U.S. Flood Relief in Thailand

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

On behalf of the American people, USAID is working to help our friends throughout Thailand who are suffering from devastating floods that have affected the lives of more than 2.1 million people in 27 provinces and have killed 377 people since late July.   USAID, through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) have provided more than $1 million in the form of supplies including boats, generators, water pumps and filters, and life jackets.  The United States government provided the support of a military surveillance and humanitarian team, in addition to funding and support.  The U.S. Embassy community in Thailand has contributed food and money, and donated blood, to help victims of this natural disaster.  For more on the flooding in Thailand and the ongoing U.S. relief efforts please visit U.S. Embassy Thailand’s flood information page. 

MTV EXIT Live Manila

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The USAID-supported MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) program delivered another awesome concert packed with star-studded artists.  In Manila, Philippines, on October 29, more than 25,000 people came out to see Jay Park, Evaline and Jason Mraz (pictured here).  Celebrities and fans gathered at MTV EXIT Live Manila to join the anti-trafficking movement to put an end to modern-day slavery.  For more photos and video of the concert, and for information on how you can help, please visit mtvexit.org. 

First Female Wildlife Enforcement Ranger

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Santi, Indonesia’s Investigator of the Year in 2010, recently became the first woman ever to pass through the RDMA-funded Freeland Foundation’s wildlife enforcement ranger training.  Freeland Foundation runs the USAID-funded ARREST program to end illegal wildlife trafficking in Asia.  The rigorous training course was designed and taught by Freeland Foundation instructors in Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park.  Santi said she was “very happy” with the training.  For more information on Freeland Foundation and their work to save wildlife please visit freeland.org. 

USAID Promotes National Energy Rating System for China

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Provincial and municipal officials attended a US-China Sustainable Buildings Partnership (SBP) workshop reviewing lessons learned from the U.S. energy performance rating system. The USAID-supported SBP will begin working with these officials to develop a prototype to support policies and programs that will reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in China.

Vietnam Wildlife Trafficking Campaign Gets USAID Support

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Conservation groups, the Government of Vietnam, and the regional ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) erected a huge anti-trafficking billboard en route to Hanoi’s Airport. Similar campaigns in Laos and Thailand have raised public awareness about wildlife trafficking, a crime that is threatening Southeast Asia’s unique biodiversity, and have led to increased vigilance by authorities. USAID funding launched ASEAN-WEN in 1995 and supports regional conservation groups, including organizations involved in the Vietnam campaign against wildlife trafficking.

RDMA Report Analyzes Asia-Pacific Climate Change

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The new RDMA Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaption Assessment identifies vulnerabilities and adaptation challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and opportunities for USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia to support climate adaptation activities on a regional scale. The report recommends a number of potential options for regional programming including capacity building for project financing and implementation, a Mekong climate adaptation initiative, and adaptation activities focused on Asian mega-cities, coastal communities and ecosystems, agriculture and food security, and forest ecosystems.

Thai Government Joins USAID Influenza Exercise

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Demonstrating its commitment to pandemic preparedness, Thailand’s Ministry of the Interior contributed funds and expertise to a USAID-sponsored Avian Influenza and H5N1 simulation at the Tham Hin temporary shelter for Burmese migrants. The exercise was one of a series of USAID-funded activities to strengthen preparedness and response to influenza outbreaks.

Six ASEAN Countries Eliminate Tariffs to Boost Regional Trade

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Economic integration for Southeast Asia came closer to reality on January 1 when Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand agreed to import and export most goods across their borders without tariffs. The USAID-managed ASEAN Technical Assistance and Training Facility was instrumental in promoting the dismantling of tariffs to support trade.

Health Experts Attend Field Epidemiology Training Course

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Responding to the spread of infectious diseases from animals to humans, veterinarians from 10 East and Southeast Asian countries are attending a USAID-sponsored, month-long course in Bangkok. The program in animal disease surveillance and outbreak response is being held in collaboration with Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development and its Ministry of Public Health, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. At least six of the 20 participants will be selected to join the USAID-funded, two-year Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians in Bangkok.

National Geographic Commends Wildlife Enforcement Network

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

An article in the January edition about Asia's illegal wildlife trade and the world’s most notorious wildlife dealer, Anson Wong, states “one cause for hope may be…the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network…with much of its funding provided by USAID. It's a testament to ASEAN-WEN's potential that Anson Wong subscribes to its newsletter." ASEAN WEN is an intergovernmental law enforcement network to combat wildlife crime.

USAID to Provide Energy Efficiency Strategy to Kunming, China

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

USAID's U.S.-China Sustainable Buildings Partnership (SBP) will provide Kunming, in Sichuan Province, with energy and emissions reduction strategy for its buildings sector. SBP estimates that 10% annual energy savings could result in a reduction of 800,000 tons of carbon dioxide, equal to removing 138,766 cars from the road each year. Kunming, with a population of 6 million people, is one of the fastest-growing second-tier cities in China.

