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BRAC Institute of Governance and Development BRAC University

Monthly Updates, June 2014

Roundtable Discussion on 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 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. 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,

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International Programme Manager of UNDP and representatives from Asia Foundation, JICA, AusAid, ActionAid, academic and research organisations and senior journalists also attended the roundtable.

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 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

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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 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.

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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.

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

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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.

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

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

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

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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.

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’ 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.

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BIGD Executive Director’s Activities

Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, BIGD Executive Director held several meetings in June 2014 with number of distinguished personalities such as Ministers, prominent academics and researchers regarding the research collaboration, capacity building in communications and other relevant issues of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD). Among others, Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman had meeting 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. Sultan Hafeez 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. Publications by BIGD Staff: OpEds:

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