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1 BRAC Institute of Governance and Development BRAC University Quarterly Newsletter, April- June 2014 Seminars/Roundtables/Talk/Lectures Talk by Former Chief Justice of India Justice Altamas Kabir, former Chief Justice of India, during the Q/A session at the Talk organised by BIGD, BRAC University The immediate-past Chief Justice of India, Honorable Justice Altamas Kabir, believes that access to justice for all in countries like India and Bangladesh can be improved through various innovative alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Justice Kabir was speaking at a Talk on ‘Access to Justice for All’, organised by BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University at the Daily Star Centre in Dhaka on 24 April 2014. The event was chaired by Advocate Sultana Kamal, Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra, while Professor Ainun Nishat, Vice Chancellor of BRAC University and Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director of BIGD were also present. Justice Kabir, who was India's 39th Chief Justice from September 2012 to July 2013, talked about the village level "Lok Adalat" (court of the common people) of India, where disputes are settled across the table on consensus basis, and the legal aid clinics that give primary solution and advice. He said women were given preference while recruiting paralegal volunteers for the legal aid clinics. He added, "A man can only go up to the door. A woman has much more entry into the house, and it is easier for them to understand the problems." In their efforts to make the legal system accessible, mobile vans with a little court inside and accommodation for judicial officers have been introduced, said the former judge. "These vans go to different haats (village markets), melas (fairs) and hold lok adalats." He shared several anecdotes from

Transcript of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development BRAC ...bigd.bracu.ac.bd/images/QuarterlyNewsletter1/2....

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BRAC Institute of Governance and Development BRAC University

Quarterly Newsletter, April- June 2014

Seminars/Roundtables/Talk/Lectures

Talk by Former Chief Justice of India

Justice Altamas Kabir, former Chief Justice of India, during the Q/A session at the Talk organised by BIGD, BRAC University

The immediate-past Chief Justice of India, Honorable Justice Altamas Kabir, believes that access to justice for all in countries like India and Bangladesh can be improved through various innovative alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Justice Kabir was speaking at a Talk on ‘Access to Justice for All’, organised by BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University at the Daily Star Centre in Dhaka on 24 April 2014. The event was chaired by Advocate Sultana Kamal, Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra, while Professor Ainun Nishat, Vice Chancellor of BRAC University and Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director of BIGD were also present. Justice Kabir, who was India's 39th Chief Justice from September 2012 to July 2013, talked about the village level "Lok Adalat" (court of the common people) of India, where disputes are settled across the table on consensus basis, and the legal aid clinics that give primary solution and advice. He said women were given preference while recruiting paralegal volunteers for the legal aid clinics. He added, "A man can only go up to the door. A woman has much more entry into the house, and it is easier for them to understand the problems." In their efforts to make the legal system accessible, mobile vans with a little court inside and accommodation for judicial officers have been introduced, said the former judge. "These vans go to different haats (village markets), melas (fairs) and hold lok adalats." He shared several anecdotes from

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his life to illustrate how he utilised his position and vision as a legal practitioner to ensure that justice was provided to those who could not access it before. The talk was also attended by eminent jurists, former lawmakers and Bar Council members, senior lawyers, researchers, academics and journalists. The event received huge coverage in the national media.

BIGD National Seminar on Social Protection

Dr. Minhaj Mahmud, Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Dr. Ferdous Jahan and Dr. A H M Abdullah at the National Seminar

Social safety nets that are designed and implemented to meet context-specific needs, help the poor citizens of Chars and indigenous population to get included in the society, said Dr. Ferdous Jahan, Professor of Public Administration in the University of Dhaka and Academic Coordinator of BIGD while unveiling a research report conducted by UK based Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) at the BRAC Centre Inn on April 6, 2014. Professor Ferdous Jahan was addressing a National Seminar titled ‘Can social protection contributes to social inclusion?’ jointly organised by ODI and BIGD. BIGD Executive Director Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman chaired the seminar. In the concluding remarks, BIGD Head of Research Dr. Minhaj Mahmud said; although 2.2% of our GDP is spent for social safety net programmes, nearly above 60% of poor and vulnerable population do not receive such benefits. Among others, Dr. A H M Abdullah, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives; Dr. Zohir Ahmed, Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University; Research Director of Ministry of Food Mr. Hazikul Islam; UK Based ODI Research Fellows Dr. Rebecca Holmes and Ms. Jessica Hagen-Zanker, representatives of research and academic institutions, government organisations, donor agencies, NGOs, international organizations and civil society members attended the seminar.

