ESCAP/ADB/UNDP Sub-Regional Workshop on accelerated

achievement of MDGs and the Post-2015 Development Agenda in

South Asia
9-11 February 2013, Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, Dhaka, Bangladesh

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME
(As of 10 February 2013)

Day 1: Saturday , 9 February 2013 [ Venue: Marble Room]

8:30 9:30 hrs

Registration

9:30 10:15 hrs

Inaugural Session
Welcome Remarks:

Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Director General, Bangladesh Institute of

Development Studies (BIDS)

Opening Statements:

Mr. Nagesh Kumar, Director, ESCAP South and South-West Asia Office,
and Chief Economist, ESCAP

Ms. M. Teresa Kho, Bangladesh Resident Mission, ADB

Mr. Pascal Villeneuve, UNICEF Representative, Bangladesh

Keynote Address:

Dr. Atiur Rahman, Governor, Bangladesh Bank

Vote of thanks and introduction to the workshop:

Mr. Syed Nuruzzaman, Chief, Countries with Special Needs Section,

ESCAP

Group photo
10:15 10:30 hrs

Coffee Break

10:30 12:15 hrs

Session 1: Setting the stage

Chair: Mr. Shahidul Haque, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
Introduction to the session

Key presenters:

Ms. Alessandra Casazza, Policy Advisor Inclusive Growth and Poverty

Reduction, UNDP

Mr. Shiladitya Chatterjee, Regional Advisor on MDGs, Strategy and

Policy, ADB

Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, PKSF, Bangladesh

Mr. Syed Nuruzzaman, Chief, Countries with Special Needs Section,

ESCAP

The main objective of the session is to provide briefing on the consultation

processes of the post-2015 Development agenda: global, regional/sub-regional,
and national level. The session will also discuss the MDG score-card in the
Asia-Pacific region, with special focus on South-Asia sub-region.
Country presentations1
Open discussion
12:15 13:30 hrs

Lunch

13:30 15:30 hrs

Session 2: Obstacles to meeting MDGs in Asia-Pacific: Lessons from the

MDG Acceleration Framework
Chair: Mr. Samiullah Naseri, NSP Country Manager, SDO, Afghanistan
Introduction to the session
Key presenters:

Mr. Biplove Choudhary, Program Specialist, Inclusive Growth and

Poverty Reduction, UNDP

Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Executive Chairman, SAWTEE , Nepal

Mr. Samiullah Naseri, NSP Country Manager, SDO, Afghanistan

The objective of the session is to discuss the MDG Acceleration Framework to

give fillip to national efforts on select lagging MDGs particularly. The Session
would also highlight that progress on MDG is possible with prioritized, impact
solutions, concerted nationally owned and led action based on what works and
why drawn from the implementation of MDG Acceleration Framework in the
South Asia sub-region. The participants are invited to provide their views on
(i) what are the specific lessons learnt from the implementation of MDG within
the national, sub-national context in their countries to accelerate MDG
progress (ii) what are the key monitoring mechanisms to improve MDG
outcomes in their country contexts.
Country presentations
Open discussion
15:30 15:45 hrs
1

Coffee Break

Country presentations: To make this workshop interactive, country participants are expected to make interventions
and provide their views. It will be followed by Open discussion where all the participants (agencies, bilateral
donor agencies, etc) are invited to make interventions.

15:45 17:45 hrs

Session 3: Building on the MDGs in shaping the post-2015 development

agenda: Some regional perspectives
Chair: Dr. Savita Sharma, Adviser, PP Division, Planning Commission, India
Introduction to the session
Key presenters:

Mr. Sudip Ranjan Basu, Economic Affairs Officer, UNESCAP

Dr. Ashfaque H. Khan, Principal & Dean, NUST Business School,

National University of Sciences & Technology, Pakistan

Dr. Shamsul Alam, Member, General Economics Division, Planning

Commission, Bangladesh

Mr. Gokarna Mani Duwadee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Science,

Technology and Environment, Nepal

The objective of the session is to share views on how post-2015 development

agenda can be formulated. The session will provide some issues for discussion
in shaping the post-2015 development agenda. In particular, participants will
be invited to share their perspective (country, areas of work, etc) on the
strengths and weaknesses of MDG framework and exchange view on how the
post-2015 development agenda should be formulated.
Country presentations
Open discussion
19:73 21:00 hrs

