IGS facilitated the study tour of the University of Virginia
A group of 17 students of the University of Virginia under the guidance of Brad Brown, Associate Professor of the University of Virginia and Cliff Maxwell, Teaching Assistant visited Bangladesh from 1- 12 January for a study tour titled “Development Practice: Social Enterprises in Bangladesh, 2012. IGS facilitated the study tour. As a part of the tour, the team visited Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BWCCI), Aarong, Grameen Bank, BRAC Microfinance Programme, BRAC Health Programme, BRAC Primary Education Programme, Ayesha Abed Foundation, BRAC Enterprises, USAID Programme, BRAC Dairy and Food Project Programme and BRAC Agricultural Research and Development Center, Srimongal with the assistance of IGS. The team also met Nobel Laureate Professor Mohammad Yunus. 
Academic Programmes
CIPS LA-04 Exam was held
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) LA-04 exam was held at JATRI on 25 January for private cohort. Fifteen out of seventeen candidates attended the exam.
Study Tour
Batch two of the CIPS went for a study tour at Renata Pharmaceuticals Ltd at Mirpur on 25 January to practically observe the operational processes and storage maintenance of the company.
Masters in Governance & Development (MAGD)
Written test and group interview for the 4th Batch of the MAGD was conducted on 14 January. Out of 49 candidates, 25 were selected finally for the programme. The classes of the programme will start from 3 March 2012.
Affiliated Network for Social Accountability-South Asian Region (ANSA-SAR)
Meeting with Grantees
Naimur Rahman, Chief Operating Officer of ANSA-SAR attended a meeting for the ANSA-SAR supported initiative implemented by Public Affair Center on the 4th-5th January, 2012 in Bangalore.
One of ANSA-SAR’s partners, Manusher Jonno Foundation organised a half-day experience sharing workshop on January 12, 2012. The workshop brought together the four partner NGO’s such as the Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Agrogoti Shangstha, Jagrata Jubo Shangha and RDRS. In both these events the current activities and future prospects of the project were reviewed and discussed. The workshop was attended by Naimur Rahman and Nuzhat Jabin.
“Open Doors” 2012 Conference
On the 16-18th January 2012, a regional conference was held in Manila for Procurement Practitioners in East- Asia Pacific named “Open Doors 2012”. Open Doors 2012 supports ANSA in East Asia Pacific region to provide the networking, capacity building and technical support necessary for the SAc practitioners to turn into a resource group for sustained and quality procurement work. Mr. Naimur Rahman participated in this event.
Workshop for Community of Practice on Right to Information
From January 22-23 ANSA SAR organised a Design Workshop for the Community of Practice (COP) on Right to Information (RTI). The COP on RTI is anchored by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in India. The two-day event brought together members of civil society organisations from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal- this group would form the core group of the COP. The two day workshop was designed to enable each participant to establish RTI in their own countries.
Presentations by Partners
On January 30, Orissa based ANSA-SAR partners namely Sambandh, YSD, Adhar and CDS made presentations by the ANSA-SAR funded Initiatives to World Bank’s State Portfolio Review Committee.
Completion of Baseline Study of “Capacity Building for Promoting Governance”
Capacity Building for Promoting Governance, a joint initiative of IGS and BPATC in partnership with MDF, ISS and VU Amsterdam, completed its baseline study as part of inception phase activities. Mr. Martin, Project Coordinator from MDF conducted the baseline study in consultation with IGS and BPATC representatives. Activities under baseline study included capacity assessment of trainers’ team of IGS and BPATC, capacity assessment of curriculum designer team, gender assessment and organisational sustainability assessment. This baseline was carried out during 4-20 January 2012. BPATC and IGS trainers’ team, curriculum designers’ team and working group participated in various exercises related to this baseline. Methodology of the project baseline study included interactive discussions, demonstration, presentation, self-assessment, self reflection and peer assessment. Various prescribed formats, which were also developed in consultation with IGS and BPATC, were used in baseline. The baseline study ended with development of gender plan, organisational sustainability plan and self development plan by trainers and curriculum development teams from IGS and BPATC.
6th Meeting on Public Private Stakeholders’ Committee
The 6th Public Private Stakeholders Committee (PPSC) meeting was held on the January 4, 2012 at the NEC Conference Room of the Planning Commission Campus in Dhaka. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Md. Mozammel Haque Khan, Secretary of Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), Ministry of Planning. Mr. Iqbal Mahmood, Secretary of Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Manzoor Hasan, Advisor to the Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University and Mr. Amulya Kumar Debnath, Director General of Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) were also present. Mr. Mohammad Sirajul Islam, Research Associate of IGS & Ms. Begum Mahmuda, Controller (Finance & Accounts) of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board made presentations in the event. It was featured in national dailies such as Prothom Alo, Jugantor, Dainik Janakantha, The Independent, The Financial Express and the Daily Sun.
Presentation made by Visiting Research Fellow
Mr. Shahidul Islam, Visiting Research Fellow of IGS made a presentation at the 2nd Yunnan-Bangladesh cooperation dialogue, jointly organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies and Yunnan Development Research Centre, Dhaka, from January 4-6, 2012. The presentation topic was 'Boosting Trade Partnership and Strengthening Bangladesh-China Connectivity'.
Journalism Training & Research Initiative (JATRI)
Orientation to the fellow of the CAG JATRI Fellowship:
JATRI is conducting an investigative journalism fellowship programme for midcareer journalists focusing on use of public audit reports for investigative journalism where each fellow will produce two stories using Right to Information requests and other investigative techniques.
As a periodic activity of this fellowship programme, JATRI organised an orientation on January 21, 2012 for selected fellows. Six selected fellows, three mentors, JATRI staff and representative from PROGATI attended the orientation programme.
The fellowship will enable the journalists to strengthen their skills and gain valuable experience in investigating issues and will assist them with their story development and understanding of public audit.
Orientation meeting with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG):
JATRI is implementing a fellowship programme to encourage journalists and media professionals to create investigative reports on Govt. Audit Reports in collaboration with PROGATI-USAID. The fellowship will provide these journalists with time, funding and mentors that will enable them to strengthen their skills and gain valuable experience in Govt. audit reports.
JATRI organised an orientation meeting on January 23, 2012 with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG). The venue was OCAG, Kakrail, Dhaka. Mr. Md. Iqbal Hossain, Deputy CAG; Ms. Fahmida Islam, Chief Accounts Officer, Ministry of Communication; Mr. Md. Murshidul Huq Khan, Additional Deputy CAG- Admin; Mr. Md. Shofiqul Islam, Director, MIS; Mr. Md. Khademul Karim Iqbal, Head, Media and Communication Cell and Fellows, Mentors, Chief Of Party (COP) and Communication Officer of PROGATI were present at the orientation meeting.
Published Articles in the Newspapers
A considerable number of articles of IGS Researchers have been published in various national dailies listed below:
The Daily Star: Foiled coup attempt: Consolidating democracy is the key by Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, January 31, 2012
The Daily Star: China-Bangladesh Relations: Contemporary Convergence by M Shahidul Islam, January 25, 2012
The Daily Star: Iran standoff, war of words and the Armageddon by Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, January 21, 2012
The Daily Star: Gender pattern in voting and political participation by Mariha Khalid and Ipshita Basu, January 19, 2012
The Daily Star: Imran Khan, an agent of change and our politics by Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, January17, 2012
The Daily Star: Making citizen's charter effective by Farhana Razzaque, January 13, 2012
The New Age: Awaiting an agent of change by Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, January 8, 2012