USAID-Funded Film on Human Trafficking Launched in Burma

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) film "Traffic," narrated by Burmese pop star Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein, tells the stories of real people who unwittingly became part of the trafficking chain. They include a man from Burma who was trafficked to Thailand and imprisoned in a factory for two years. The USAID-MTV EXIT partnership draws on the brand appeal and global reach of MTV to reach tens of millions of people. In 2009, more than 300,000 people attended MTV EXIT concerts in Asia, and millions more watched them on MTV networks and terrestrial broadcasters.

Experts Fight Infectious Disease in Greater Mekong Sub-Region

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

USAID's partners in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region met in Bangkok to improve cross-border disease surveillance and outbreak response. Health experts from Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam attended the conference, the first in a five-year program that will establish collaborative arrangements between border provinces.

USAID Helps Launch $75 Million Philippine Clean Energy Project

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo presided over the groundbreaking of a biomass power plant that will bring clean energy and improved livelihoods to the Western Visayas region. ASEA One, the project developer, launched the project with the mentoring and facilitation of the USAID-supported Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN).

ASEAN-WEN Develops Action Plan with Thai Military & Agencies

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Thailand's army, air force, navy, national police, forestry and national parks departments, and other agencies will to work together to protect ecosystems and wildlife from traffickers. The plan, developed with input from the USAID-sponsored ASEAN-WEN Support Program, is the broadest interagency alliance in Southeast Asia and will serve as a model for nature conservation throughout the region.

Chinese Officials Agree to Strengthen CFL Quality Controls

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Chinese government and private-sector representatives agreed at a USAID-sponsored meeting in Beijing to ensure that energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) consistently meet quality standards. China makes 90 percent of the world’s CFLs.

Thailand Erects Wildlife Trafficking Banners at All Borders

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Thailand posted placards and banners at its borders with Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia to raise awareness about the impact and illegality of trading in protected species. The program, supported by the US Support Program for the ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), is engineered to heighten vigilance among customs officials.

HIV Prevention Campaign for Men Launched in Kunming, China

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The first community campaign to promote free HIV counseling, testing and clinical services was held on China’s Valentine’s Day. Some 150 provincial officials, community-based-organization members, and men who have sex with men attended the event, jointly sponsored by USAID and Yunnan’s provincial government.

USAID Sponsors Tour to Renovate & Modernize Power Plants

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Eighteen representatives from India’s Ministry of Power and leading utilities toured renovated and modernized power plants in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. The delegation also met with leading power-plant-technology suppliers to discuss India’s R&M potential.

Rangers' Enforcement Training Standardized for ASEAN

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The USAID-backed ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network forged an alliance with the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity to begin enforcement training for protected areas. The program, launched in Thailand, will be a model for all ASEAN member states. The initial training will involve 20 Thai Rangers and 20 representatives from other ASEAN states.

ASEAN Establishes Migrant Workers' Rights Database

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' new web-accessed database will help uphold migrant workers' rights by keeping track of regulations and agreements relating to the recruitment, hiring, employment, promotion and protection of migrant workers in the region. USAID helped support the development of this database.

US-China Clean Energy & Climate Partnership Program Awarded

Monday, September 28, 2009

 A three-year, $6-million cooperative agreement was awarded to the Institute for Sustainable Communities, in partnership with the World Resources Institute, to help two of China’s most industrialized provinces – Guangzhou and Jiangsu – build the capacity of industries, the electric power sector, and selected cities to become more energy efficient while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Thai Military Joins to Fight Wildlife Trafficking

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The Royal Thai Army, Navy and Air Force joined other government agencies to improve security for Thai forests and wildlife in what amounts to be the broadest interagency collaboration for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) country.  The agreement was forged at a workshop co-hosted by the USAID-funded ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) Support Program.

Chinese Utilities Focus on Improved Water Service Delivery

Sunday, September 20, 2009

USAID’s China Water and Sanitation Program helped the World Bank stage a workshop in Jiangsu Province that highlighted Chinese efforts to include public participation for infrastructure planning as well as successful twinning efforts between utilities in Manila and Yancheng, China.

Manila & Surabaya Work to Expand Water Services to Urban Poor

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The USAID-supported WaterLinks program “twinned” water teams from the Philippines and Indonesia so Surabaya can rapidly connect 15,000 low-income households to water, reduce illegal connections, and improve operational efficiency.

Training Could Save Chinese Firms $17 Million in Energy Costs

Friday, August 21, 2009

USAID’s Sustainable Buildings Partnership (SPB) provided training in Guangzhou to some of China’s key property management and development companies representing 900 buildings and over 5 million square meters of commercial and residential space.  Based on typical 10%-20% savings, SPB estimates that if participants were to reduce energy consumption by just 10%, they would save $17 million and avoid emissions equivalent to 140,673 metric tons of carbon dioxide.  SBP will now assess selected properties and provide tailored energy improvement recommendations.