Welcome Dinner by the Governor of Bangladesh Bank

Day 2: Sunday , 10 February 2013 [ Venue: Palash Room]

09:00 - 10:30 hrs

Session 4: Key development issues for the post- 2015 development agenda
Convergence of economic, social and environmental pillars
Chair: Dr. Devaki Jain, India
Introduction to the session
Key presenters:

Mr. Shiladitya Chatterjee, Regional Advisor on MDGs, Strategy and

Policy, ADB

Mr. Amit Narang, Deputy Secretary, United Nations (Eco & Social)
Division, Ministry of External Affair, India

Ms. Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandu, Regional Programme Officer, Asia

Pacific Secretariat, UNISDR

This session will discuss first the issue of convergence of the three pillars of
sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. In this context
it will focus on the pros and cons of convergence and how best it can be
brought about. Participants are invited to provide their views as to whether
the post-2015 development agenda should be confined to seeking outcomes, or

should there be focus also on the strategies and means to achieve them. For
example, the discussion may focus on various priority development strategies
and objectives which are necessary to achieve development outcomes,
including "inclusive" growth (i.e., reducing inequalities and gender
disparities), "green" growth, employment generating growth (including skills
development); infrastructure development, planned urbanization, disaster
management, support for internal migrants and the role for a private sectors
involvement in development process etc.
Country presentations
Open discussion
10:30 10:45 hrs

Coffee break

10:45 12:45 hrs

Session 5: Key development issues for the post- 2015 development agenda Resources for delivery of basic services
Chair: Dr. Hassan Zaman, Chief Economist, Bangladesh Bank
Introduction to the session
Key presenters:

Mr. Syed Nuruzzaman, Chief, Countries with Special Needs Section,

ESCAP

Mr. Ajay Kumar Nema, Director (HQ), Department of Revenue,

Ministry of Finance, India

Mr. Sonam Yarphel, Program Officer, Gross National Happiness

Commission Secretariat, Bhutan

Ms. Aileen Niyaz, Assistant Environment Analyst, Ministry of

Environment and Energy, Maldives

Mr. Mansoor Ali Masood, Assistant Director (Donor Coordination),

Benazir Income Support Program, Pakistan

The purpose of the session is to have an overview of resource issues in

achieving MDGs, in terms of mobilizing, allocating and reallocating resources
efficiently for delivery of basic services. The participants are invited to provide
their perspectives, given past the experiences, on how the aspects of sources of
financing the development gaps in the sub-region can be reflected in the post2015 development agenda.
Country presentations
Open discussion
12:45 13:45 hrs
13:45 15:45 hrs

Lunch
Session 6: Key development issues for the post- 2015 development agenda
State capacity, responsiveness and accountability
Chair: Dr. Ashfaque H. Khan, Principal & Dean, NUST Business School,
National University of Sciences & Technology, Pakistan
Introduction to the session

Key presenters:

Ms. Alessandra Casazza, Policy Advisor Inclusive Growth and

Poverty Reduction, UNDP

Mr. Abul Barkat, Professor of Economics and Chair, Department of

Economics, Dhaka University, Bangladesh (tbc)

Professor Rajeev Malhotra, Executive Director, Centre for Development

and Finance, O.P. Jindal Global University, India

Ms. Jeeva Palugaswewa, Environment Management Officer, Ministry of

Environment, Sri Lanka

A new development agenda will depend on effective governance capacities

at all levels (global, regional, national and sub-national) and commitment to
human rights and the rule of law, including political commitment and
leadership, and on the empowerment of people, especially those most
excluded and vulnerable, to participate in global, national and local
decision-making. The participants are invited to identify and address
patterns of inequality, discrimination, exclusion and other structural factors
inhibiting human development. It will therefore be necessary, as part of a
broader discussion on governance and accountability, to consider who
should be responsible for ensuring the achievement of post-2015 goals, how
global goals and targets can be aligned with international commitments and
how they can be tailored as needed to the national level.
Country presentations
Open discussion
15:45 16:00 hrs