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BIGD Lecture on Development Economics

Dr. Shahe M Emran of Columbia University and the attendees during the BIGD Lecture on Development Economics

Dr. Shahe M Emran, a Scholar from the Initiative for Policy Dialogue (IPD), Columbia University, USA said, and corruption in schools is doubly regressive in Bangladesh. The poor are more likely to pay bribes in the schools and among the bribe payers; the poor pay a higher share of their income. He added, the parents of almost half the government primary school children need to pay bribes to get “free schooling” in rural Bangladesh. Dr. Emran was presenting his paper Admission is Free only if Your Dad is Rich! Distributional Effects of Corruption in Schools in Developing Countries in a lecture, organised by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) at the Vice Chancellor’s Conference Room, BRAC University on 7 May 2014. This was the first lecture of the series of lectures titled BIGD Lecture Series in Development Economics. The lecture was chaired by Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director, BIGD. Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed, Commissioner of Anti Corruption Commission and Dr. Atonu Rabbani, Assistant Professor of Department of Economics, Dhaka University was the designated discussants. Dr. Binayak Sen, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies also spoke at the session.

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Roundtable Discussion on The State of Cities: Re-thinking Urban Governance in Narayanganj

Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy addressing the audience at the

Roundtable on Urban Governance in Narayanganj

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University organised a roundtable discussion on the State of Cities: Re-thinking Urban Governance in Narayanganj on 18 June, 2014 at the BRAC Centre Inn Auditorium, BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, Dhaka. Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy, the Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) was the Chief Guest and Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, former Advisor to the Caretaker Government and Executive Chairperson of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) was the special guest of the discussion. Dr. Ferdous Jahan, Lead Researcher of BIGD’s State of City in Narayanganj research, presented the key findings of the research and Research Associates Mohammad Sirajul Islam and Kazi Niaz Ahmed gave detailed presentations on urban land use and social space in Narayanganj city. Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director of BIGD chaired the event. Panel discussants Dr. Tofail Ahmed, Local Government Expert, Architect Mobashher Hossain, the immediate past President of Institute of Architects, Bangladesh (IAB) also spoke at the discussion. Barrister Tuhin Malik, Professor Nurul Islam Najem of the Department of Geography and Environment, Dhaka University, Meherpur Municipality Mayor Md. Mostakim Billah, Haji Nuruddin, the President of Amra Narayanganjbashi; Muhammaed Kabir Ahmed of Surma Foundation; Rajuk Consultant Hisham Uddin Chisty, and few others participated in the discussions. Among others, M Hafizuddin Khan, Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government; Khushi Kabir of Nijera Kori; Muhammad Jahangir, Executive Director of Centre for Development Communication; Engr. M. A. Awal, Managing Director of SEL; Mr. Firoz Ahmed, Senior Public Management Officer, ADB Bangladesh, Architect Saif Ul Haque; Architect Sujaul Islam Khan, Secretary, IAB; Md. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Representative, UN Habitat; Mr. Per Bertilsson, International Programme Manager of UNDP and representatives from Asia Foundation, JICA, AusAid, ActionAid Bangladesh, academic and research organisations and senior journalists also attended the discussion.

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Workshops/Meetings

Workshop on Gender Dynamics in the

Labour Market in Bangladesh

Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Ms. Simeen Mahmud at the Workshop on Gender Dynamics in the Labour Market of Bangladesh

April 2014 marks the commencement of the three year research on "Gender dynamics in the labour market in Bangladesh: a puzzle and a challenge" to be conducted in partnership between Centre for Gender and Social Transformation (CGST), BIGD; Gender Institute, LSE; and the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, led by Ms. Simeen Mahmud, Prof. Naila Kabeer and Prof. James Heintz respectively. The research was initiated with a workshop held at the BRAC Centre Inn Conference Room on 30th April 2014, which presented the findings of the previous work survey carried out by CGST in 2008 and the research proposal for the current research. Fifty five participants representing various constituencies, who have an interest in the topic joined the workshop, including employers (BGMEA), trade unionists (Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramik Forum, Awaj Foundation), ministries (MoWCA), development NGOs (BNPS, BLAST, BRAC, Karmojibi Nari, Nijera Kori, Nari Uddyog, OSHE Foundation, CARE, IOM, Nari Maitree), donors (DFID, UNDP, Manusher Jonno Foundation, AusAid), international agencies (OXFAM, GIZ, Concern Worldwide, Population Council, British Council), women's groups (Naripokkho)and the research community (BIDS, BILS, CPD, ICDDR,B). Other preparatory work for the research including internal workshops with research team, qualitative guideline preparation and field testing were also carried out during this month.

