On 12th December, 2020 CIRDAP Director General, Dr. Cherdsak Virapat attended the Global Conference Series on Localizing Sustainable Development Goals of to the Global Forum on Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD).
In his statement in the conference, Dr. Virapat emphasized on Role of CIRDAP in localized SDGs as one of the key development objectives of the organization is to implement poverty alleviation through people’s participation, adaptive management, self-reliance, uses of appropriate technologies and decision making in the development process.
CIRDAP focus areas are Sustainable Development and Efficient use of Natural Resources including quality livelihoods and human health, access to basic services, smart farming, food security and safety, governance, impacts of climate change and natural disasters, water resource management and sanitation, and adaptive management of rural areas in transition. Dr. Virapat also stated, “Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas. It aims at finding ways to improve rural lives with participation of rural people themselves, to meet the required needs of rural communities”.
Read the full statement of Dr. Cherdsak Virapat below:
Statement of the Director General of Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific(CIRDAP), Dr. Cherdsak Virapat
Role of CIRDAP in Localising SDGs
The Global Conference Series on Localising Sustainable Development Goals
12th December 2020, 15.00 pm, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Excellency Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh, Secretary General, Asia Africa Rural Development Organization
(AARDO)
Prof. Rajive Mohan Pant, Director, National Institute of Rural Development Panchayati Raj
Dr. Jayanta Choudhury, Founder of Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD)
Mr. Mohammad Abubakar, Nigeria Co-Founder, GFSRD
Distinguished Participants
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good afternoon. On behalf of CIRDAP, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Global Forum on Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD) for the kind invitation to participate at this Global Conference Series on Localising Sustainable Development Goals.
My message will be focused on Role of CIRDAP in localized SDGs.
One of the key CIRDAP’s development objectives is to implement poverty alleviation through people’s participation, adaptive management, self-reliance, uses of appropriate technologies and decision making in the development process.
This is considered the ultimate goal of sustainable development which is to elimination of poverty and deprivation and protection of human health and ecosystems.
CIRDAP focus areas are Sustainable Development and Efficient use of Natural Resources including quality livelihoods and human health, access to basic services, smart farming, food security and safety, governance, impacts of climate change and natural disasters, water resource management and sanitation, and adaptive management of rural areas in transition.
While the development has been progressed, more and more natural resource bases are depleting and deteriorating. Disparities and divides have occurred in terms of socio-economic and digital technologies. Many of our current practices have not led to sustainable development. This may be shown in the correlation between Ecological Footprint and Human Development Index proposed by UNDP and Global Footprint Network where most countries put pressure on the water and natural resources.
The Committee for Development Policy of UN in 2018 addressed LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND Concept. The Committee encouraged Governments and other stakeholders to consider the impacts of their policies on reduced inequality (SDG10).
Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas. It aims at finding ways to improve rural lives with participation of rural people themselves, so as to meet the required needs of rural communities. This implies decentralization with bottom-up decision making and people participation approaches. Lesson-learn from many pilot research and development models in Bangladesh and in many rural areas may be used as guidelines and best practices for local community management. Adaptive management approach is to integrate scientific knowledge with local knowledge as the rural communities are in different stages of learning and management.
I would like to address some issues related to Localisation of SDGs which have been initiated by CIRDAP as follows.
- World Rural Development Day, 6 July
On 6 July 1979, CIRDAP was established at the initiative of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region and UN FAO with support from several other UN bodies and donors. The Centre was established to meet the needs of the developing countries at that time as an institute for promoting integrated rural development in the region.
In order to call for global attention and response and to accelerate action on rural development to meet the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030, CIRDAP has proposed to the Government of Bangladesh, the Governing Council and FAO for the establishment of an international day entitled “The World Rural Development Day” that takes place annually on 6 July. The Day is to inform and to remind everyone everywhere on his/her role and responsibility for collaborative actions as outlined in the SDGs. It is the day to celebrate together to ensure that no one will be left behind.
- CIRDAP Exhibitions & Museum on IRD in Asia-Pacific
The concept is to bring together the top models of rural development from the CIRDAP member countries for exhibit and to showcase successful approaches that can be applied and replicated in rural areas of those countries. This calls to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” (SDG2). This will be the first world Exhibition & Museum of its kind.
- CIRDAP-BARD Training Programme on Regional Integrated Rural Development, Governance, Trade & Sustainable Development
A 3-Week Training programme has been proposed for implementing in 2022. The programme has three modules, namely;
- Module 1: Integrated Rural Development Framework, Trade, Sustainable Development (SDGs) & Multi-lateral treaties on Environmental Legal Issues.
- Module 2: Adaptive Management in Rural Development in Asia and the Pacific Region:
- Module 3: Policy Formulation and Comprehensive Implementation: addresses all major challenges facing rural development.
- Expert Database in IRD and related areas
CIRDAP has developed the Expert Database in IRD and related areas as a source of knowledge-based human resources across the region for the benefits of countries in Asia and the Pacific.
- GREEN DEAL PROJECTS
CIRDAP and its partners are in the process for developing four project proposals, namely;
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- Making Information and communication infrastructure resilient to disasters and climate change for rural development.This is to develop digitalization & communication platform for Asia – Pacific region. CIRDAP is planning to develop revolutionary technology and to accelerate the sustainable development in the region. This is to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation (SDG9).
- The New Theory Agriculture under the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for practical applications and sustainable quality of life and self-reliant agriculture development.
The project aims at applications of the New Theory model under Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of the King Rama 9 of Thailand for rural development in selected country members of CIRDAP. This theory states that each cell of farmland must create their own ecosystem with biodiversity and integrate through the local culture of sharing and harmonization, before scaling up to the country and Global ecosystem eventually (SDG1, 2 and 12). - Using Innovative Seaweed Production Technology for Large-Scale Restoration of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
This is to conduct research on seaweed farming technology in selected countries in Asia and the Pacific region. The products obtained from seaweed farming can be used for human consumption and pharmaceutical products as well as being carbon sink and reducing of ocean acidification (SDG1, 2, and 3, 13 and 14). - Adaptive Management on Climate Change, Natural Disasters, Environmental Protection, Governance and Sustainable Development for Stakeholders Awareness and Resilience Learning in Asia-Pacific.
This is to enabling citizens to act on climate change (SDG13), for sustainable development and environmental protection through education, citizen science, observation initiatives, youth and civic engagement on issues relevant to IRD (SDG4 and 13).
- Way Forwards
The Covid-19 outbreak and climate change are identified as Important crisis or threats currently impacting rural sector. We are entering into the digital age in which reliable information is required for decision-making. Innovation should be continued in particular on digital technology. Locally, we should assist small-scale and rural farmers to access innovation to improve local capacity building and technology transfer (SDG9).
Ladies and gentlemen,
To end my message, I wish you have a great success in the results of your deliberation at The Global Conference Series on Localising Sustainable Development Goals. On behalf of CIRDAP, I look forward to strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development in the years to come (SDG17).
Thank you.
