Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) celebrates the International Women’s Day, today. This year’s theme is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” and campaign theme is #ChooseToChallenge. This day celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the gaps that remain. A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. So let’s all choose to challenge. The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in 1975. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.  This year “International Women’s Day” comes at a very difficult time for the world and for gender equality due to pandemic situation. However, this is the time to fight for actions and to salute women and young people for their relentless efforts for gender equality and human rights. The effective and active participation and leadership of women drives progress for everyone. Yet, according to the UN Secretary-General’s recent report, women are still underrepresented in public life and decision-making. Women are Heads of State or Government in 22 countries, and only 24.9 per cent of national parliamentarians are women. At the current rate of progress, gender equality among Heads of Government will take another 130 years. CIRDAP’s focus is on rural women’s leadership and empowerment in all spheres of lives to good health, gender equality, human rights, quality education, and equal participation in decision making process.The COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to push an additional 88 million to 115 million people into extreme poverty in 2020, with the total rising to 150 million by this year. Women remain concentrated in the lowest paid jobs and in extremely vulnerable forms of employment across the world. Women are nearly twice as likely than men to lose their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. Indeed, the pandemic will dramatically increase the poverty rate for women and widen the gap between men and women who live in poverty.  The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development says to leave no one behind, in this regards, governments should make policies and efforts to create more opportunities of education and employment for women. Also, family and society should change their attitude or perspective towards women and should actively create a favourable environment for her progress and success.  Dr. Cherdsak Virapat Director General, CIRDAP

The 2021 APFIC Webinar series by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. You are invited to take part of the webinar series. Please check link: click here

Enabling Resilience for All: The Critical Decade to Scale-up Action is the overall theme of 7th APAN Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum, which will be held during 8-12 March 2021 in fully virtual mode. The Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), developed and launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) in 2009 under the Global Adaptation Network (GAN), is the first regional adaptation network. APAN is an open network that strives to equip adaptation actors in the region with knowledge for designing and implementing adaptation measures, building capacity to access technologies and finance, and integrating climate change adaptation into policies, strategies, and plans towards building climate change resilient and sustainable human systems, ecosystems, and economies. APAN has established close partnerships with key sub-regional organizations and has become an important adaptation knowledge mobilizer in Asia and the Pacific region. Only a month to go until the 7th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum. Register today at  click here

H.E Dr. Cherdsak Virapat, Director General CIRDAP met with H.E Mr. Tenzin Lekphell, Secretary General of BIMSTECat the BIMSTEC Secretariat on 31 January 2021. It was a very cordial and fruitful meeting between two heads. They have discussed collaboration between the two organizations in future in many areas. And further discussion will take place for organizing some combined programs.

Organized by Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) in Collaboration with Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), 15 January 2021 09:00 AM Astana, Dhaka. –>Join BdREN Zoom Meeting from Laptop or Mobile: click here Meeting ID: 624 2128 5035 Password: 840807 One tap mobile +13462487799,,62421285035# US (Houston) +14086528184,,62421285035# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 408 652 8184 US (San Jose) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 624 2128 5035 Find your local number: click here –>Join by SIP from Video Conferencing Device: 62421285035@fr.zmeu.us Join by H.323 213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands) 213.244.140.110 (Germany) 207.226.132.110 (Japan) Meeting ID: 624 2128 5035 Password: 840807 –>Join by Skype for Business: click here NOTE: 1. Always keep your mic mute while you are not speaking 2. Use good headphone for better audio quality 3. Please sit face up to the window or light source 4. Adjust camera angle to make sure you’re on camera Know Zoom Meeting Best Practices: Happy Zooming with BdREN!

