Articles

AFE has a new logo. It is a simple, direct, modern way of representing our organization, and it is in keeping with the style that has been increasingly used by ADB itself for the last decade or so. Our former logo was inspired by the traditional ADB logo, introduced in the late 60s, which has now been largely phased out.

Developing and deciding on the new logo was quite a challenge. The Editorial Board asked numerous people to come up with designs, including the design staff in ADB’s Department of External Relations and the membership at large. The result was a wide selection, and we all know what happens when there are too many choices. This led to a lot of trying to figure out which might be best and for what reasons, with numerous pros and cons being put forward, before the Editorial Board agreed on the one we feel best suits AFE as we approach our second 25 years of service to former staff of ADB.

The logo selected uses ADB’s “blue block” and adds another block for the “AFE” part of our name, thus retaining the visual link with ADB’s “visual identity,” much as we retain our link with our former employer.

President Kuroda opened the two-day conference and UNESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer delivered the keynote address on 21 April 2010 at the ADB Headquarters. The event discussed social protection challenges in the region, and the initiatives and innovations in social insurance, pension, assistance, and child protection. ADB staff, DMC officials, development partners, and civil society organizations shared their experiences.

We the Heads of the Multilateral Development Banks and the International Monetary Fund met in Tunis on 12 February at the invitation of the African Development Bank. Discussions focused on recent developments in the global financial and economic crisis; the response of each institution; on the further action and resources required.

The financial crisis has spiraled into a global economic crisis with growth projected to fall to ½ a percent in 2009, its lowest rate since World War II. Financial markets remain under stress; currency markets are highly volatile; global industrial production and merchandise trade have plummeted since November 2008; and asset values are falling sharply. Our review of the situation in each region underlined the high levels of uncertainty and downside risks In emerging and developing economies the consequences go well beyond economic contraction or reductions in growth. Unlike the advanced economies, these countries simply do not have resources to bailout their financial or other sectors, to provide a package of stimulus measures, or of social protection. Access to credit has been sharply reduced as banks deleverage and meet first demands in home markets. Emerging and developing countries face the prospect therefore of a reversal of hard won economic progress and stabilization; and indeed for some, a risk of a full blown development and humanitarian crisis. The social and political strains are increasingly evident.

We underlined our commitment to play a counter-cyclical role in support of the client countries to mitigate the impact of the crisis. Our institutions are already making unprecedented efforts, in line with their respective mandates using all available instruments. These include: providing immediate balance of payment and budget support; establishing new emergency liquidity and trade finance facilities; mobilizing funding to maintain investments in critical public and private infrastructure; implementing measures to bolster the solvency and liquidity of banking systems; addressing acute financing needs in the private sector; frontloading allocations of concessional resources; speeding up implementation.

We welcomed the determination of the G20 to develop a concrete plan of action to address comprehensively the issues raised by the crisis, in time for the forthcoming G20 Leaders meeting in London in April. We noted the importance of avoiding a protectionist response; experience shows that would inflict damage on developed and developing countries alike. We emphasised that a multilateral solution that takes into account the interests of all countries, including the poorest, is vital. The MDBs and IMF can play key roles to secure such an outcome.

Our institutions will make full use of existing capital resources, but we emphasized this alone will not be sufficient given that the scale of the challenges. We urge shareholders to support those of us who will need to raise additional resources, including through early general capital increases. Other institutions may have to review constraints on the utilisation of their existing capital. We urged shareholders to take a consistent approach across the institutions. We pledged to work together based on the strategic priorities and comparative advantage of each. We agreed to do more to share information and analysis, and where possible use common procedures.

We welcome the commitments made by donors to deliver on their commitments to increase development assistance, and put into practice the actions agreed to improve development effectiveness. Consistent with the need to take immediate measures to assist now the poorer countries, we support the proposal for a vulnerability fund to which developed countries could devote a modest amount (e.g. 0.7 percent) of their stimulus packages to support the most needy in developing countries. MDBs, together with UN organizations, could channel the funds to the targeted groups. Using existing mechanisms, coupled with a robust monitoring system and safeguards for the utilization of such funds, would ensure timely and flexible delivery.

We thanked the President of the African Development Bank for bringing us together at this time. It was particularly opportune in the run up to forthcoming G7/8 and G20 meetings. The next few months will be critical in developing an effective response to the crisis and our institutions have a vital role to play. We agreed to remain closely in touch and by working together to maximize the contribution we can make.