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BIGD Communications Team Participated in an International Workshop on Research Communication

BI GD Communication Team members of BIGD, BRAC University participated in an international workshop on Research Communication, at the BRAC Centre Inn from 18-21 May, 2014. The team included Ekram Hossain, Project Manager (Communications), Shakil Md. Faisal, Communications Associate, Sameeah Zahangir and Mahamudul Alam Rasel, both Communications Assistant. The workshop was organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) under the Think Tank Initiative (TTI) Matching Grant and Policy Engagement Communications (PEC) programme of International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. Mr. Enrique Mendizabal, an independent researcher and advisor on think tanks and policy research networks facilitated the workshop where Ms Siobhan Duvigneau, Information Literacy Manager at British Library for Development Studies, Institute of Development Studies(IDS), UK and Ms Yaso Kunaratnam, Network and Partnership Coordinator of Knowledge Services, IDS, UK on behalf of the PEC programme participated as Co-facilitator of the workshop. Total 15 participants from Dialogue and Communication Division of CPD; BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University, Dhaka (previously Institute of Governance Studies, IGS); and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan participated in the workshop.

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BIGD Workshop on

Policy Communication Strategy Development

Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director, BIGD along with the participants of the Communications Workshop

A Workshop on Policy Communication Strategy Development was organised by BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University on 28-29 May, 2014 at the BRAC Centre Inn, Dhaka. The main objective of the two-Day Workshop was to: formulate a draft policy engagement communications strategy for BIGD. The Workshop was facilitated by Dr. Faruk-ul Islam, the country facilitator of Policy Engagement Communications (PEC) programme of Think Tank Initiative (TTI) of International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex University, UK. On first day of the workshop, Dr. Faruk was accompanied by Mr. Ekram Hossain, Kazi Nurmohammad Hossainul Haque and Sameeah Zahangir from BIGD in different sessions, centered on functions/roles of communications, Channels/Tools and means of Communications, introduction to BIGD research clusters, planning and assessment of PEC and development of BIGD PEC Goal. The second day of the workshop was centered on the stakeholder mapping, situational analysis, monitoring and evaluation of PEC plan and measurement of policy change process. The whole workshop was conducted following group/individual sharing and participation methods where a draft BIGD Policy Communication Strategy was developed by the participants. Dr Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director, BIGD joined the workshop in a post lunch session and greeted the participants and facilitators. Participants and facilitators of the communication workshop included the Communications and Research Division of BIGD; Public Relations Office of BRAC University; Research and Advocacy Division of Practical Action Bangladesh; and Country Office of International Growth Centre (IGC).

BIGD Workshop on Advocacy Strategy A workshop on Advocacy Strategy was organised by BIGD under the SHARIQUE project on 22 May 2014 at the International Club, Gulshan 2 in Dhaka. The purpose of the workshop was to devise a plan for Advocacy component of BIGD’s engagement with the consortium partner Helvetas and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) under SHARIQUE Project. Jens Stanislawski, Research Fellow and Maheen Sultan, Lead Researcher of BIGD conducted the

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workshop as lead facilitators. Among others, research and programme staffs from BIGD and SDC attended the workshop.

Workshop on Masculinities, Care Work & Art

A participant at the Workshop on Masculinities, Care Work & Art

A follow up workshop on Masculinities, Care Work & Art as part of the photo documentation initiative named “Caring Men Images” was held at the ActionAid Bangladesh office, Gulshan, Dhaka on June 07, 2014. The workshop was organised by the Centre for Gender and Social Transformation (CGST), BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), in order to prepare for the exhibition to be held in August 2014. The programme was held following the orientation workshop at the BRAC CDM, Savar on 18-19 April, 2014 where the participants were introduced to the concepts around masculinities and care work and different art forms that can play a critical role in addressing gender bias and initiate social change process. Seventeen participants from CGST and photo journalists attended the workshop. The workshop was divided into different sessions that were facilitated by Dr. Sohela Nazneen, Maheen Sultan from CGST, BIGD and Independent Consultants Imtiaz Pavel and Samia Rahim. Participants discussed the activities that were carried out by them to capture different images and stories of men performing unpaid care work. They talked about how the remaining challenges can be addressed. The group also discussed updates on possible partnerships for the exhibition and which of the selected images will be displayed in the “Caring Men Images” exhibition.

