On 19th May, the 62nd Open Regular Dialog on GII/IDI meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), with 7 officials from MOFA and 16 NGO representatives attending.

Topics for discussion included: an evaluation report by MOFA on Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects; the NGO final report on NGO study group activities; partnership between MOFA and NGOs after post-IDI initiatives; a parliamentarians mission report on the Asian tsunami; and information about the 7th ICAAP in July.

Referring to the NGO final report on NGO study group activities (see March eNEWS) that was supported by MOFA's NGO capacity building fund, Sumie Ishii, Executive Director, JOICFP, explained what had been learned about addressing HIV/AIDS issues when conducting large ODA infrastructure projects. This knowledge was gathered from the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT) and the construction company in charge of the project, and was reflected in draft project proposals as well as in NGO proposals for post-IDI initiatives (see April eNEWS).

Ishii went on to explain that consideration of HIV/AIDS in ODA projects would also be a theme of a satellite session to be hosted by JBIC, in cooperation with IPPF, at 7th ICAAP in Kobe, to which organizations such as PPAT and the construction company would be invited to attend. The session will be held on the topic of "HIV/AIDS Prevention for Mobile Population in Greater Mekong Sub region - Corporate Social Responsibility in JBIC Infrastructure Projects" for the purpose of sharing of experience among concerned parties. This sequence of events, Ishii said, could be a good example towards further cooperation and partnership between MOFA and NGOs.