South Asia joins GDLN AP meeting

GDLN South Asia joined discussions in Tokyo, marking another “first” for the GDLN AP as it works to expand collaboration. Despite contact between individual DLCs, there was no formal venue prior to this Meeting where the two regions could convene. “We should try to integrate…. for a bigger market and participation in more programs” said GDLN Regional Coordinator for South Asia, Michael Foley.

GDLN South Asia concentrates on identifying partners and clients and catering to their needs, but another part of their strategy is to “see what is on offer”; GDLN AP may have programs that are in demand in South Asia as well.

DLCs in South Asia communicate through monthly videoconference meetings and a web-based discussion forum. 

In Tokyo, DLC representatives shared their experiences; BRAC University DLC (Bangladesh), the newest addition to the family, started operating in March 2007. “We are getting more World Bank programs, and organizations such as JICA and ADB want to send programs to us for monitoring and other purposes “ said GDLN Program Coordinator Ali Salmon.

TERI DLC (New Delhi) has been operating for 5 years running programs for government, private sector, and students. Mr.Vinod Bhargava, Consultant, expressed hopes to develop more programs on climate change. Sri Lanka DLC CEO Nishantha Kamaladasa described an English and computer education program to help students in villages, and emphasized improvements in his DLC’s financial record.

Afghanistan was represented by its Manager, Mr. Khalid Saleem. Capacity building of government officials has been it primary function, but “We hope to reach the private sector, to meet business demand” said Mr. Saleem. Afghanistan also has a domestic network of 36 DLCs, with Kabul serving as the hub.

Mr. Anand Swaroop Srivastava, from the Government of India’s National Informatics Centre, spoke enthusiastically of plans for his institution to join the GDLN in the near future, which will make it possible to facilitate more GDLN activities involving government agencies.

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