Invitation
12th AFE-ADB
European Chapter Meeting
Bremen, Germany
4 – 6 September 2009

Clarissa and Roland Engelbart, our hosts for the 2009-Continental European Chapter (AFE-ADB/CEC) meeting, have now firmed up the venues and a most interesting program. All members and their spouses as well as other visiting AFE/ADB friends, especially our UK and Scandinavian members are cordially invited to participate in the 12th Annual Chapter Meeting 2009 in Bremen/Germany from 4 to 6 September.
Amongst the various alternatives, negotiations with a number of hotels, the 5-star Swissôtel Bremen resulted in the most cost-effective and attractive solution. The hotel is directly located in the centre of Bremen . 30 rooms (single/ double bedroom) at a room-rate of 145 € (room type: classic room) have been reserved. Participants should make their bookings under the entry “Asian Development Bank” at Swissôtel Bremen, Hillmannplatz 20, D-28195 Bremen, Germany,
tel.no.            +49 (0)421 62 000 240      , fax no. +49 (0)421 62 000 222,
e-mail: bremen@swissôtel.com;  Website: www.swissotel.com (menu option: destinations).

Important:  For booking, the hotel requires from the guest a copy of the credit card. 50% of the 30-rooms contingent will be reserved until Friday, 10 July 2009. The remaining 50% of the contingent will be guaranteed until Friday, 7 August 2009 and thereafter released for sale; therefore soonest booking is advisable.  Cancellations are free of charge up to 7 August 2009; cancellations after 7 August 2009 will cause 80% of the room rate to be debited on the credit card.
There are four other hotels situated in the centre of Bremen , namely (i) Mercure Columbus Bremen, (ii) Ibis Centrum,  (iii) Ibis Altstadt, (iv)Ramada Überseehotel Bremen .
If you arrive in Bremen by plane (Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, and Ryan Air), the airport is also very close to the centre (tram  No. 6 to the Swissôtel).
There is no need for using a car within the city. Every destination is in walking distance or can conveniently be reached by tram or bus.
Our hosts’ address is:
Roland and Clarissa Engelbart
Blankenburger Str.8, D-28205 Bremen , Germany .
E-mail: Roland.Engelbart@hotmail.de

Tel.:             + 49 (0)421 430 8435      ; Mobile : +49 (0)162 205 9381

After you have read the attached program in detail, you are kindly requested to respond to the following points which is necessary for the hosts’ further planning and to inform the various restaurants and the museum about the number of participants and to buy the required number of train tickets:

1. Swissôtel booking yes/no
   Participation in:
2. buffet dinner at the Ratskeller
3. guided walk through the old Bremen Centre
4. lunch at the Restaurant Delano
5. guided tour of the Bremen City Hall
6. gala dinner at the Swissôtel
7. guided bus tour through Bremerhaven port area and city
8. lunch at the restaurant of the German Emigration Centre
9. guided tour through the German Emigration Centre
10. dinner at the restaurant Jürgenshof , Bremen .

Roland and Clarissa would appreciate it very much if you could let them know about your participation and the response to the above questions latest by 1 August 2009 by e-mail, regular mail or phone with info copy to me. Please make sure that your hotel booking at the Swissôtel will be carried out until 10 July respectively 7 August 2009 at the latest. It would be most helpful I you filled the Excel-Participation Sheet, given as an attachment and have this returned as your confirmation. For those who do not possess the Excel program, the ten points above ought to be mentioned in the e-mail addressed to the hosts.
In case you should need a tourist visa for Germany, please note that it may take up to two months for obtaining a visa granted by the German authorities (in Berlin) during the summer travel season as all requests for such visas have to be centrally approved in Berlin. Embassies or Consulates will only interview/assist you in filling out the forms and then forward them to Berlin for approval.
We would be very happy seeing you Bremen and thanks to Clarissa and Roland for the very professional advance planning

All the best

_____________________________
Gunter Hecker
AFE-ADB Coordinator
Continental Europe Chapter (CEC)
Glockenzehnten 47
D-69124 Heidelberg , Germany
Tel:                  +49 6221 715 039      
Fax:       +49 6221 715 040
Mobile: +49 160 1129724