for Social and Economic Analysis for research, analysis, and
citizen monitoring of federal and municipal budget processes.
In India,
grants went to the Institute of Social Sciences for case studies
and policy seminars on self-governance in various states and to the
National Institute of Rural Development for a training program
aimed at strengthening local governing institutions in Karnataka
state.
Enhancing Understanding of Public
Policy Issues
The
Foundation supports independent researchers and groups that analyze
existing policies and contribute to discussions of policy reforms.
It also funds organizations that disseminate information about
public policies. Among those assisted this year were Diego Portales
University in Chile, which has created a new department in its law
school to undertake a program of policy analysis and public
information on the Chilean judicial system. The Foundation also
granted funds for a program of citizen participation, outreach, and
advocacy related to judicial reform in Argentina.
Supplementary grants went to the RAND Corporation
and the Urban Institute for research, conferences, and
dissemination of information on U.S. immigration policy, one of the
most important policy issues in American society. The Urban
Institute will pay particular attention to the effects of the
Immigration Act of 1990 on changes in the flow of legal and illegal
aliens.
Strengthening the Formulation of Public
Policies
To ensure
that diverse experiences and viewpoints are represented in
consideration of important social, economic, and political issues,
the Foundation supports institutions that both train women and
minorities in public policy research and analysis and make their
findings available to a broad audience of policy makers, the media,
and the public. One such institution is the Joint Center for
Political and Economic Studies, which this year received funds for
a national survey of African Americans, a study of the effects on
blacks and Hispanics of political redistricting, and a survey of
housing conditions among African Americans.
To enhance
the participation of women in Kenya's debates on national and
international policies, the Foundation made a grant to the African
Women Development and Communication Network to help fund training
programs, publications, and a general assembly.
For a
program to assist South African nonprofit organizations in
incorporating gender analysis into their staff training and
consultancy services, the Foundation granted funds to the Institute
of Family and Environmental Research.
Broadening Civic Participation
To help
prepare people from various backgrounds for roles in governance,
the Foundation supports training in public service for women and
minorities. For example, a grant to the NALEO Education Fund in Los
Angeles helped launch the National U.S. Citizenship Demonstration
Program, which teaches immigrants about naturalization procedures
and civic participation.