The GDLN and JICA-Net have combined forces to give birth to the world’s largest development learning network, allowing cross regional content sharing as well as joint program development. The agreement has also served to deepen ties between the World Bank and JICA, two institutions with a unique approach to development aid; the former focusing on lending and intellectual support, and the latter concentrating on technical cooperation.
http://www.jointokyo.org/en/programs/jica/
The World Bank’s Africa Mission, led by Mr. Gobind Nankani, the WB’s regional Vice President for Africa, visited Japan on January 10-11, 2006 for high level talks with the Government of Japan to discuss strategic collaboration in Africa. The following events were held at the TDLC.
Public Seminar: New Prospects for Private Sector Development in Africa
Co-sponsored by the WB and JETRO Institute of Developing Economies, a panel discussion was held on the changing business environment in Africa. All agreed on the need to communicate positive developments to promote more investment.
WB Mission members and Japanese officials from MoF, MoFA, METI, JBIC and JICA engaged in high-level policy talks on January 10,2006 regarding strategic collaboration in Africa. This is the first time that the Bank and Japan, its second largest shareholder, held consultations on policy regarding the region, and VP Nankani emphasized the importance of coordination between donors to support African countries that are “on the move”.
A Kids Initiative Peace Program was held on December 20,2005 enabling children from Hiroshima to share their city’s experience with children in East Timor and the Philippines. The Kids Initiative series is sponsored by the World Bank as an international exchange program which incorporates videoconferencing to promote an understanding of diversity and development challenges.
http://www.jointokyo.org/en/news/2005/12/20/104
“The International Distance Seminar on Transferring Composting Technology”, held on December 14, 2005, connected over 80 participants in Tokyo, Kitakyushu, Jakarta and Bangkok for a demonstration on composting procedures and experience sharing on solid waste management. Kitakyushu had successfully transferred such technology to Surabaya, Indonesia, and the seminar was organized by Kitakyushu and the TDLC in response to a request from Bangkok to start a similar program.
http://www.jointokyo.org/en/news/2005/12/14/102
Regional GDLN Distance Learning Center representatives gathered in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from December 12-14, 2005 to discuss its regional business plan as well as a process for implementation. Branded “GDLN Asia Pacific”, GDLN centers will act with greater cohesion to promote more region-wide activities.
Mr.Tom C.Tsui, Advisor of East Asia & Pacific Central Operational Series Unit, and Ms.Ines Fraile, Asia Knowledge & Learning Coordinator, Asia Learning Program visited the TDLC from January 30-31, 2005. The two explored possibilities for joint delivery of Bank staff training activities through the GDLN for a broader audience including TDLC partners such as JBIC and JICA.
The TDLC connected the British Council Knowledge & Learning Center in Bucharest, Romania, a GDLN distance learning center, the JICA-Net Center in Turkey, and JICA Headquarters in Tokyo on February 1,2006 to facilitate a discussion on earthquake-resistant construction technology. Mr.Takashi Kaminosono, a Building Research Institute specialist based in Romania, conducted an experience-sharing session with counterparts across the world. The TDLC also provided technical assistance to install video conferencing facilities for the International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering in Tsukuba, Japan. IISEE plans to conduct knowledge sharing activities in late February by connecting with the GDLN Center in Lima, Peru.
One of the most youthful of TDLC’s partners, ADYF, a Tokyo-based student organization which takes an interest in development issues in Asia, works to learn from the field to assess local needs and develop policy. Having explored videoconferencing opportunities with the TDLC, ADYF hopes to incorporate the medium into their activities as a vehicle for interactive knowledge exchange that extends beyond the classroom: a video conference study session with Vietnamese counterparts is being planned for March 24, 2006 for discussions on the business environment in Vietnam and issues in rural development.
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