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Press Release
Roundtable Discussion on Resetting the Role of CIRDAP
Advisor Anwarul Iqbal
lays foundation stone for Int’l Conference Centre
Dhaka, 5 July 2007: The
Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific
(CIRDAP) on occasion of its 28th founding anniversary,
held a Round Table discussion on ‘Resetting CIRDAP in the New Global
Context’, where H.E. Mohammed Anwarul Iqbal, honourable Adviser of
Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (MLGRD&C)
of Bangladesh was the chief guest. Academicians, rural development
practitioners, development professionals, senior government
functionaries and diplomats of the Asia-Pacific region took part in
the half-day roundtable discussion.
Setting the tone of
discussion at the Round Table, Chief Guest H.E. Anwarul Iqbal
mentioned that Bangladesh being the host country of CIRDAP, the
Headquarters of which is located in Dhaka, the Ministry of Local
Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives which is also
CIRDAP’s Contact Ministry, maintains a very close relationship with
the Centre and tries to accord the necessary support and facilities
as far as practicable. He mentioned that since its establishment,
the Centre has been playing a very encouraging role as a prime
regional institution with a huge network in the field of rural
development, and it has promoted significant regional cooperation in
this regard. However, over the years, both the international and
national context in the member countries (CMCs) have changed. In the
era of globalization and increased integration of national
economies, many regions still remain remote and de-linked. The
development paradigm has also changed towards greater openness and
free markets. In this context, CIRDAP’s role needs to be redefined
and it is necessary to initiate some preliminary discussion on the
matter towards which this Round Table is a first step. Three main
issues are to be discussed at the Round Table: a) the new and
extended role of CIRDAP as a regional organization, b) the
significant changes, both in the country context of CMCs and the
international context, which need to be taken into account, in
resetting CIRDAP, and c) the necessity to expand membership to
include countries which were in the original list, but did not join
at the time of CIRDAP’s establishment.
Dr. Durga Paudyal,
Director General of the Centre presented a key note paper on
‘Resetting CIRDAP in the New Global Context’. In the paper he
highlighted the emerging policy level issues and concerns in arena
rural development and poverty alleviation and identified the gaps in
policies and practices in this field.
He mentioned that CIRDAP
with its 14 member countries (CMCs), works through institutional
network in countries with the support of the Centre’s three policy
bodies: Governing Council, Executive Committee and Technical
Committee. The CIRDAP network has decided to arrange country level
studies for reviewing the past policies and programs and identify
policy level issues and concerns of rural development, which will be
presented and discussed at a proposed Ministerial level meeting on
rural development in Dhaka, in 2009.
He stated that, in the
changing global and regional context, some of key role of CIRDAP can
be identified as follows: Continue its role as a servicing
institution for CMCs in the area of rural development and poverty
alleviation; take up follow-up actions of ICARRD, especially in the
areas of agrarian reforms, food security, environmental degradation,
climate change and impact on farming communities; analyse the impact
of trade related issues on rural communities and helping countries
devise strategies to cope with adverse impacts of trade; Play a
bridging role between regional associations such as SAARC, ASEAN and
ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization); Include Japan, China, ROK
and Australia, and other Pacific countries, who attended in 1978
meeting, as CMCs; Work with national and regional NGOs, making them
work for the benefit of countries and play an advocacy role
Wrapping-up the
discussion, the Special Guest, Mr. Nazrul Islam, Secretary, Rural
Development Division of MLGRD&C of Bangladesh said that the
distinguished participants at the round table have drawn a correct
picture of the prevailing situation in the CMCs in the changed
global context. Based on this, the CIRDAP network need to work very
closely and effectively to change the fate of the one quarter of the
world’s poor living in rural areas in the CMCs. He urged CIRDAP and
its dynamic leadership to take note of the valuable contributions
and suggestions so that a new charter can be drawn for CIRDAP which
will enable it to perform effectively as a unique regional
networking organization, with emphasis on creation and dissemination
of knowledge on issues of rural development.
The honourable Adviser
H.E. Mohammed Anwarul Iqbal earlier laid the foundation stone for an
International Conference Centre (ICC) with all modern facilities at
the premises of ‘Chameli House’, Headquarters of CIRDAP in Dhaka.
The Government of Bangladesh will provide a financial support of US$
2.3 million for construction of the ICC which is expected to be the
venue for the proposed Ministerial Meeting on rural development in
2009. The other member countries of this intergovernmental body also
expressed their interest in taking part in the internal designing,
mechanizing and furnishing of the ICC.
K.A.S. Dayananda
Director
Information &
Communication Division
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