Coffee break

16:00 18:00 hrs

Session 7: Formulating and monitoring the post- 2015 development agenda

Lessons from the MDGs
Chair: Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri
Lanka
Introduction to the session
Key presenters:

Mr. Shiladitya Chatterjee, Regional Advisor on MDGs, Strategy and

Policy, ADB

Dr. Savita Sharma, Adviser, PP Division, Planning Commission, India

Mr. Faqirullah Safi, Member, UN and International Conference

Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan

This session aims to discuss issues related to formulating and monitoring the
post-2015 development agenda in light of experiences and lessons learned in
monitoring the progress of MDGs. The participants are invited to provide their
views on goals, targets and indicators as well as to devise statistical systems to
track progress towards future goals and targets. It will therefore be necessary
to highlight the new terminal year of the post-2015 development agenda, as
well as an accountability framework, including national statistical capacity

development.
Country presentations
Open discussion

Day 3: Monday, 11 February 2013 [ Venue: Palash Room]

9:00 10:30 hrs

Session 8: Revisiting some key issues for the post-2015 development agenda
Chair: Mr. Nagesh Kumar, Director, ESCAP South and South-West Asia
Office, and Chief Economist, UN-ESCAP
Introduction to the special theme:
Regional development cooperation in South Asia
Key presenters:

Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies,

Sri Lanka

Mr. Dhan Bahadur Oli, Director, SAARC Secretariat, Nepal

Ms. Susann Roth , Senior Social Development Specialist, ADB

The main objective of this session is to identify recommendations and next

steps how South Asian countries and development partners can better
collaborate to strengthen design and implementation of various development
programmes. Sub-regional development cooperation, including South-South
Cooperation can potentially offer knowledge platform for governments and
development partners on various development programs such as
assessments and analysis on social protection systems, budget needs,
remittances, food-security, technology cooperation and institutional capacity
development, etc. The participants are expected to share their views as to
how to strengthen sub-regional cooperation in areas of economic, social and
environmental issues.
Country presentations
Open discussion
10:30 10:45 hrs

Coffee break

10:45 12:00 hrs

Session 8: Revisiting some key issues for the post-2015 development agenda
(contd)

Mr. Rabi Shanker Sainju, Programme Director, National Planning

Commission, Nepal

Mr. Sonam Yarphel, Program Officer, Local Development Division,

Gross National Happiness Commission Secretariat, Royal Government
of Bhutan

Mr. Suresh P. Singh, Policy Analyst, CUTS International, India

Country presentations
Open discussion
12:00 13:00 hrs

Lunch

13:00 14:30 hrs

Session 9: The Post-2015 development agenda: Country perspectives from

South Asia
Chair: Mr. Md. Allah Malik Kazemi, Sr. Consultant & Advisor to Governor,
Bangladesh Bank
Introduction to the session
Country presentations
Afghanistan: Mr. Faqirullah Safi
Bangladesh: Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad

Bhutan: Mr. Sonam Yarphel

India: Mr. Amit Narang
Maldives: Ms. Aileen Niyaz
Nepal: Mr. Gokarna Mani Duwadee
Pakistan: Mr. Mansoor Ali Masood
Sri Lanka: Ms. Jeeva Palugaswewa
Presentation of views by each country on the post-2015 development agenda,
where each participating country will choose a representative from its team
to make this presentation.
UNESCAP/ADB/UNDP Survey: Perspectives on the post-2015 development
agenda

14.30-15.00 hrs

Facilatator: Mr. Bishwa Nath Tiwari, Deputy Programme Coordinator,

Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, UNDP

Closing session
Summary Report:

Mr. Syed Nuruzzaman, Chief, Countries with Special Needs Section,

ESCAP

Concluding Statements:

Mr. Nagesh Kumar, Director, ESCAP South and South-West Asia

Office, and Chief Economist, ESCAP

Ms. Susann Roth, Senior Social Development Specialist, ADB

Ms. Alessandra Casazza , Policy Advisor Inclusive Growth and

Poverty Reduction, UNDP

Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks:

Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Director General, Bangladesh Institute of

Development Studies (BIDS), Bangladesh