cirdap e news aug-sep15

Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP)

Chameli House, 17 Topkhana Road, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.

web: www.cirdap.org, www.inford.org

CIRDAP e-News August -September 2015

Twentieth Regular Meeting of CIRDAP Governing Council (GC-20)

The Regular Twentieth Meeting of the CIRDAP Governing Council was held in Hotel Tanoa International, Nadi, Fiji on 20 August 2015. Delegates from all the CIRDAP Member Countries (CMCs) except Myanmar and Sri Lanka attended the Meeting. The inaugural session of the meeting was held on 20 August 2015 in the Tanoa Hotel premises. H.E. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the President of the Republic of Fiji was the Chief Guest. The inaugural programme began with the ceremonial rituals of Fiji to receive the Chief Guest and the Honourable Delegates of the CIRDAP Member Countries. After the ceremonial functions, H.E. the President of Fiji delivered an inspiring speech and gave guidance to CIRDAP to play a significant role for the benefit of the member countries. The business session followed the inaugural session where agendas were discussed and recommendations were suggested. The Hon‟ble GC Members made presentations on their country statements focused on rural development.

Thirtieth Regular Meeting of CIRDAP Executive Committee The Thirtieth Regular Meeting of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Executive Committee was held on 17-18 August 2015 in Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji. Delegates from all the CIRDAP Member-Countries (CMCs) except Myanmar and Sri Lanka attended the meeting. Likewise, observers from FAO-Samoa, IPA, TFNet, SEARCA and representatives from different national and international development agencies were also present during the inaugural session. The business session was followed by the inaugural session where agendas were discussed

and recommendations were suggested. Group photo of 30th Regular Meeting CIRDAP Executive Committee in Fiji

Group phototograph of participants of 20th regular meeting of CIRDAP Governer Council in Fiji




Regional Policy Dialogue of CIRDAP (RPD-7), Fiji, 19 August, 2015

The Seventh Regional Policy Dialogue on the theme „An Outlook on Rural Income and Poverty Alleviation in Asia and the Pacific and International Workshop on Climate Change‟ was organised at Hotel Tanoa International in Nadi, Fiji on August 19, 2015 coinciding with the Thirtieth Executive Committee and Twentieth Governing Council Meeting of CIRDAP. The purpose of the Regional Policy Dialogue was to engage the policy bodies of CIRDAP in deliberations on emerging policy issues on rural development and poverty alleviation and addressing them through regional cooperation among CIRDAP Member Countries. The dialogue was organised by the CIRDAP in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural & Maritime Development, Government of Fiji. The objective of this dialogue was to disseminate the study findings on “Efficacy of Initiatives on Rural Income and Poverty Alleviation: Way Forward”conducted during 2014-2015 biennium following the suggestion of the 29th CIRDAP Technical Committee held in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2014. The Seventh Policy Dialogue has special significance as it was organized along with an International Workshop on Climate Change where Fiji‟s experiences on climate change adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction were demonstrated. The following papers were presented in the Policy Dialogue:

1. Presentation by the Moderator on Regional Workshop on Efficacy of Initiatives on Rural Income and Poverty Alleviation: Way Forward and Pakistan Successful best practice on Interest Free Microfinance.

2. CIRDAP Presentation: An Outlook on Rural Income and Poverty Alleviation in Asia and the Pacific 3. Presentation on Fiji‟s Experience on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction 4. Presentation on Randomised Design on by IPA, USA.

Cross-talk of Digital Resources Management: Steps towards Digital Bangladesh A national seminar on digital resources entitled, "Cross-talk of Digital Resources Management: Steps towards Digital Bangladesh" was organised by Bangladesh Association of Librarians, Information Scientists and Documentalists (BALID) in collaboration with the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) on 22 August 2015 at CIRDAP International Conference Centre (CICC). A total of 180 participants from 110 institutions, including private universities, research and financial organisations across Bangladesh, took part in the seminar.

Speaker sharing their experience on digital resource management

A snapshot of the 7th

Regional Policy Dialogue




The seminar was designed to inform and educate the participants about the standard practices, challenges, solutions, and planning for the digital resources management carried out by the libraries. The seminar had been a reference point where cross-talk of digital resources management were widely discussed to create a common platform of understanding of different burning issues regarding digital documentations. Dr. Usha Rani Barua, librarian, CIRDAP also made a brief presentation on “Developing CIRDAP Inst itutional Repository for CIRDAP Member Countries” by sharing resources on knowledge and information on IRD and poverty alleviation programmes. Chief Guest, Mr. Imran Ahmad, Chairman of Standing Committee on Post Telecommunication and Information Technology, Bangladesh National Parliament opined for the importance of information services where librarian can increase their scope and horizon by involving themselves with other information centres. Mr. David Hilton, Assistant Programme Officer, CIRDAP thanked the participants highlighting the importance of information and library services for development in aligned with Bangladesh Government initiatives. Turning Unemployment to Entrepreneurship

Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, , founder of the Grameen Bank, early developer and implementer of the social business concept was in India along with his team at Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) to conduct a “One -day Workshop on Social Business” on 1st September, 2015. He delivered the inaugural address on “Turning Unemployment to Entrepreneurship: Motivating Indian Youth for Social Business” to the prominent entrepreneurs and policy makers of India. This event was jointly organised by RGNIYD and Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP). Being the apex youth catalyst Institute in India, RGNIYD extended the opportunity to the cause -driven young entrepreneurs, young Heads of corporate social responsibility units to participate and benefit from this event. The participants of the workshop were given a platform to interact and discuss with Professor Yunus on how to nourish and scale up their social business and respond to impinging needs of our society. Dr Cecep Effendi, Director General of CIRDAP attended the programme and shared his thought on how CIRDAP is working to promote entrepreneurship and rural employment in member countries through training and information dissemination.

