VALIDATION FORUM ON

GENDER DIMENSIONS OF REGIONAL COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION

IN SOUTH ASIA
2828-29 October 2014, Auditorium
Auditorium D, ADB
ADB Headquarters, Manila
Objectives
i.
Present the outputs of TA subproject on: Assessing the Gender Dimensions of Regional
Cooperation and Integration in South Asia, financed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, Australia. More specifically:
a. Present the results of the Gender, Trade and Green Growth study, which analyzed selected
green industries with potential for increasing intra-regional trade and positively impact on
womens economic empowerment; and
b. Present the results of the study on Gender and Safe Mobility: Promising Global and
Regional Practices, which analyzed cross-border mobility issues from a gender perspective
and documented existing global, regional, and national good practices that promote safe
mobility and address the risks and impact of unsafe migration.
ii.
Examine key issues emanating from the study results.
iii.
Gather feedback and recommendations from various stakeholders on the results of the studies.
DAY ONE 28 October
Presentation of Study Results
Overall Facilitator: Francesco Tornieri, Principal Social Development Specialist (GAD), Office of the
Director General (SAOD), South Asia Department (SARD), ADB
8:30 9:00

Registration
Inaugural Session

9:00 9:10

Welcome Remarks:

Hun Kim, Director General, South Asia Department (SARD), ADB

9:10 9:30

Opening Remarks:

Ramanathan Balakrishnan, Deputy Regional Director, Regional

Office for Asia and the Pacific, UN Women
Sarat Dash, Chief of Mission, International Organization for
Migration (IOM), Dhaka

9:30 9:45

Group Photo Session

Regional Cooperation and Integration in South Asia: Framework, Trends and Entry
Points for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Ronald Butiong, Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist,
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division
(SARC), SARD, ADB
10:00 10:15 Tea/Coffee Break
9:45 10:00

Session I: Gender, Trade and Green Growth

Session Chair: Gambhir Bhatta, Principal Knowledge Management Specialist, SARC, SARD, ADB
10:1511:45

Presentation and Discussion of Gender, Trade and Green Growth (GTGG) Study

Overview, Framework, Objectives,

Methodology and Key Findings

Case Studies of Industries with Potential for Regional Cooperation and GenderInclusive Growth
Agro-processing & Organic Horticulture
Maheen Sultan, Bangladesh Researcher
Agribusiness
Sonam Tobgay, Bhutan Researcher
Eco-tourism
Saloni Singh, Nepal Researcher
Organic Horticulture & Renewable Energy Ritu Dewan, India Researcher

Shreyasi Jha, GTGG Lead Researcher

and Team Leader

11:45 - 12:15

Q&A

12:15 - 1:15

Lunch Break (PDR 2-4)

1:15 1:45

Gender, Trade and Green Growth Experts Responses

Maria Floro, Professor, Dept. of Economics, American University, GTGG Technical
Advisor
Muthukumara Mani, Senior Environmental Economist, The World Bank; GTGG
Technical Advisor
Yumiko Yamamoto, UNDP Regional Center Bangkok; GTGG Technical Advisor

1:45 2:15

Q&A

Session II: Gender and Safe Mobility: Promising Global Practices

Session Chair: Bart Edes, Director, Poverty Reduction, Social Development, and Governance, ADB
2:15 - 3:00

Presentation and Discussion of Gender and Safe Mobility: Promising Global Practices
Bandita Sijapati, Lead Researcher
PM Nair, National Researcher

3:00 - 3:30

Q &A

3:30 3:45

Tea/Coffee Break

3:45 - 4:25

Experts Responses/Comments
Shanchita Haque , Director, Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Bangladesh
Narendra Raj Gyawali, Section Officer, Ministry of Labor and Employment, Nepal
Sonam Penjor, Chief Program Officer, National Commission for Women and
Children, Bhutan
Amita Joseph, Director, Business and Community Foundation, India

4:25 4:55

Q&A

4:55 5:00

Closing of Day One

5:30

Networking Cocktails (EDR Coffee Lounge)

2

DAY TWO 29 October

Stakeholders Responses: Gender Equality Concerns in Regional Cooperation and Integration
Overall Facilitator: Francesco Tornieri, Principal Social Development Specialist (GAD), Office of the
Director General (SAOD), South Asia Department (SARD), ADB
Session III: Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers to Womens Participation in Regional Trade
Session Chair: Yamini Mishra, Gender-Responsive Budgeting Specialist, UN Women, Asia and the Pacific
9:00 10:00

Panel Discussion:
Sonoko Sunayama, Economist, SARC, SARD, ADB
Phintsho Choeden, Director General, National Commission for Women and Children
(NCWC), Bhutan
Sudha Rao, Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Rural Development, India
Khurshid Ahmad, Assistant General Manager and Head of Export, Square Food and
Beverage Ltd., Bangladesh Agro-Processors Association (BAPA), Bangladesh
Yogendra Shakya, Representative, Association of Ecotourism (NATA, PATA), Nepal

10:00 10:30 Q & A

10:30 10:45 Tea/Coffee Break
Session IV: Womens Access to Markets and Marketing Avenues
Session Chair: Ziad Sheikh, Representative, UN Women Nepal
10:45 11:45 Panel Discussion:
Selima Ahmad, President, Womens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh
Sonam Pem, Program Director, Tarayana Foundation, Bhutan
Sejal Anand Dand, Founder Member, Anandi, India
Bidhya Hirachan, National Coordinator, Sustainable Eco Tourism Sub Committee,
Trekking Agencies Associations of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal
11:45 12:15 Q & A
12:15 1:45

Luncheon Side Event: (PDR 2-4)

Advancing Economic Opportunities of Women and Girls, NCWC, Bhutan

Session V: Safe Cross-Border Movements for Women

Session Chair: Nishat Chowdhury, Migration and Development Consultant, IOM Dhaka
1:452:45

Panel Discussion:
Syed Saiful Haque, Chairperson, Welfare Association of Repatriated Bangladeshi
Employees (WARBE) Development Foundation, Bangladesh
Manju Gurung, President, Pourakhi, Nepal
Indrani Sinha, Director, Sanlaap, India
Hayli Anne Millar, Faculty Member, University of the Fraser Valley, Canada
3

2:45 3:15

Q&A

3:15 3:30

Coffee/Tea Break

Session VI: Institutional Support for Migrant Workers

Session Chair: Marco Boasso, Chief of Mission, IOM Manila
3:304:15

Panel Discussion:
Sharu Joshi Shrestha, Head of Womens Economic Empowerment Unit, UN Women
Masud Ali, Executive Director, Integrated Community & Industrial Development
Initiative (INCIDIN), Bangladesh
Amita Joseph, Director, Business and Community Foundation, India
Ivy Hasan, Vice President, Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Bangladesh

4:154:45

Q&A

4:455:00

Closing of Validation Forum

DAY THREE 30 October

Organizers Meeting: CLINIQUING AND WAYS FORWARD
(For ADB, UN Women, IOM only)
Chair: Francesco Tornieri, Principal Social Development (GAD) Specialist, SARD, ADB
Objectives:
(i)
(ii)

Assess the results of the validation forum and decide which recommendations to integrate in
the final research reports.
Agree on the next and final steps.

9:00 12:00

Meeting Proper

12:00 noon

Lunch

1:00 pm

Departure