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Workshop on Impact Evaluation of DFID’s Nutrition & Livelihood Interventions in Bangladesh

BIGD, BRAC University organised a mixed method workshop on Impact Evaluation of DFID’s Nutrition & Livelihood Interventions in Bangladesh on 23rd and 24th June 2014 at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The aim of this 2-day workshop was to integrate quantitative and qualitative baseline findings to gain in-depth insights into the contexts in which the livelihood and nutrition interventions are embedded within Char Livelihood Programme (CLP), Shiree and UPPR programmes. This will help to identify economic, political, social and cultural factors that potentially may influence/hinder up-take of the livelihood, nutrition interventions, behaviour change and potentially shape the design of remaining quantitative and qualitative fieldwork activities. Dr. Ferdous Jahan, lead researcher of BIGD, moderated the workshop. Among others, Omar Faruque Sidikki, Sanjida Hossain, Md. Khobair Hossain, Mushfiqa Khanom from BIGD, Shalini Roy and Firdousi Naher from IFPRI, Anis Islam and Firoj Ahmed from CNRS and Nick Nisbett from IDS, UK attended the workshop.

Research Activities

BIGD Researcher Attended a Meeting on A 2I Implementation Assessment Tool in Washington DC, USA

BIGD Research Associate Mohammad Sirajul Islam at the validation meeting on A2I Implementation Tool in Washington DC, USA

Mohammad Sirajul Islam, Research Associate of BIGD (ex-IGS), attended the Pilot Phase III Validation Meeting on Access to Information (ATI) implementation assessment tool, held from 21- 23 April, 2014 in Washington DC, USA. In the meeting, Mr. Islam presented country assessment report on implementation of right to information legislation in Bangladesh and participated in group and plenary discussions. Researchers and country experts from Chile, Georgia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Scotland, South Africa, Uganda and the United States also have taken part in the meeting, which was moderated by Ms. Laura Neuman, Manager, Global Access to

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Information Initiative and Senior Associate Director, The Carter Center. The tool including research findings will be formally launched in the piloted countries in the coming months. BIGD, in a grant agreement with The Carter Centre, carried out Pilot Phase III of The Centre’s Access to Information Legislation Implementation Assessment Tool (IAT) in Bangladesh along with ten countries from January to April 2014. IAT has been applied in six Government agencies namely, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, National Board of Revenue, Law & Justice Division and Finance Division. Ex-IGS was involved in Pilot Phase I and Phase II in 2011 and 2013 respectively.

BIGD Lead Researchers Presented Papers at ESID workshop in Capetown, South Africa

Dr. Sohela Nazneen, Lead Reseacrher, BIGD spoke at a public seminar on 'Making States Work' organised by the Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice (GSDPP), University of Cape Town, South Africa on April 29, 2014. She focused on how and when states deliver to women and on gender equity. The Panel was jointly hosted by GSDPP and the Effective Sates and Inclusive Development (ESID) RPC based at the University of Manchester. Prof. David Hulme, Prof Samuel Hickey and Prof Diana Mitlin also spoke on the Panel and it was chaired by Prof. Alan Hirsch. BIGD is a partner in the ESID programme. Dr. Mirza Hassan and Dr. Sohela Nazneen, Lead Researchers of BIGD were at a midterm review conference of the Effective States and Inclusive Development RPC in Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Hassan presented his paper on the politics of social provisioning in Bangladesh and Dr. Nazneen presented on how women's political empowerment is influenced by existing political settlement--analysing four country cases: Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana and Bangladesh.

BIGD Researcher Participated in an Exchange Programme in China

BIGD Researcher Faiz Ahmed Chowdhury along with other members of the South Asian Delegation to China

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BIGD Research Associate Mr. Faiz Ahmed Chowdhury participated in an Exchange Programme organised by Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) from 9-18 April 2014. He was part of a South Asian delegation which consisted of participants from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and the programmes were held respectively in Beijing, Fuzhou and Kunming. The South Asian delegation had discussions with CAFIU leaders, attended briefings about China’s development in the political, economic and social areas given by Chinese experts and also had exchanges of views with Chinese NGOs. The delegation also had a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Office of the Yunnan Provincial People’s Government.

