The Czech Development Agency announces the Launch of the Open Aid Partnership. You can find the text here.
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2011 Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness – International Essay Contest
“Building a New Global Partnership for Effective Aid & Development”
The Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF-4) will take place in Busan, Korea, from 29 November to 1 December 2011. The HLF-4 presents a unique opportunity for achieving better aid and development through more effective, harmonized cooperation among governments, civil societies and private sectors. This multi-stakeholder event will seek a new vision and strategies for more effective and inclusive development partnership to meet new development challenges and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
As a preparatory event for the HLF-4, the Government of the Republic of Korea would like to host the 2011 HLF-4 International Essay Contest in order to share young people’s inspiration on aid and development that have affected their own lives. Young people from around the world are invited to submit their innovative ideas on effective aid and development.
1. THEME
- Vision of Youth on Effective Aid & Development
2. GUIDELINES
1. Essays may be submitted by anyone ages 18 to 32 (as of December 1, 2011).
2. Essays must be 2000 words or less and in English.
3. Essays must have a cover page indicating the (1) essay title (2) name (3) address (4) contact number (5) e-mail address (6) nationality (7) age as of December 1, 2011 (8) gender (9) school name (if applicable) and (10) word count.
4. Entries may be submitted online, hlf4_essay@mofat.go.kr
5. Essays must be original and unpublished.
6. Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays will not be accepted.
7. Copyright of the essays entered will be assigned to the event organizers.
3. DEADLINE: Entries must be received by October 7, 2011.
4. AWARD:
- 1st Prize – Certificate and Prize of $ 2,000 1 entrant
- 2nd Prize – Certificate and Prize of $ 1,000 2 entrants
- 3rd Prize – Certificate and Prize of $ 200 5 entrants
* The 1st prize and 2nd prize winners will be invited to the Youth Forum which will be held during the HLF-4 as one of its special events. (Travel expenses and accommodation will be covered by the Government of Korea)
** All prize winners will be announced in October 2011 on the HLF-4 website ( www.busanhlf4.org).
Inquiries:
For questions relating to the essay contest please email: hlf4_essay@mofat.go.kr
Minister of Environment of Moldova visited the Czech Development Agency
On July 21, 2011 the Czech Development Agency welcomed the Minister of Environment of Moldova, Gheorghe Salaru. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the results of the Czech development cooperation with Moldova. This cooperation is primarily focused on the area of environment, agriculture, social care and education.
The Minister Salaru mainly appreciated the quality and benefits of the Czech development projects implemented in the environmental sector. Above all environmental burdens, inadequate sanitation and a lack of high-quality drinking water pose the greatest environmental problems of contemporary Moldova. Mr. Salaru particularly acknowledged the project “Restoration of Waste Water Treatment System in Nisporeni” that is a part of the comprehensive programme on rehabilitation of water resources implemented in this region in cooperation with the Austrian Development Agency, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the European Commission. Mr. Salaru also highlighted the importance of the educational and educative components of Czech projects. According to his words, the change in attitudes of communities and individuals to the environment is very necessary in Moldova.
At the end of the meeting Mr. Salaru presented some possibilities of further cooperation. The Moldovan side has a strong interest in renewable energy sources technology, especially biogas. In addition, the Minister invited the Czech Development Agency to focus more on projects supporting Moldova in its goal of getting closer to the EU.
Development Cooperation with the USA and Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina
On July 14, 2011 the Memorandum of Understanding among the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Czech Development Agency (CzDA) was ceremonially signed in the Czech ambassador’s residence in Sarajevo. The Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Sarajevo Tomáš Szunyog signed the Memorandum on behalf of the CzDA director Michal Pastvinský as a representative of the Czech government. Mr. Allan Reed, as the USAID BH Mission Director, signed it on behalf of the US government and Mr. Anders Hedlund, chargé d´affaires and Sida BH Mission Director on behalf of Sweden.
The signing of the Memorandum with these two agencies is playing an important role in development cooperation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and will, among others, contribute to greater harmonisation of donors’ common activities aiming at reaching better efficiency and acceleration of economic and social development of the country.
Common activities will be running in the sector of agriculture. As a follow-up of the Memorandum signature, other technical meetings of the CzDA will follow with American and Swedish experts in order to specify the exact forms of cooperation. Thanks to the newly established cooperation, the Czech Republic will be able to participate distinctly in activities of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina and at the same time Czech experts, companies and NGOs will have the possibility to apply their experience in improving the quality and efficiency of the local agricultural sector. The American and Swedish interest to cooperate with the Czech Republic in this sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an acknowledgement of a successful development of the system of the Czech official development assistance.
Based on the decision of the Government of the Czech Republic and in accordance with the Cooperation Programme between the Czech Republic and Bosnia and Herzegovina, agriculture belongs to the priority sectors of the Czech ODA in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A long-term project focused on an increase of milk production in North-East Bosnia was already initiated in 2010.
Open Forum for CSOs Development Effectivness
From June 28 to July 1, one representative of the Czech Development Agency attended the second and final Global Assembly of the Open Forum for Civil Society Organisations Development Effectiveness gathered in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The main aim of the Assembly, which was represented by some 230 delegates of NGOs, donors and development agencies from more than 70 countries and also delegates of international organisations such as the OECD and the EU, was to finalise the International Framework for Civil Society Organisations Development Effectiveness. This document that is the result of a two-year global consultation process represents a consensus of global civil society on the issues regarding effectiveness of development aid provided by civil society organisations; it mainly accents the principles that can be used by civil society organisations to improve their own work and strengthening the enabling external environment for their activities. The final draft of the document will be presented at a forum on aid effectiveness in Busan, South Korea at the turn of November and December 2011.
The attendance and financial support from the Czech Development Agency, as the sole donor of the countries of Eastern Europe, was very positively perceived by the other conference participants.
For more information about the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness click here.
Training of economic diplomats in the Czech Development Agency
The annual meeting of Czech diplomats took place June 27 to July 1, 2011. Its main aim was to deal with the economic agenda at the Czech embassies around the world and thus the promotion of Czech economic interests abroad and Czech exporters. During this meeting, there was also the first training organised by the Czech Development Agency to international development cooperation that was targeted mostly to diplomats working in countries where the Czech Republic actively supports development cooperation. The meeting was a good opportunity to discuss new strategic documents of the Czech international development cooperation as well as the principles and practices based on the Project Cycle Management Guidelines of the Czech international development cooperation.