and will also receive linkages to networks that can provide potential investments for scaling up. Their initiatives will also be promoted in platforms such as In line with this, the Youth Initiative – in collaboration Youth4Asia website, ADB publications, ADB Youth Initiative blog, and through the networks of ASSIST with ASSIST Asia – has launched Youth4Asia and AsianNGO. Solutions Search. It combines a competition and creation of an online platform to showcase and Learn more about Youth4Asia at www.youth4.asia or promote youth work in the Asia-Pacific. Youth-led send an email to solutions@youth4.asia. ■

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DISEASE PREVENTION Bayer has been a participant in the fight against vector-borne disease for more than 50 years. We a uniqueportfolio of product solutions, covering important intervention techniques, in the fight against diseases such as malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness and Chagas (diseases which affect more than half of the world’s population). www.bayer.com

FUNDRAISING Venture for Fundraising

CSR Asia is the largest, longest-established CSR organisation in Asia. We provide advisory, research and training services on sustainable business practices in Asia and our services include: CSR reporting and communications; stakeholder engagement and materiality assessment; CSR strategy; Community Investment Scorecard and strategy; ISO 26000 Health Check; Research and CSR Intelligence; Training; and Strategic Partner Programme and Community Investment Roundtable.

Erin Lyon | Executive Director Email: elyon@csr-asia.com | (65) 6778-9416 www.csr-asia.com

BUILDING Pearls Mii Home using patented, world first manufacturing & construction technology to deliver structures of unrivalled strength, speed, quality, economy & energy efficiency in regional & remote areas.

Phone: +61 (0)7 5570 2000 www.miihome.com.au

Leading Edge Group, Inc. distributes a series of unique & technologically advanced compressed soil block & soil mixing machines to humanitarian relief & military organizations worldwide. Using a hydraulic press mechanism to produce uniform, construction grade soil blocks, this equipment has been used on multi-million dollar homes, low-income housing projects, and military training sites. www.leadingedgegroupinc.com

CONSULTING To see your company here, please contact robert@asianngo.org

envisions a community that celebrates the joy of giving & ensures a bountiful and sustainable world.

We continue to make a difference by helping nonprofit organizations generate resources to fulfill their missions. We do this by designing ethical, inspiring & excellent fund raising solutions which include research & information, training, mentoring & implementation. www.venture-asia.org

INSURANCE Vanbreda International has more than 50 years of market of market leadership in providing worldwide medical insurance to workers from international organisations. Together with Cigna we have developed a product for NGOs answering their specific needs, leveraging our unmatched experience and knowledge of global medical insurance solutions. www.vanbreda-international.com

LEGAL To see your company here, please contact robert@asianngo.org

LOGISTICS/SHIPPING AIDMATRIX Foundation, Inc.

builds & operates powerful technology hubs that support diverse stakeholder groups in their efforts to work together to solve the world's most challenging humanitarian crises. Our solutions enhance participation, amplify contributions, & accelerate results for humanitarian relief. 38,000 leading corporate, nonprofit and government partners leverage Aidmatrix solutions to mobilize $1.5 billion in global aid annually.

Joan Bond | Director, Programs Business Development Phone: 972 869 8160 | www.aidmatrix.org

The IFRC Global Logistics Service

is a recognized provider humanitarian logistics services with a global presence & 90 years of experience.

We are specialized in procurement, transportation, warehousing, fleet management & supply chain setup. By regionalizing our operational capacity we achieve substantial savings in delivering humanitarian aid. www.ifrc.org/logistics

www.asianngo.org

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Free listing in PDF classified pages – online and print editions.

Extra distribution at key events - Launching July 2014.

TRAINING

PRIZES Islamic Development Bank IDB Seeks Nominations to Win US $450,000 for Prizes in Science & Technology & Women Contribution to Development Gender -NGOs Division.