BIGD Researcher Attended a Seminar on Universal Health Coverage

The Centre for Equity and Health Systems of icddr,b organised a seminar on Universal Health Coverage on 30 June 2014 at the TR Action Conference Room at icddr,b in Dhaka The purpose of this seminar series was to facilitate a process of shared learning to support country’s effort towards achieving universal health coverage. The seminar was attended by icddr,b staff, researchers and academics. BIGD Senior Research Associate Syeda Salina Aziz attended this seminar.

Field Visit to Chittagong by

BIGD State of Cities Research Team

BIGD Researchers conducting Focused Group Discussion in Chittagong

A team of BIGD researchers working on the research of State of Cities in Chittagong recently conducted a field visit to Chittagong from 13- 18 June 2014. The purpose of this visit was to conduct interviews with some government officials, namely: Chittagong City Mayor, Chairman of Chittagong Development Authority and officials at Chittagong WASA, Power Distribution Board (PDB), Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd. and Chittagong City Corporation. The research team also interviewed different planners, private housing company executives, and civil society members. Several Focus Group Discussions (FGD’s) with male and female slum dwellers in Chittagong were held to collect data for the chapter on Urban Service Delivery in Chittagong. The team was led by BIGD Research Fellow M Shahidul Islam along with Syed Naimul Wadood, Kazi

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Haque, Muhammad Sirajul Islam, SM Gubair Bin Arafat, Saika Nudrat Chowdhury, Afrina Islam and Nabila Zaman. Academic Programmes

BIGD Facilitated a Field Research Course for Students of Ottawa University, Canada

Students of Ottawa University, Canada during their field visit in Bangladesh

BRAC Institute of Governance & Development (BIGD) organised a field research course titled Development Issues in Post-Conflict Countries & Remedial Measures: Learning from BRAC for 15 undergraduate students of Ottawa University, Canada from 4 – 22 May, 2014. It was a collaborative effort between the BIGD and the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa with Mr. Alamgir Kabir and Prof. Nipa Banerjee representing the institutions respectively. This is a 6 credit course where the field part was done in Bangladesh and the rest of it shall be carried out at Ottawa in June 2014. It was designed to help the students understand major development issues in a post-conflict low income country through BRAC’s experience and also the political history of Bangladesh. BIGD Executive Director Dr. Sultan Hafeez Khan welcomed the students to BRAC University on May 2nd and briefed them about the course contents. The students visited BRAC field program sites in Manikgonj & Gazipur after being briefed about BRAC programs. They also visited the National Parliament House, Lalbagh Fort and Liberation War Museum to get a better understanding of Bangladesh. The course was facilitated by Arafat Hassan, Communication Assistant, Sharif Abdul Wahab, Ripon Chakraborty and Anindita Hridita, Research Assistants of BIGD. Mr. Fariduzzaman Rana, Senior Manager at BRAC Communications was the focal point for arranging sessions with BRAC program heads and designing the field trips.

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Study Tour of MAGD Batch-5

Students to Vietnam and Malaysia

Students of Master of Arts in Governance and Development Programme (MAGD), Batch- 5, visited National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), Vietnam from 11-17 May, 2014. During the visit, the students participated in a workshop on Public Management at NAPA. The purpose of this workshop was to give an exposure to the participants on the Vietnamese Governance and Development process and knowledge as a development model for Bangladesh. Academic Coordinator of BIGD, Dr. Zohurul Islam accompanied the MAGD students in this trip. After Vietnam, the students visited Malaysia from 18-24 May 2014. During this visit, the students attended a workshop on Negotiation and Public Management for one week at the Institute of Professional Development of Open University Malaysia (IPD-OUM). The workshop was concluded with certificate awarding ceremony.

Teaching and Revision Programme for Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply

In order to prepare the participants for upcoming examinations of CIPS Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply (CIPS), two trainers, Mr. Tony Davies and Mr. Jeremy Johnson, organised a Teaching and Revision Programme from 15 -29 June 2014 at BIGD. In the revision programme, the trainers have covered the five units (PD1-PD5) of the CIPS Level-6 (Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply). During this time, the CIPS trainers covered contents such as, learning objectives, study guides, discussion forums, cases, exercises etc. Around 47 participants of Cohort 3 and 4 attended in this teaching and revision programme. This 15-days long programme was held at BRAC University.