A two-day long virtual Global Conference on Localising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Zero Hunger by 2030 was organized by Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD). The conference was held on December 12-13, 2020. In the Conference, eighteen papers from five different continents presented and 688 participants from 76 countries attended this global conference. Dr.Kamrul Ahsan, Adjunct Professor, Stamford University Bangladesh, Dhaka was the moderator of all papers of the conference. The Launching Programme of GFSRD and Inaugural Session of the Conference took place at 9:30 GTM on December 12, 2020. Dr. Manoj Nordeo Singh, Secretary-General, African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) inaugurated the Conference. Dr.Cherdsak Virapat, Director General of Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) remained present as the Guest of Honour and Professor Rajive Mohan Pant, Director, National Institute of Rural Development &Panchayati Raj (NIRD & PR) – North-Eastern Centre present as the Special Guest. At the start of the inaugural session Dr.Jayanta Choudhury, Founder, GFSRD welcomed all dignitaries, scholars, academicians, professionals attended the conference and detailed the genesis, goals, and working parameters of GFSRD.He thanked all concerned remained present in the Conference. Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, Co-Founder, GFSRD expressed vote of thanks to all concerned at the end of the inaugural session. Dr.Monaj Nordeo Singh expressed his deep satisfaction to remain present in the inaugural session of the global conference. He highlighted the importance of the seminar as food security becomes the most challenging issue for various reasons. He informed the genesis, goals and achievements of AARDO in the last over sixty years since its establishment. Dr.Monaj expressed that AARDO gives importance on south-south cooperation where food security issue plays a key role. He thanked in advance all speakers, moderator and participants of the conference. He expressed his gratitude to GFSRD for inviting him in the inaugural session. He wished to work with GFSRD in allied field of rural development in future. Dr.Cherdsak Virapat, the Guest of Honour of the inaugural session thanked the organizer of the global conference to invite him to the inaugural session. He expressed that he joined CIRDAP as Director-General only three months ago. He detailed the establishment of CIRDAP and its achievements in the field of rural development. He also informed training and project plans of CIRDAP. He wished to work with GFSRD in the allied field of rural development in future. Professor Rajive Mohan Pant, the Special Guest of the inaugural session thanked all concerned for inviting him to the inaugural session. He expressed his deep satisfaction for the initiatives of holding the global conference on Localising Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger by 2030. He informed the audience the role of NIRD & PR in rural development of India and also gave an overview on the food situation of India particularly in the pandemic situation. He opined that there is any other important option rather than addressing food for all. Finally, Dr. Pant thanked all concerned of GFSRD for organizing the conference on a very important issue and by incorporating stakeholders globally. He wished the global conference – a success. Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysia; Dedan Kemathi University of Technology, Kenya; Urban & Regional Planning Department, National Institute of Technology National Malan, East Java-Indonesia; ASPECT, Sussex University, UK; Humane Society International/India; NETRA Foundation, India; Bolpur ManavPrem O Seva Sanstha, India; Virtual Global Village, UK; Save-vignon, Benin; DICE, UK; Réseau Expertise Paix Durable, Ivory coast; Favour Discovery Foundation, Nigeria; Project One Taka Food, Bangladesh; Africa Green Revolution, Kenya; Palli Shree, Bangladesh; Makinika Media, Kenya and ENEWS Time, India were the partners for the conference.

