Press
Release
ptf@partnershipfortransparency.info
http://www.partnershipfortransparency.info
ADB Boosting PTF's Resources in its Fight Against Corruption
in Asia
Washington DC, May 3 2006.
The Asian Development Bank, working with the Partnership for
Transparency Fund (PTF), is making a technical assistance grant of
US$150,000 to strengthen the role of civil society in the fight
against corruption.
PTF is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting
corruption by supports individual projects managed by civil society
organizations across the developing world. Pierre Landell-Mills,
President and CEO of PTF, said, "We are delighted to
be working with the ADB. This is the first time that the ADB has
made a grant of this kind and we believe that it will prove in time
to be a model for engaging the ADB in partnerships with civil
society across Asia in implementing specific anti-corruption
projects that can have a formidable impact."
The technical assistance will support non-governmental
organizations in India, Mongolia, Pakistan and the Philippines that
can develop projects that meet PTF's criteria. Mr.
Landell-Mills said, "We are particularly interested in
projects that can be replicated and that by their example can
demonstrate how small amounts of funding that are well managed and
effectively targeted can have a major impact. Our experience in
these countries augurs well for the success of this new approach
with the ADB."
PTF has made more than US$800,000 of grants to some 45 civil
society organizations across the developing world in the last five
years. Grants are typically for $25,000 or less and the evaluations
of completed projects are routinely posted on PTF's website
(
http://partnershipfortransparency.info/index.html).
The ADB announced the grant on May 2, 2006 and quoted ADB Vice
President Geert van der Linden as stating: "Over the
last decade, societies have come to realize the extent to which
corruption and bribery have undermined their welfare and stability,
and hindered development efforts. Governments, the private sector,
and civil society alike have declared the fight against corruption
to be of the highest priority." He added, "The
fight against corruption cannot be won without citizens'
support, participation, and vigilance. The media, civic and
business association, trade unions, and other nongovernmental
actors play a crucial role in fostering public discussion of
corruption and increasing awareness about the negative impacts of
corruption."
The grant capitalizes on the work undertaken by PTF over the past
five years to foster the role of CSOs as innovators, mobilizers,
and monitors in support of effective measures to combat corruption.
It gives voice to civil society, and demonstrate the value of
partnerships between government, civil society, and ADB.
PTF is also discussing substantial grants from other important
funding agencies to support its work in Africa, Latin America,
Eastern Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union.