CIPS Bangladesh Network Get Together

Members of CIPS Bangladesh Network at the Get Together

The steering committee of CIPS Bangladesh Network organised a get together programme for all MCIPS student members of CIPS Bangladesh on 15 June 2014 at the BRAC Centre Inn. Around 80 participants attended the event. Ms. Paula Steele, Global Public Sector Manager of the Chartered

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Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), UK, and Mr. Tony Davies and Jeremy Johnson, CIPS Master Trainers attended the get together programme.

Admission Test Held for MAGD 6th Batch BIGD, BRAC University offers MA in Governance and Development, a one year residential programme for public sector officials of Bangladesh funded by BRAC. As a process of selecting the MAGD 6th Cohort, an admission test was held on 20th and 21st June, 2014 at BRAC University. The first phase of the selection was a written test which was attended by 51 government officials from different ministries and departments of GoB. The next phase was individual interviews conducted by BIGD and BRAC University faculties, BIGD Head of Research and other senior officials. Twenty participants were selected through he priocess.

Executive Director’s Activities

Executive Director Met

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed and Others In April, BIGD Executive Director Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman held several meetings with some distinguished personalities such as Ministers, Advisers and prominent academics and researchers regarding the research collaboration, capacity building and other relevant issues of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD). Among others, Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman had meeting with Mr. Juan Miranda, Director General and Mr. Hun Kin, Deputy Director General of Asian Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Adviser to the Honorable Prime Minister, Economic Affairs, Dr. Gowher Rizvi, Adviser to Prime Minister, Dr. Mustaque R. Chowdhury, Vice Chairperson of BRAC, Mr. Firoz Shah Alam, Member, NBR, Mr. Zaidi Sattar, Chairman, Policy Research Institute (PRI). Besides, Dr. Rahman attended the 3rd Monthly General Meeting of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh on Saturday, 19th April 2014. Dr. Rounaq Jahan, eminent political scientist and Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), spoke on Political Parties in Bangladesh: Challenges of Democratisation at the session. Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman also attended a Seminar on ‘Improved Educational Outcomes for Rural Students’ as a Chief Guest on 21st April at BRAC Centre Inn. This Seminar was organised by BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED) in collaboration with Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University under financial support from DFAT (AusAid). Further, Dr. Rahman attended another Seminar on ‘Trade and Investment for Higher Growth’ on 23rd April organised by Policy Research Institute (PRI) in collaboration with DFID. In May 2014, Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman had meetings with Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director, Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Dr. Mustaque R. Chowdhury, Vice Chairperson of BRAC; Mr. Syed Mushfeq Rahman, Additional Commissioner, NBR; Mr. Kolepdogh, Consultant of BRAC Chairperson KCMG; Dr. Monjur Hossain, Senior Research Fellow, BIDS; Barrister Manzoor Hasan, Advisor, BIGD and Mr. Stefan Dercon, Chief Economist, DFID.

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Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman also attended a Stakeholders’ Consultation Workshop on “Creating a Synergy between Research and Policy Advocacy for Sustainable Development of Fisheries Sector in Bangladesh” at Department of Fisheries, Ramna on 3rd May 2014. Further, Dr. Rahman also attended A Dialogue on "Political Parties and Democracy in a Bangladesh", organised by CPD at BRAC Center Inn on 17 May 2014. Dr. Rahman further attended another roundtable on Local Governance and its Challenges, organised by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on 25 May 2014 at the BRAC Centre Inn. Dr. Rahman met with Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG, Chairperson of BRAC, Dr. N V Kumara Guru, Director, External Relations, Indian School of Business, Martien van Asseldonk, MDF Representative, Dr. Agnes Quisumbing of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Finance Minister Abul Maal A. Muhit, Ms. Paula Steele, Global Public Sector Manager of CIPS, UK and Professor Nizam Ahmed, Department of Public Administration, Chittagong University and Dr. Selim Rashid, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka. Dr. Rahman attended the First Bangladesh Economic Forum (BEF) Conference, organised by Bangladesh Economists’ Forum at the Radisson Hotel, Dhaka on 21-22 June 2014. In the conference, Dr. Rahman presented a paper on Role of Aid in Bangladesh.

