USAID’s PEER Program Looking for Researchers in LMI Countries

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is exploring new opportunities to use science and technology to meet the world’s development challenges.  As part of its science and technology strategy, USAID is supporting various mechanisms to leverage the investments that other U.S. government agencies make in scientific research and training.  In this context, USAID,…

Senior U.S. Official Pledges USG Support for Wildlife Law Enforcement

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, William Brownfield who heads the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) paid a visit to ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) and the Thai Government on September 9, 2013 and gave clear and strong support for counter wildlife poaching and trafficking initiatives in Southeast Asia, including those developed under…

ASEAN Youth Volunteers Supporting Conservation Efforts in Malaysia

The ASEAN Youth Volunteer Program (AYVP), jointly funded by ASEAN and the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA), was officially launched on August 12.  The five-week program is providing 100 volunteers with experience in knowledge driven volunteerism and community engagement while developing ASEAN awareness and regional identity. The inaugural program focuses on the theme of environmental conservation.…

USAID-Supported a Regional Laboratory Network Workshop on Diagnosis of Rabies and Newcastle Disease

The IDENTIFY project of USAID's global Emerging Pandemic Threats program (EPT) hosted a regional laboratory network workshop on diagnosis of Rabies and Newcastle Disease at National Institute of Animal Health, Bangkok on August 26 – September 6, 2013.  Led by The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization in collaboration with the Department of Livestock Development,…

NEWS: Thailand Launches Elite Wildlife Ranger Team

BANGKOK: Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) launched an elite environmental enforcement unit this week that is currently undergoing specialized training to tackle wildlife poachers and traffickers nationwide.  The special unit, called "King Tigers", was developed and is being trained by DNP in collaboration with the United States-sponsored "ARREST" Program. The new…

USAID Awards G2G Grant to the Thailand Ministry of Public Health

U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenny congratulated Thai Ministries of Public Health, Agriculture and National Parks on their collaborative work to protect the livelihoods, food security and health outcomes of the people in her welcoming remarks at the launch event for a new USAID Government to Government (G2G) grant to the Ministry of Public Health's Bureau of Epidemiology.The participation…

NEWS: Mekong Region’s Innovators Welcome U.S. Support

(VOV) -Officials and stakeholders have gathered at an August 29 meeting in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss methods of supporting the Lower Mekong sub-region’s young technological innovators.The event, jointly held by the U.S. State Department and the Vietnamese branch of IDG ASEAN, involved government and private sector representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and…

TIGERS@Mekong Strategy Meeting Held in Ho Chi Minh City

Thursday saw a one-day strategy meeting on an initiative to promote tech entrepreneurship kick off in Ho Chi Minh City, where government representatives and stakeholders convened to discuss ways to support young innovators in the tech sector in the Lower Mekong sub-region.The event, co-hosted by the US Department of State and IDG ASEAN, attracted government…

CAP-Malaria Brings Malaria Prevention to the Farm in Ranong Province

Burmese migrant workers at a rubber farm in Ranong province, Thailand met earlier this week with Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria) staff to share their attitudes toward and knowledge of malaria prevention and treatment.  This meeting will help inform communication channels the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) uses to improve access to malaria information. Related Website:…

ASEAN Regulators Trained on Medical Devices

The medical device industry, which includes everything from pacemakers and MRI machines to dental equipment and hypodermic syringes, is a growing global business sector. U.S. exports of medical technologies in 2012 were valued at approximately $44.2 billion, a 7.2 percent increase from just the previous year.Training on medical devices regulations in ASEAN will help ASEAN…

Building Regional Capacity of Future Climate Change Leaders

From August 5-16, 2013, LEAF, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, held a two-week regional Climate Change Curriculum Development Training Workshop in Bangkok.  Professors from 12 Southeast Asian universities and three U.S. universities tested collaboratively-developed climate change modules and teaching materials for basic climate change, land use planning, forest carbon measurement and monitoring, and…

CAP-Malaria Project Trains Motorcycle Taxi Drivers to Teach Their Passengers about Malaria

The majority of Burmese migrants living along the Thai-Myanmar border take motorcycle taxis to work.  On August 8, 2013, the Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria) team in collaboration with Kraburi Vector Bone Disease Control Unit and local police organized a health education training for motorcycle taxi drivers to teach them basic malaria knowledge and build…