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

Dr. Virapat focused on the trade, development, and competitiveness in fisheries and aquaculture sectors. He also emphasized on the use of the value chain to create wealth in fisheries and to reduce poverty; learning mechanism and innovation in competitive fisheries value chain, which may be seen as an approach for promoting fisheries value chain in the SAARC countries. 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 24th November 2020, 10:30 am, Dhaka, Bangladesh Director of SARRC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dr. Mian Sayeed Hassan Additional Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Mr. Shyamol Chandra Karmakar Director General of BFRI, Dr. Yahia Mahmud Dr. Grinson George, Senior Programme Specialist, SAC Distinguished Experts Delegates from South Asian Nations and International Organizations Ladies and Gentlemen Good morning. On behalf of CIRDAP, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the SARRC Agriculture Centre (SAC) for the kind invitation to participate at this regional consultation meeting on promoting innovations in fisheries value chain for improving human nutrition in South Asia. It can be noted that SAARC and CIRDAP share 6 member states as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka with exception of Bhutan and Maldives. In my message, I would like to address issues of trade and development and competitiveness in fisheries and aquaculture sectors, the use of the value chain to create wealth in fisheries and to reduce poverty, learning mechanism and innovation in competitive fisheries value chain which may be seen as an approach for promoting fisheries value chain in the SAARC countries. Economic growth can help reduce poverty As you know, globalization is the process by which people, companies, goods, services, capital, and information has been exchanged without borders. Although international trade has been around for hundreds of years but the current trade has expanded considerably. There are both bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. Foreign investment, advances in communication technology. Most countries now participate in the world trade economy with different levels of economic growth. Economic growth can help reduce poverty, but it helps to reduce poverty well with countries that have equal income distribution. Competitiveness in Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector In fisheries (including capture fisheries and aquaculture sectors), in order for market system to be sustainable and successful, it must be able to compete more with other countries in the world market. The fishing industry in the value chain must be able to mobilize the production to consumer effectively with higher quality and is more unique than other competing countries’ value chains. The competitiveness of both small and large-scale fisheries is relatively different. Increasing the competitiveness of small-scale fisheries can result in more income, which affects wealth generation and decreases poverty. While large-scale fisheries competitiveness can be increased by helping support at all levels of the value chain, the challenges of the economic development strategy is to make the entire fishing industry more competitive. At the same time, the benefits must be broadly distributed. This includes both skills and income at all levels of the fishing industry. The use of the value chain to create wealth in fisheries and to reduce poverty Aquaculture value chain has grown tremendously over the past several decades. Certain fish culture products have become dominant in both the regional and global markets. While some types of fishing have been reduced due to excessive utilization, breeding of some carnivorous fish species is still relying on the product from fishing. In particular, fish meal and fish oil production are still a vital component of fish feed production. The aquaculture sector has been restructuring on its production process in developing countries in recent times, spurred by the development of lower-cost and more efficient technologies to transport and available cheaper labor in the emerging countries. Fish processors purchase raw materials either from fishing or from fish farms. They will be processed into products for consumers. The retail sector is playing an important role in a modern society where consumer convenience is the key to selling aquatic products. The use of the value chain creates wealth in fisheries. The value chain will cover a wide range of activities and services. That gives rise to fishery products from the concept of production to selling products to consumers. The value chain is included in the sale of a product or service in a market which could be at the local, national, regional or the global markets. Learning mechanism and innovation in competitive fisheries value chain for promoting fisheries value chain in the SAARC countries In order for the enterprises in the chain to develop innovation. Learning from inside and outside is essential to the formation of new skills. This includes knowing where to find knowledge in the chain and where the knowledge is needed. The value chain in which this type of learning mechanism is established will be the most competitive. Way forward The Covid-19 outbreak and climate change are identified as Important crisis or threats currently impacting fisheries 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. We should assist small-scale fishers and rural farmers to access innovation to improve local capacity building and technology transfer. In term of regional approaches, we should put emphasis on regional cooperation and harmonization of policies where appropriate. Unification of economic and ecology with good governance should be made in all fishery policies to promote sustainable development mission at all levels. Ladies and gentlemen, To end my message, I wish you have a great success in the results of your deliberation at the regional expert consultation meeting in fisheries value chain among experts of SAARC member states. I hope that CIRDAP and SAC will continue to explore opportunities and implement collaborative projects and activities related to agriculture knowledge and information to strengthen our collaboration and coordination in the region and beyond. Together we can make our

A free online training program “the 2nd 2020 Training on Mariculture Technologies for the Asia-Pacific Region: Aquaculture Biosecurity” will be held on 15-18 December 2020 (Today to Friday this week), from 10:00 to 15:30 Beijing time (UTC +8). Aquaculture biosecurity has been accepted as a mainstream approach to reducing the risk of infectious disease in aquaculture. If you are interested to participate in the training, you can login into this link for details and registrar: click here or You can directly do the registration here: click here The training program welcomes questions from trainees for discussion and provides a chance for 2~4 participants to present their own experiences on aquaculture biosecurity in a presentation no more than 30 minutes on 18 December 2020. If you hope to make a presentation during the training program, you are welcome to make your application in the online registration form. Your application for the presentation will be selected based on the relevance of the title to the theme of the training program, the representatively, and the order of applications. The selection of the participants’ presentation will be informed during the training program.