the individuals involved; for local, national, and international
organizations helping refugees and migrants adjust economically and
socially to the conditions in which they find themselves; for
efforts to better articulate the legal rights of refugees and
migrants at the national and international levels; and for efforts
to encourage greater understanding on the part of various groups in
host countries not only about refugees' and migrants' problems but
also about their potential contributions to their communities and
to society. Here, as in other areas of Foundation activity, we
expect that interchange between our work abroad and in the United
States will be considerable, and mutually reinforcing.
In this
nuclear age, no issue has greater transnational implications than
world peace. Continuing our longstanding efforts to promote
harmonious relations among nations, the Foundation has invited
universities and research institutions around the world to submit
proposals for research and training in international security and
arms control. We received a total of 125 applications from
ninety-four institutions in fourteen countries and, aided by a
distinguished panel of outside experts, we ultimately selected
eighteen for awards totaling $3.7 million. Grants were also awarded
for independent research on issues of peace and security in the
Third World, on European security issues, and on the changing world
economy, among other topics.
Other
Program Activities
Building
organizations that can both disseminate knowledge and encourage
local initiatives is an important Foundation goal. This year, the
Foundation helped establish three such organizations. The first is
the International Irrigation Management Institute in Sri Lanka.
Having previously supported a number of national institutions
dealing with problems of land and water management, the Foundation
has now joined a consortium of fifteen donors to establish an
international organization that will work with irrigation
departments of countries throughout the developing world.
Complementing the Foundation's funding for IIMI and its other
resource-management programs abroad is the U.S. water-management
program to which I referred earlier.
In last
year's Annual Report I referred to the imminent creation of
the National Arts Stabilization Fund. I am happy to report that it
has been established, with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon and
Rockefeller foundations as well as from Ford. NASF will help
selected arts organizations throughout the United States achieve
financial stability and artistic growth.
The third
organization, to which I also referred last year, is the
Pittsburgh-based Public Education Fund. It was established this
year in conjunction with the Richard King Mellon Foundation. PEF
will stimulate the creation throughout the United States of locally
financed funds for school improvement.
Other
highlights of the year included a major expansion of
Foundation