The Environmental Exchange Program provides
Asian professionals and organizations opportunities for addressing
critical environmental needs in areas such as pollution prevention,
environmental and hazardous waste management, air pollution, clean and
efficient technologies, water supply, solid waste management, and
wastewater treatment.
Hundreds of Asian professionals, including
individuals from the private sector, government, and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), have used EEP exchanges to:
- make site visits for first-hand inspection
of facilities and processes,
- evaluate environmental technologies and
opportunities for technology transfer,
- consult with industry and government
authorities,
- review environmental regulations and
policies,
- host U.S. experts in areas of common
interest,
- explore joint venture and marketing
opportunities, and
- identify and meet with potential business
partners and suppliers.
Environmental Exchange
Programs usually take one of three forms:
- Environmental Business Exchanges
- Environmental Technical Exchanges
- Environmental Fellowships
What are Environmental
Business Exchanges?
These professional exchanges provide Asian
participants with opportunities to identify sources for U.S. technology,
observe and evaluate facilities and technologies first-hand for their
suitability, meet face-to-face with potential partners, and confer with
government and industry authorities. Environmental business exchanges
are short and intense, typically lasting less than two weeks. Each
exchange is designed to achieve the goals of participants.
What are Environmental
Business Exchanges?
These exchanges provide Asian public and
private sector leaders with specific short-term technical experiences.
These sessions may be held in Asia or in the United States and present a
wide variety of environmental topics, such as: pollution prevention;
incineration of hazardous and industrial waste; landfill and solid waste
management; and, air pollution control technologies. In addition to
courses developed by or in conjunction with EEP, program officers can
help participants identify appropriate courses and providers to meet
their specific needs.
What are Environmental
Fellowships?
These fellowships provide senior-level Asian
professionals with practical work opportunities for expanding their
understanding of, and exchanging information on, environmental issues
and approaches to problem-solving. Typically lasting one to four months,
these fellowships help participants develop concrete solutions to a
specific environmental problem.
Fellowship recipients from Asia may travel to
the United States to work side-by-side with their American counterparts.
Participants may also be placed with nongovernmental organizations, or
government agencies at the local, state, or national level. Such
fellowships enable recipients to develop valuable trans-Pacific contacts
and form networks that last long after the fellowship is over.
How does the Environmental
Exchange Program Work?
Environmental Exchanges must respond to
specific environmental demands in Asia. Candidates for the Environmental
Exchange Program may include:
- Asian individuals or representatives of
companies, or government entities that require help in addressing
specific environmental issues or problems in Asia.
- American individuals or representatives of
companies, nongovernmental organizations, or government agencies whose
expertise is requested by an Asian entity.
Cost Sharing
Participating organizations are required to
cover salary and international transportation for their employees.
Exchange applications must include a budge proposal stipulating proposed
cost-sharing arrangements. EEP can provide funds to partially cover
travel, lodging, and other limited costs. When EEP funding is provided,
U.S. Government travel regulations and per diem rates must be observed.
Approvals
The demand for environmental exchanges greatly
exceeds the financial resources available. Preference will be given to
EEP exchanges that support the goal of US-AEP, which is to promote a
"clean revolution" in Asia.
Preference will also be given to applications
that address country-specific areas of environmental concern, and to
proposals that address air pollution control, environmental monitoring,
hazardous waste management, pollution prevention and waste minimization,
potable water, solid waste management, and wastewater treatment.
About the Implementing
Organization
The Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) is a
core component of the United States-Asia Environmental Partnership
(US-AEP), a ten-year program established in 1992 and led by the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID). EEP is implemented
for USAID by the Institute of International
Education (IIE). Founded in 1919, IIE is the largest nonprofit
educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States.
For more information about
the Environmental Exchange Program:
Administrative Manager, EEP
Institute of International Education
1400 K Street NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20005-2403
Tel: (202) 326-7706
Fax: (202) 326-7709
E-mail: eep@iie.org
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