From Left, Ms Latha Pillai, Director, Rajiv Gandhi institute; Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus; Rajeev Gupta, Secretary of Youth Affairs Government of India; and Dr. Cecep Effendi, Director General of CIRDAP at the programme

Snapshots of the programme




CIRDAP sponsored participant at the International Conference in Indonesia, 28th -29th September 2015

Ms. E.T.S. Madhubhashini, Lecturer, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, participated in the conference sponsored by CIRDAP. The conferences facilitated her to share knowledge in the scientific group gathered from around the world. The 6th international conference have discussed the way forwards towards the sustainable rural community development while preserving the environment. The contribution and support of RRPG and CIRDP for organizing this conference have been highly appreciated.

DG, CIRDAP attends Social Business Design

DG, CIRDAP attended the 116th Social Business Design Lab, organized by Yunus Centre, and which was held on 17

September 2015 at Grameen Bank Auditorium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Around 150 participants and observers from

national and international organizations with diverse background attended the programme. Six young entrepreneurs

coming from Grameen Bank borrowers‟ families presented innovative entrepreneurial business plan during the

programme The DG expressed the idea of promoting entrepreneurship and transferring technology on agro-food

processing in CIRDAP Member-States as these manifest as one of the ultimate results of various development

interventions being provided by governments and non-governments.

The idea may be done through social business and regional cooperation which was noted by Prof. Yunus who likewise

enthusiastically recalled his recent visit to Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, India where he

presented a lecture on Entrepreneurship Motivating Indian Youth for Social Business which was coordinated and

facilitated by CIRDAP on 01 September 2015.

National Conference on Enhancing the Role of Mass Media Practitioners in Knowledge Transfer to Improve Agricultural Productivity

A three day National Conference on “Enhancing the Role of Mass Media Practitioners in Knowledge Transfer to Improve Agricultural Productivity” was held on 20-22 September, at the Hotel 71, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The program was jointly organized by the National Productivity Organisation (NPO) and the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Japan. Director and Assistant Programme Officer, Pilot Projects Division and Director, Research Division, CIRDAP have participated the event along with other fifty participants representing electronic and print media such as UNB, Arilife24.com, BTV, RTV, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension, BRRI, BARI, CDP, CIRDAP, researcher from Agriculture Universities and representatives from private sector. The objectives of the event were to disseminate ideas about innovation, knowledge transfer and the role of mass media for agricultural productivity in Bangladesh. The key presentation was on a growing agriculture innovation which addresses issues on decreasing land area, vulnerable crop yield due to climate change, increasing urban population, increasing demand for fresh, clean and nutritious food. Later, a luncheon meeting of CIRDAP-APO-NPO was held in which the DG CIRDAP Dr. Cecep Effendi delivered an impromptu speech encouraging them to support the growth of agro-food processing in Bangladesh using crops planted small growers.

Conference Participants

A view of the conference




IFIC Bank launches product for small and micro entrepreneurs IFIC Bank Limited launched a SME Loan product named – IFIC Shilpo Sohay – for cottage and micro entrepreneur on 20 September 2015 in local hotel, Dhaka, Bangladesh. APO, PPD represented CIRDAP in the prgoramme since CIRDAP has collaboration with Bangladesh Bank and IFIC regarding promotion of SMEs in Bangladesh. Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank Mr. S. K. Sur Chowdhury formally launched the product as Chief Guest at a ceremony. Appreciating the efforts of IFIC Bank for financial inclusion, Deputy Governor, Bangladesh Bank expected that other commercial banks also would create access to credit for cottage and micro entrepreneurs for the sustainability of the economy. Due to inclusive economic policy as he expressed his opinion that Bangladesh could tackle well the global recession and maintained economic stability.

CEO of IFIC Bank informed that IFIC Bank is in process of synchronization of recognizing the good branches of rural areas along with urban branches. This recognition would be as he informed based on low cost delivery, risk management with an aim of inclusive banking of Bangladesh Bank‟s policy. In this regard, IFIC already identified some areas specialized on certain products in rural Bangladesh as their target areas who would receive “IFIC Shilpo Sohay‟s” loan as collateral free credit for pottery, handloom, handicrafts and some other sectors. Forthcoming Programmes

CIRDAP – NIRD&PR Collaborative International Training Programme on Sustainable Agriculture for Rural

Development will be held on October – 04 November 2015 at Lao PDR.

CIRDAP – NIRD&PR Collaborative International Training Programme on Local Governance and Delivery of Services will be held on 29 November – 08 December 2015 at NIRD&PR and KILA, Kerala, India

CIRDAP – NIRD&PR Collaborative International Training Programme on Geo-informatics Applications in Rural Development for Sharing Innovative and Best Practices will held on December 2015 at NIRD&PR, India

CIRDAP – NIRD&PR Collaborative International Training Programme on ICT Application for Rural Development will be held on February 2016 at NIRD&PR, India.

First Asian Public governance conference on public-private partnership will be held on 26th November in Seoul, Korea.

For further details please contact: Dr. Vasanthi Rajendran Director, ICD, CIRDAP E-mail: [email protected]

Snapshots of the programme

mailto:[email protected]

cirdap e news aug-sep15

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