African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur (IIT KGP), India, is organizing an Online International Training Programme on ” Advancements in Agricultural and Food Engineering in India “. The training will take place from 01-04 July 2025. This programme aims to provide a platform for cross-regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the development of strategies to advance agricultural and food engineering in AARDO member countries. It will focus on enhancing the capacity of stakeholders to implement innovative, sustainable, and technology-driven solutions in agriculture. This four-day online international training programme is designed to foster collaborative learning and practical solutions by bringing together representatives from AARDO member countries, including middle- and senior-level executives from government departments, ministries, agricultural scientists, and engineers involved in precision agriculture. The participants are required to fill in the ONLINE application form through this link only: http://aardo.org/formDD.php before the deadline, 25 June 2025. For more details: Click Here

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