NGO Resource Centre Newsletter August 1 - 15, 2008

Dear MEMBERS and FRIENDS,

Welcome to the NGO Resource Centre Newsletter for August 1 - 15, 2008.

First off this week, the PPWG, in coordination with the MPI, is organising two training workshops, one in the north and one in the south of Vietnam, on August 8 and August 15 respectively, and would like to invite all collaborative groups and community-based organisations (CBOs) that are members of the PPWG to register for the workshop. The objectives of the CBO/CO Decree 151 Capacity Building workshop include: to help collaborative groups and CBOs, which are PPWG members, understand Decree 151 and its implementation guidelines; to discuss some case studies on putting the implementation guidelines into operation; and to collect information for the preparation of a handbook.

To enhance awareness and experience-sharing within the civil society sector on policy lobbying and advocacy, the PPWG and Consultancy on Development (CODE) will co-organise a workshop on September 4 to share experiences on the subject, in order to facilitate better understanding of the concept, practices and legal framework for policy lobbying and advocacy work.  Entitled NGO and CBO participation in policy lobbying and advocacy: practical experiences and legal framework, the workshop will include an introduction to the main principles and methods in policy lobbying and advocacy, an introduction and discussion of recent changes in Vietnam's legal framework (the Law on Promulgation of Laws), and sharing and discussing NGO and CBO experiences in policy lobbying and advocacy in Vietnam.

For more information on either of the two above events, visit http://ngocentre.org.vn/node/119 or contact Ms Vu Thi Nga, email: [email protected] phone: 04.7711173 or 0983 889 853.

There is one working group meeting coming up in the next few weeks: the WatSan Working Group will be held on August 22 from 15:00 – 17:00 at the NGO Resource Centre.

See the Calendar section for more details.

All the best from the NGO RC Team.