Chinese Officials & Legal Pros Finish Environmental Law Training

Friday, August 21, 2009

Delegates from China’s State Electricity Regulatory Commission, environmental law professors and law students completed USAID-supported environmental law training programs at Vermont Law School.  Classes lasted between three and 12 months.  Participants also received hands-on experience in environmental enforcement and energy governance through internships with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

USAID Helps Guangdong Draft Health, Safety Certification

Friday, July 24, 2009

The drafting of China’s first national certification protocol for environment, health, and safety (EHS) was begun at a summit organized by USAID's Guangdong Environmental Partnership (GEP) and Sun Yat-sen University.  Attendees included the leadership of the Guangdong Bureau of Labor and Social Security and the Bureau of Work Safety.  One of the goals is to establish EHS as a recognized profession in China and increase the pool of EHS managers serving China’s industrial facilities.

U.S. & China Expand Green Property Management Plan

Friday, July 24, 2009

USAID’s US-China Sustainable Buildings Partnership (SBP) launched a new collaboration in Sichuan Province with the Chengdu Property Management Association (CDPMA), which represents over 4 million square meters of building space, the equivalent of midtown-Manhattan’s commercial office space.  CDPMA is helping members adopt energy performance monitoring and no-cost and low-cost energy-saving strategies.  Members could save an estimated $16.3 million dollars and 127,900 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions if they were to adopt basic green buildings practices.

Coral Triangle Initiative Launched at Six-Country Summit

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste met at a six-country summit in Manado, Indonesia and endorsed the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) and its Regional Plan of Action to preserve the world’s greatest expanse of mangroves, coral reefs and diversity of fish, currently under threat from pollution, unsustainable fishing practices and climate change. At the same time, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume, U.S. Assistant Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Mary Glackin and USAID/Indonesia Mission Director Walter North jointly announced an additional pledge of $1.6 million to support CTI regional and national activities, starting with Indonesia. This is in addition to the nearly $40 million that USAID has already pledged to support the international effort to save the Coral Triangle.

Utilities Strive to Improve Water Supplies to Surabaya

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Six experts from the water company in Surabaya, Indonesia, visited Ranhill Utilities in Johor, Malaysia, to improve delivery techniques to provide continuous water supplies at home.  The utilities are collaborating with USAID’s support to increase water pressure to distribute water supplies to current customers and begin service to unconnected communities.

USAID Pandemic Response Funds Help ASEAN Address A/H1N1

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The 10 countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations immediately began sharing information about their flu situation thanks in part to the speedy response of a pandemic expert assigned by USAID to ASEAN’s headquarters in Jakarta. The expert working at the ASEAN-US Facility organized regional discussions on preparedness and to review the status of regional stockpiles of antivirals and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).  Health ministers from ASEAN, plus China, Japan and South Korea, then met in Bangkok to discuss coordinating their defense against the A/H1N1 flu, including establishing a joint mechanism for the development and production of vaccines. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, cited "AusAID and USAID for their support to ASEAN in our emerging infectious diseases program and pandemic preparedness."

Regional Tuberculosis Center Opens in Manila

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Asia-Pacific region’s first Model Center focusing on the prevention and control of Multiple-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was launched at the Tropical Disease Foundation in Makati City, Manila.  The regional Model Tuberculosis (TB) Center, in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Health and the ministries of health of other countries, is providing high-quality technical assistance and training for health experts and national tuberculosis programs throughout the Asia-Pacific Region. The regional Model Tuberculosis Center, funded by USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia, is the second center of its kind in the world.

Asia Launches First Payment for Environmental Services Program

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Two hydropower plants in Vietnam made their first quarterly payments of about $680,000 to a fund that will help rural families plant sustainable crops and reduce illegal logging and deforestation. The payment for environmental services policy promotes investments by hydropower companies, municipal water agencies, and the tourism sector to maintain valuable forest areas while reducing water and electricity costs, such as outlays for dredging silt washed downstream to dams.

USAID Pandemic Preparedness Funds Help ASEAN Address A/H1N1

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The 10 countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations immediately began sharing information about their flu situation thanks in part to the speedy response of a pandemic expert assigned by USAID to ASEAN’s headquarters in Jakarta. The expert working at the ASEAN-US Facility organized regional discussions on preparedness and to review the status of regional stockpiles of antivirals and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).  Health ministers from ASEAN, plus China, Japan and South Korea, then met in Bangkok to discuss coordinating their defense against the A/H1N1 flu, including establishing a joint mechanism for the development and production of vaccines. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, cited "AusAID and USAID for their support to ASEAN in our emerging infectious diseases program and pandemic preparedness."

Asia Launches First Payment for Environmental Services Program

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Two hydropower plants in Vietnam made their first quarterly payments of about $680,000 to a fund that will help rural families plant sustainable crops and reduce illegal logging and deforestation. The payment for environmental services policy promotes investments by hydropower companies, municipal water agencies, and the tourism sector to maintain valuable forest areas while reducing water and electricity costs, such as outlays for dredging silt washed downstream to dams.