10 May 2011

UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific Dr. Ajay Chhibber discussed with APRC and Thailand Country Office staff the UNDP's new Agenda for Organizational Change. Dr. Chhibber explained why changes are focused on Headquarters and Regional Service Centres and how APRC colleagues could contribute to the ongoing discussion on Lifting UNDP Performance from Good to Great. A small team, led by the APRC Director, will consolidate proposals and share ideas for the implementation of the Agenda. To manage the risk of frustration, quick win-win changes should be demonstrated in the next six months, said Dr. Chhibber. In Bangkok, on May 3 and 4, he chaired the UNDG Asia-Pacific meeting on the evaluation of the 2010 work of UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams.

Through the 'South-South Cooperation between Pacific and Caribbean Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management' project, agro-meteorology trainers from the Caribbean and agriculture officers and weather specialists from around the Pacific and the Indian Ocean gathered for a workshop to learn how to predict changes in agricultural production from changing weather patterns. The workshop will run for three weeks. UNDP's South-South project is funded by UNDP's Special Unit for South-South Cooperation and the UNDP-Japan Partnership Fund, with in-kind contributions from UNDP Pacific Centre from where it is coordinated. Watch the movie about this successful cooperation.

UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre partnered with UNESCO Bangkok to mark the World Press Freedom Day with Dialogue and Photo exhibition on 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers. A panel discussion, led by APRC, focused on the potential of the Internet and social media in contributing to freedom of expression and expansion of democratic participation. Read more.

To support its work on women, peace and security through the multi-country N-PEACE network. Only six months after APRC jointly with UNDP Country Offices in Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste mobilized resources through the RBAP Gender Equality Fund, this initiative has been able to foster a partnership with AusAID. Through the UNDP-AusAID agreement, the N-PEACE network will provide capacity support to grassroots organizations in post-conflict areas, while advocating for their perspectives and priorities in regional forums.

Preparations are in full gear for the Regional Conference on Voice, Power and Rights: Women in Political Leadership (Dhaka, 15-18 October 2011). At a launch meeting, UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative and Governance team, APRC Gender and Democratic Governance teams as well as representatives of UN Women agreed on the blue print for the high level event that will advocate for increased participation of women in decision making positions. The event will see the launch of a new global resource book produced by UNDP and the National Democratic Institute (NDI): Best Practices Guidebook for Political Parties to Promote Womens Political Participation.

APRC, represented by a PPP for Service Delivery/Human Development Report Unit team, and partners from UNESCAP, UN Habitat, UNEP, the French Embassy in Bangkok, Citynet, Rockefeller Foundation and others set the bar for a successful high level discussion on Overcoming Barriers: Towards an Inclusive & Sustainable Urban Future during the Fifth Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (June 22-24, Bangkok). The panel discussion will be complemented by a consultative meeting with representatives of the private sector on business response to climate change challenges as part of the preparations of the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Human Development Report on 'Climate Change'.

features reports, news and updates on workshops, publications and surveys on Gender Responsive budgeting, Climate change and development, and the Global economic crisis and its impact on women. Follow the link to read the newsletter.

The Asia-Pacific Regional Centre Annual Report 2010 is available on-line.

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