At Vaikunth Lal Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune, India, 07-10 July 2025. African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO), in collaboration with the Vaikunth Lal Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), India, is organizing an Online International Training Programme on “Agribusiness through Cooperative Business Model”. The training will take place from 07-10 July 2025. This programme aims at providing a platform for cross-regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and at developing practical strategies to promote agribusiness through cooperative models. It will focus on enhancing the capacity of stakeholders to implement sustainable, inclusive, and community-driven agricultural enterprises. This four-day thematic training programme is designed to foster collaborative learning and practical solutions by bringing together practitioners, cooperative leaders, policymakers, and development experts. The sessions have been designed to achieve vision of strengthening cooperative movements and focusing on enhancing the role of Cooperatives in promoting rural development, sustainable agriculture, and inclusive financial systems. For more details: Click Here

HE DG, CIRDAP Dr.P.Chandra Shekara met Deputy Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,Lao PDR HE Kikeo Singnavong at Ministry in Vientiane,Lao PDR on January 15, 2025 and discussed about strengthening bondage between CIRDAP and Lao PDR in the area of Rural Development. The discussion focused on good practices,Celebration of World Rural Development Day and additional support to Lao PDR.Senior officials of Ministry took part in the discussion.

A transformative training program has commenced at the Akhtar Hameed Khan National Centre for Rural Development (AHKNCRD) Campus in Islamabad, Pakistan, organized by CIRDAP and AHKNCRD, with 18 participants from 9 countries: Fiji, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The program aims to address the growing challenges of disaster management and climate change adaptation through knowledge exchange and international collaboration.In the Inaugural Session, experts covered key topics such as Pakistan’s culture, disaster risk reduction, climate change impacts in the Asia-Pacific, and international climate negotiations. This initiative is a vital step in building resilient communities and empowering future leaders to combat climate change.

The Local Development Training Academy (LDTA), Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration ( MoFAGA) ,Government of Nepal organized its first event of CIRDAP’s Project on ” Capacity Development of Elected Representatives and Officials to Implement Gender Responsive Budget (GRB) at Selected Local Governments in Nepal” at Modi Rural Municipality during 19 to 20 December 2024. There were altogether 47 participants including Chairperson, Vice chairperson and other elected representatives.The project aims at sensitising elected representatives on Gender Responsive Budgeting

On 3rd September, 2024, a Coordination meeting (online) was organized amongst the CIRDAP Secretariat, and the representatives from the four CIRDAP member countries (CMCs) – India, IR Iran, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The online meeting was started at 11 am and concluded at the 12 pm (Bangladesh time). The 1-hour meeting was organized for the initiation of the four projects under the Women, Youth and Rural Development Programme of CIRDAP. These projects proposals of CMCs were approved at the 24th session of the Governing Council meeting of CIRDAP.  The Outgoing Director General of CIRDAP Dr. Cherdsak Virapat chaired the meeting and the Incoming Director General of CIRDAP Dr. P Chandra Shekara was contributed the ideas and thoughts critically for the implementation. The representatives from India, IR Iran, Nepal and Sri Lanka shared their opinions and views on the implementation including the Gantt chart.  The implementation of the projects will be One Year.

  Press Release 25 November, 2023 The closing ceremony of the 2nd CIRDAP-BARD Flagship Training Programme on Regional Integrated Rural Development, Governance, Trade, and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific organized by the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) in collaboration with Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) was held on 25th of November, 2023 at CIRDAP International Conference Centre (CICC). The respected Senior Secretary of Rural Development & Cooperative division, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Ms. Mosammat Hamida Begum embraced the closing ceremony as the Chief Guest. At the ceremony, Mr. Md. Harun-or-Rashid Mollah, Director General of Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD); Dr. Cherdsak Virapat Director General, of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP); and Dr. Somporn Hanpongpandh, former Director General of CIRDAP and course Director for this programme also graced the occasion with their presence. Dr. Cherdsak Virapat, Director General, CIRDAP and Mr. Harun-or-Rashid Mollah, Director General, BARD provided the welcome address in the ceremony where as Dr. Somporn Hanpongpandh, Course director addressed on the accomplishment of this regional course. In this three-week comprehensive training programme 24 participants from the different nation-states awarded with the certificates. Twelve countries from the Asia-Pacific regions (also CIRDAP member countries) are Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, IR Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand; and two countries from African nations are Ghana and Mauritius. On behalf of the cohort of the 2nd flagship training 2023, two representatives among the successful trainees named Md. Mazharul Anowar from Bangladesh and Ms. Anoutchka Angeera Hinchoo Virginie from Mauritius shared their experiences, appreciations and thoughts on the training programme. The five other representatives respectively from Fiji, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Ghana also provided their testimonials to the audiences via video clips. The Director General of CIRDAP honored the Chief Guest along with the Director General of BARD and the course Director of the training programme with a token of appreciations. As a part of the closing ceremony, CIRDAP organized special Award Ceremony of the Aziz-Ul Haq Rural Development Medal in 2023. CIRDAP took the initiative to honor the Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogura in recognition of its contribution in rural development through enhancing capacities, improving facilities and disseminating technologies in Bangladesh and for unwavering support to CIRDAP mission. Mr. Md. Khurshid Iqbal Rezvi, Director General of RDA (Additional Secretary) received the award from the Chief Guest of the closing ceremony. For further information please contact:Ms. Hurain JannatCommunication Officer, CIRDAPEmail: communication_officer@cirdap.org

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) and Supporting Funds of Investment Development in Agriculture (SFIDA) of IR Iran on 5th July, 2023 in a virtual ceremony. This online event was a part of the 44th celebration of the foundation day of CIRDAP (6th July). The cooperation between the two organizations are for sharing best knowledge and practices, capacity building, success stories in the field of farmer;s fund, credit and finance, village and cooperative funds, local and rural banks, policy dialogue and expert consultation workshops, expert database, and partnership with regional and international organizations. The MoU will be valid for 3 consecutive years from 5 July 2023 to 4 July 2026. On behalf of CIRDAP the DG of CIRDAP, Dr. Cherdsak Virapat welcome all SFIDA executive members and extended his sincere heartfelt appreciation to the Chair and CEO of SFIDA Mr. Hossein Mahdidous t for his leadership and cooperation with CIRDAP in this matter. He said, “Let us celebrate together on our proposed joint cooperation and activities and on strengthening our relationship with commitment on our future collective actions which will ultimately improve the quality of life and economic development of rural communities in Asia and the Pacific region”. Later, on behalf of SFIDA, the Chair and CEO of SFIDA Mr. Mahdidoust provided a speech by congratulating CIRDAP on the occasion of the 44th anniversary. He also thanked the DG of CIRDAP for showing interest to collaborate with SFIDA as part of his holistic programme of exchange the experiences among the CIRDAP Member countries. He believed that this MOU as a mean would facilitate the joint collaborations of the sharing good practices. At the end of the ceremony both the head of the organizations signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU is valid for three consecutive years with the objective of collaboration of sharing the good experiences with/from CIRDAP member countries. There are six areas of cooperation for SFIDA and ten for CIRDAP.