CIRDAP Technical Committee Meeting to be held in Nepal

Dhaka, 4 May 2008: The Twenty-fourth Regular Meeting of the CIRDAP Technical Committee (TC-24) will be held at the Dhulikhel Mountain Resort, Kathmundu, Nepal from 5 – 7 May 2008. The Ministry of Local Development and Local Development Training Academy (LDTA) of the Government of Nepal will be hosting the three-day meeting. Technical Committee Members and Representatives from the 14 CIRDAP Member countries are expected to attend the meeting. The agenda for discussions would include, among others, Presentation on the Role of CIRDAP in the changing global context by IRD Expert; Presentation and discussion on Projects/Programmes activities of CLIs and future opportunities (New projects/activities/ideas); Review progress of Country focused study under the title ‘An assessment of Rural Development Initiatives in CIRDAP Member Countries: Future Opportunities for CIRDAP’; Presentation and discussion on the TOR of CIRDAP Evaluation Committee and suggestions and recommendations; Preparation for Second Ministerial Meeting of Rural Development of Asia-Pacific Region: Agenda for the consideration of Special GC in New Delhi, India, 24 June 2008 etc.

H.E. Mr. Dev Prasad Gurung, the Honourable Minister for Local Development, Government of Nepal, will be inaugurating the meeting on 5 May 2008 at the Dhulikhel Mountain Resort located in Dhulikhel, about 2 km away from Kathmandu. Special Guests, H.E. Mr. Navin Kumar Bisokarma, Sate Minister, Ministry of Local Development, Mr. Ganga Dutta Awasthi, Secretary, Ministry of Local Development of Government of Nepal, and Mr. Kasem Prasutsangchan, Senior Policy and Planning Analyst, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Government of Thailand and Chairperson of CIRDAP Technical Committee (TC-23) are also expected to attend the inaugural function.

The CIRDAP Technical Committee is an advisory body to the Centre, which meets annually and provides technical inputs and reviews the technical aspects of the programmes of the centre. The Technical Committee comprises of the Heads of the CIRDAP Link Institutions (CLIs) which are designated Rural Development Institutions of the Governments of the fourteen CIRDAP Member Countries (CMCs). Other members include an expert of outstanding professional experience in IRD, representatives from FAO and other donor agencies, donor countries and development partners associated with CIRDAP.

K.A.S. Dayananda

Director, Information & Communication Division

Excerpts from speeches (Inaugural of TC-24)

Chief Guest

While welcoming the delegates, the chief Guest mentioned in his speech that Nepal is undergoing a massive change in terms of political and administrative structure and the government would welcome support from the CIRDAP member countries in this regard. He appreciated the contribution made by CIRDAP towards National Action to alleviate Poverty in Member Countries and its efforts by way of technical support, fostering the exchange of ideas and experiences by encouraging collaborative activities during the past 2 decades. He mentioned that the years 2008 and 2009 are crucial for CIRDAP in View of the Country focused studies and CIRDAP evaluation work, special GC and Ministerial Retreat in June 2008 and the Second Ministerial Meeting in 2009 where the role of CIRDAP in the changing context is likely to be redefined.

Special Guest (State Minister)

The Special Guest, The State Minister in his speech mentioned about the role of Ministry of Local Development (MLD) as strengthening of local governance with a view to making locally elected bodies capable institutions, and developing institutional framework for assisting the deprived and socially disadvantaged groups in remote areas, facilitate poverty reduction through social mobilization and develop local level infrastructure. Many projects and programmes are taken up by the ministry for rural development and fighting back poverty. He also urged the development partners and other regional bodies who are also member of TC, to extend necessary support to CIRDAP to enable it to realize its new vision and mission and translate the new programmes and policies into action.

Special Guest (Secretary)

The Secretary informed the meeting of the various collaborative programmes that CIRDAP has been taking up with the LDTA in the recent years. He urged the TC members to prescribe more innovative and appropriate measures when the poor countries specially the South Asian Countries are facing the challenges of globalization and market economy and the current food crisis. He hoped that the meeting will strengthen cooperation between CIRDAP member countries and CIRDAP Link institutions and renowned professional institutions in finding solution to rural problems of Asia pacific region.

Chairperson TC-23

The Chairperson of TC-23 mentioned in his speech that the TC is a good forum for the 14 member countries (CMCs) to share, discuss and learn from each other, the best practices of CMCs and make an initiative and effort to replicate in collaboration with concerned CMC and support from CIRDAP.

DG, CIRDAP

DG, CIRDAP mentioned that this coming period is going to be extremely important time for CIRDAP with such important events that are set to reorient the path for rural development in the member countries. He stated that at CIRDAP, several new initiatives are underway, for identifying useful areas, to attract collaborative partners for funding and logistic support.



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