INPIM Receives Tax Exempt Status

INPIM has been granted tax exempt status by the US Internal Revenue Service. Under the tax provision, Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, INPIM is not taxed, and contributions to INPIM are tax-exempt to the donor. This status is important for INPIM's ability to attract donations from American sources, including US-based philanthropic foundations. For our American readers: Please consider a tax-deductable donation to INPIM in anticipation of filing your 1997 taxes!

INPIM Board Meeting at Tokyo Seminar

The second INPIM Board Meeting was held in Tokyo on May 30, 1997, in conjunction with the 3rd International Seminar on PIM. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Hatsuya Azumi (Board Chairman) and attended by nine Board Directors, plus the Executive Secretary, INPIM Coordinator, and the Newsletter Editor. The Board discussed a range of issues including institutional partnerships, information clearinghouse functions, expanding the INPIM Fellowship Program, and establishing and strengthening national chapters. Japan and Vietnam became the latest countries to join the network. We are pleased to welcome Mr. Shin Imai, the new Board Member from Japan, and Vice Minister Vu Trong Hong, the new Board Member from Vietnam.

Congratulations to our Egyptian Board Member...

Congratulation to our Board Member from Egypt, Dr. M. Abu-Zeid who has been named the Minister of Public Works & Water Resources, Egypt. Prior to this promotion, Dr. Abu-Zeid served as President of the National Water Research Center, as well as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the World Water Council (WWC). We extend our best wishes to Dr. Abu-Zeid in his new and very challenging position!

...and to our Executive Secretary

INPIM Executive Secretary, Dr. Peter Sun was invited to Beijing in October to receive the "National Friendship Award" from the State Council of the People's Republic of China. This is an annual award which this year was given to 45 individuals from 18 countries who have made particular contributions to China. Dr. Sun was cited for his special contributions in training on economic development.

Pakistan Names a Second Board Member

Pakistan has more than 200 lifetime members, and is now eligible for a second seat on the Board of Directors of INPIM. Dr. Zafar Altaf, Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has been selected as the new Board Member from Pakistan. We welcome his appointment and look forward to working with him in the coming years.

New INPIM Coordinator Named

A new full-time Coordinator for INPIM has been made named. Ms. Kelly Briscoe started her new assignment in November 1997, and will work closely with the INPIM Executive Secretary, Dr. Peter Sun, and the INPIM Board Members in servicing the many and growing needs of the organization. Kelly has a background with the United States Peace Corps (in Costa Rica), and has worked on water projects in Nicaragua, and on issues of participation and gender in various consultancy positions. She is fluent in Spanish, as well as English. She replaces Ms. Anju Sharma who served for 18 months as a part-time Coordinator for INPIM along with other responsibilities with EDI's training program on PIM. Anju will remain in her EDI post, while Kelly takes over the INPIM functions on a full-time basis. We are grateful to Anju for helping INPIM grow to this point! Many of you have been in touch with her by phone, fax, or e-mail and can still reach her at those same numbers.

International Workshop on Community-Based Natural Resource Management

EDI in cooperation with the International Development Research Centre (Canada) will sponsor this workshop in Washington, D.C, (USA) from May 10-14, 1998. The workshop is intended for policy-makers, practitioners, and "disseminators" (i.e., academics, journalists) who are involved with some aspect of community-based natural resource management in developing and transition economies.

The workshop will focus on institutional innovations that enhance the community-based management of renewable natural resources, including water, and that help to alleviate poverty among the world's poorest peoples. Since PIM is one strategy for improved community-based management while also realizing social objectives, INPIM members are encouraged to submit papers. There are four major themes for which papers are being solicited:

• Establishing an enabling policy/institutional environment
• Organizing effective community-based groups
• Establishing linkages among public and private sector organizations and community-based groups
• Conflict resolution approaches

There is a February 1998 deadline for paper submissions. For more details, and instructions for submitting papers, please contact Dr. Christopher Gerrard; EDI/World Bank; Rm. G 5-141; 1818 H Street, NW; Washington, DC 20433, USA. Fax: 202-676-0977; e-mail: cgerard1@worldbank.org. There is also a website for the conference at http://www.worldbank.org/html/edi/conatrem/index.htm

Fourth International Seminar on PIM

The 1998 international seminar on PIM will be held in Bali, Indonesia, in conjunction with the Asia-Africa regional meetings of the ICID. The PIM seminar dates will be on or about July 15-20 (exact dates are not yet fixed), just prior to the ICID conference. The 1998 PIM seminar is being co-organized by INPIM-Indonesia, INPIM-Washington, and EDI. Details of the seminar agenda will be given in the next issue of this Newsletter. For advance information, please contact either Dr. Hafied Gany (Indonesia Board Member) or Kelly Briscoe (INPIM Coordinator).