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…

Promoting Malaria Awareness in Myanmar Communities

Recently, Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria) Program began implementation of activities in the Rakhine State, in south-west Myanmar.  In July, the CAP-Malaria team trained 52 Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) on early diagnosis, treatment and malaria health education. These VMWs will play a central role in detecting early stage malaria cases and promoting malaria awareness within…

CAP-Malaria Program Trains Monks and Grandmothers on Malaria Education in Cambodia

The advice of monks and grandmothers is highly respected by Cambodians.  Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria)'s target group interview results demonstrate that face to face education through monks and grandmothers will contribute to the project's Behavior Change Communication objectives.  In July 2013, CAP-Malaria in collaboration with the Tasanh Health Center conducted one of many…

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.…

Survey Identifies Wildlife Crime Offenders in Vietnam

Since April 2013, Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV), a partner of the USAID-funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) Program, has surveyed 550 business establishments in Hanoi and found more than 80 violations of wildlife protection laws. During August 19-23, ENV surveyed an additional 233 businesses and found 13 offenses. Most violations were identified…

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,…

CAP-TB Supports the First National Workshop on Childhood TB Management in Myanmar

On August 19-20, USAID/CAP-TB helped to co-host the first ever National Workshop of this nature in Yangon, Myanmar. Exposure to an adult with TB increases the mortality of young children by 70%. Unfortunately, TB can be very difficult to diagnose in children, however the introduction of the GeneXpert molecular diagnostic tool is providing a greatly…

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…

Supporting Vietnam’s National REDD+ Fund

With support from the USAID-funded LEAF program, the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) organized a national consultation workshop in Hanoi on August 27 to discuss the establishment of a National REDD+ Fund.  Over 70 participants representing government departments, international donors and provinces implementing REDD+ discussed the design of a proposed National Fund, including aspects related…

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…