Phone: 966 2 646 6787 E-mail: prizeforwomen@isdb.org www.isdb.org

RECRUITMENT To see your company here, please contact robert@asianngo.org

SHELTER

MDF We are passionate learning facilitators with 29 years of experience in the field of international co-operation.

Clients therefore call upon our training & consultancy services to achieve better &more sustainable results.

We offer expertise on the programme, individual, organisational & network level, throughout all sectors, & all over the world.

Ms. Ineke Ann Pitts | Director, MDF South Asia E-mail: ineke@mdfsa.lk | +94112808121 www.mdf.nl

Bestnet is constantly working to develop innovative & intelligent new products that offer safe and cost efficient solutions that help us build a network of life!

Supply of WHO recommended long lasting Insecticide treated nets for malaria prevention & durable portable solar products for light, mobile charging and radio.

E-mail: mhl@bestneteurope.com Phone: +45 30180115 | www.bestneteurope.com

SOFTWARE Techsoup / Connecting Up, Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation that works to unleash the power of not-for-profits by providing a variety of information, products, resources & programs. Our services are available in Australia and New Zealand and throughout South East Asia. We also help to develop relationships with business, community & government sectors for the development of the notfor-profit sector.

E-mail: rj@connectingup.org Phone: 1300 731 844 | www.connectingup.org

Blackbaud Pacific Serving the nonprofit and education sectors for 30 years, Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) combines technology and expertise to help organisations achieve their missions. Blackbaud works with more than 29,000 customers in over 60 countries and offers a full spectrum of software solutions and related services including fundraising, eMarketing, constituent relationship management (CRM), payment services and analytics.

Website: www.blackbaud.com.au Email: Elizabeth.Hubrich@Blackbaud.com.au

Softrek a nonprofit donor management software and decision support tools enable our clients to better manage their fundraising activities, make decisions about building donor relationships, & improve their fundraising results.

Phone: 800.442.9211 (toll free) or 716.691.2800 E-mail: info@softrek.com | www.softrek.com

Claro KC we offer training and technical assistance in support of acquisition & assistance (A&A) activities and strategies, project management, decision-making, conflict transformation, & wise use of resources to organizations for effective coordination & execution of international development programs. Training, technical assistance approaches, methodology, and strategies are designed and implemented by a knowledgeable and experienced team.

Mr. Jeffery Bell | Vice President Fax : 877-464-8592 | E-mail: eff@clarokc.net http://www.clarokc.net

TRANSPORT To see your company here, please contact robert@asianngo.org

WATER SOLUTIONS Vergnet Hydro Provides potable water solutions for rural and isolated communities. For the last 30 years, we have been designing, manufacturing and installing sustainable human powered water pumps adapted to the users and their socio-economic environment.

Today, 100 000 pumps supply water to 50 Million people in more than 35 countries.

Phone: +33 2 38 22 75 10 E-mail: eau@vergnet.fr | www.vergnet-hydro.com

F Cubed Water

Owners, Inventors & manufacturers of Direct Solar Powered Desalination Technology, one of the most efficient and cost effective products of its kind in the world. The panel(s) system creates its own natural sun-powered water cycle to revitalize water to drinking water quality from any water source. This includes polluted, contaminated, industrial waste water,brackish ground water, saline aquifers and sea water. www.fcubed.com.au

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NG C LOEUANR TNRI Y F EAAN TD U RREE S O U R C E S AVAI L ABL E G R ANTS Agriculture-related Education and Research Institutions Component (Grant) Donor: EuropeAid Country: Georgia Area(s) of Interest: Agriculture Application Deadline: 15 November 2014 Grant Support Child and Youth Development (Grant) Donor: Jacobs Foundation Country: Various Country Recipients Area(s) of Interest: Children and Youth Development Application Deadline: 15 December 2014 Country-Based Support Scheme (Grant) Donor: EuropeAid Country: Afghanistan Area(s) of Interest: Civil Society Application Deadline: 21 December 2014 Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Programmes in Cambodia and Vietnam (Grant) Donor: National Science Foundation Country: US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Area(s) of Interest: Capacity-Building Application Deadline: 22 December 2014 Commercialisation Grant Scheme (Grant) Donor: EuropeAid Country: Jordan Area(s) of Interest: Capacity-Building Application Deadline: 28 December 2014