Think Tank Initiative

4th Regional Meeting in Nagarkot, Nepal

Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director of BIGD, BRAC University addressing a session at

TTI-RM4 in Nagarkot, Nepal

Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director and Dr. Minhaj Mahmud, Head of Research, of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) attended in the 4th Think Tank Initiative Regional Meeting (TTI-RM4) hosted by ISET Nepal on 9-10th June 2014 in Nagarkot, Nepal. This

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two-day regional meeting titled, ‘Asia in the New World: Emerging Research Themes’ brought together executive directors and representatives from sixteen TTI grantee organisations from across South Asia Dr. Sutan Hafeez Rahman chaired a session on the first day of the meeting titled Four Years of TTI: Integrating learning within organisations reflecting on achievements and challenges’ The speakers in this session included Dr. Manoj Panda from IEG, India, Dr. Mome Salim from SDPI, Pakistan, Dr. Mustafizur Rahman from CPD, Bangladesh, Dr. Nisha Arunatilake DeSilva, IPS, Sri Lanka, and Dr. Binod Kumar Mishra, IIDS, India. Dr. Minhaj Mahmud also acted as a panelist in a session titled, Strengthening research value chain in organisations through networks. The session was chaired by Dr. Khalida Ghaus of SPDC, Pakistan. The aim of this TTI-RM4 meeting was to improve peer learning and sharing on institutional issues relevant to TTI programme anchors on research quality, organizational performance and policy engagement and to discuss questions of structural and ecosystem challenges to sustainability of think tanks in the region and ways to address them. Therefore, the two-day TTI-RM4 spent the first day on creative enquiry of the past four years. The second day of the meeting focused on the future and charting out pathways for TTI Phase 2 and beyond.

The 2nd China-South Asian Think Tank Forum in Kunming, China

BIGD Executive Director Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman made a presentation at

the 2nd China-South Asian Think- Tank Forum, Kunming, China

BIGD Executive Director Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman and Research Fellow M. Shahidul Islam attended the 2nd China-South Asian Think Tank Forum, held at Yijing Garden and Spa Hotel, Kunming, China from 6 to 7 June 2014. Dr. Rahman made a presentation on China in the 21st Century: Pax Sinica or Pax Asiana? at the key note session of the Forum. M. Shahidul Islam presented his

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paper on Revival of Silk Routes and Development of Economic Corridors: Connecting South Asia to the Global Value Chains.

During his visit to Kunming, Dr. Rahman met Dr. Ren Jia, President, Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences (YASS) and discussed about potential academic collaboration between BIGD and YASS. It was agreed that the two institutes will sign a MoU by September 2014 to facilitate policy and academic research on regionalism, among others. Dr. Rahman and Mr. Islam also attended the opening ceremony of the 2nd China-South Asia Expo, a cultural, trade and commerce event on 6 June, held at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Kunming. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, among others, addressed at the event.

Publications by BIGD Staff

List of Publications by CGST Researchers

A book titled Feminisms, Empowerment and Development was published recently with several chapters written by researchers based at CGST, BIGD. These chapters are based on various primary research conducted by CGST. Edited by Andrea Cornwall and Jenny Edwards, the book has been published by Zed Books (London). The chapters written by CGST researchers include: Nazneen, Sohela and Sultan, Maheen (2014) ‘Reciprocity, Distancing and Opportunistic Overtures: Women’s Organizations Negotiating Legitimacy and Space in Bangladesh’ Kabeer, Naila and Huq, Lopita (2014) ‘The Power of Relationships: Money, Love and Solidarity in a Landless Women's Organization in Rural Bangladesh’ Priyadarshini, Aanmona and Rahim, Samia Afroz (2014) ‘Women Watching Television: Surfing between Fantasy and Reality’

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BIGD lead researchers Sohela Nazneen and Maheen Sultan edited a special volume of the Women’s Studies International Forum journal as guest editors. This volume is the result of a writeshop held in December 2012, where researchers who were affiliated with Pathways (a research programme consortium whose South Asia hub was based at CGST) discussed various methods they used for understanding women's empowerment. OpEd by BIGD Staff:

The Daily Star: Constitutional Safeguard and Democratic Local Governance , Rafiqul Islam

Talukder, 28 April 2014 The Millennium Post of New Delhi : Spectacle of a Cultural Rising by Sarwar Jahan

Chowdhury, 25th May, 2014 The Daily Star: Looking East: PM visits China by M Shahidul Islam, 6th June, 2014 The Daily Star: India's Third Republic by Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury, 16th June, 2014 Dhaka Tribune: A Media Monster by Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury, 19th June, 2014 Frontier: The Wretched and Frightened in Bangladesh by Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury, 25th

June, 2014