The CSSN International Grant Program (Grant) Donor: Council on State Support to NGO (CSSN) - Azerbaijan Country: Azerbaijan Area(s) of Interest: Community Development Application Deadline: 31 December 2014 Research Support to Improve Health Systems in Developing Countries (Grant) Donor: UK Department for International Development (DFID) Country: Global Area(s) of Interest: Research, Health Application Deadline: 31 December 2014 Funds for Climate Change Mitigation (Grant) Donor: Oak Foundation Country: India Area(s) of Interest: Environment, Climate Change Application Deadline: 31 December 2014 Conservation, Food and Health Foundation Grants for Developing Countries (Grant) Donor: The Conservation, Food and Health Foundation (CFH) Country: Global Area(s) of Interest: Capacity Building, Environment, Food, Health Application Deadline: 1 January 2015

Applied Research Grant Scheme (Grant) Donor: EuropeAid Country: Jordan Area(s) of Interest: Research Deadline: 28 December 2014

Food and Business Applied Research Fund for Sustainable food security (Grant) Donor: Food and Business Applied Research Fund (ARF) Country: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Palestinian Territory, Yemen Area(s) of Interest: Food Application Deadline: 12 January 2015

Promoting Human Rights (Grant) Donor: US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Country: Global Area(s) of Interest: Human Rights Application Deadline: 29 December 2014

Promoting Religious Freedom in Malaysia (Grant) Donor: US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Country: Malaysia Area(s) of Interest: Religion, Human Rights Application Deadline: 12 January 2015

Efficient Energy Use and Planning (Grant) Donor: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Country: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam Area(s) of Interest: Capacity-Building, Energy Application Deadline: 15 January 2015 Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Programmes in Cambodia, Laos, and Papua New Guinea (Grant) Donor: US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Country: Cambodia, Laos Area(s) of Interest: Civil Society Application Deadline: 16 January 2015 Clinical Research and Development Fellowships (Grant) Donor: TDR for Research on Diseases of Poverty Country: Global Area(s) of Interest: Research, Health Application Deadline: 30 January 2015 Conservation Fund for Local Projects in Developing Countries (Grant) Donor: Crowder-Messersmith Conservation Fund Country: Global Area(s) of Interest:Environment, Animal Welfare Application Deadline: 1 February 2015 University Partnership with University of the Punjab-Lahore, Institute of Communication Studies (Grant) Donor: US Mission to Pakistan Country: Pakistan Area(s) of Interest: Research, Education, Information Communication Application Deadline: 2 February 2015

For further information and more grants, visit www.asianngo.org

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University Partnership with National College of Arts-Lahore (Grant) Donor: US Mission to Pakistan Country: Pakistan Area(s) of Interest: Education, Research Application Deadline: 2 February 2015 Worldwide Conservation Fund (Grant) Donor: Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) Country: China, Indonesia Area(s) of Interest: Environment Application Deadline: 6 February 2015 Integrated Sustainable Coastal Development Course (Grant) Donor: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Country: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam Area(s) of Interest: Capacity-Building, Environment Application Deadline: 9 February 2015 Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Programmes in Central Asia (Grant) Donor: US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Country: Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan Area(s) of Interest: Human Rights Application Deadline: 11 February 2015 Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Programmes in Egypt (Grant) Donor: US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Country: Egypt Area(s) of Interest: Human Rights Application Deadline: 11 February 2015 Creating Shared Value Prize 2016: Grants for Nutrition, Water and Rural Development (Grant) Donor: Nestle Country: Global Area(s) of Interest: Community Development, Food, Water Application Deadline: 28 February 2015