Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP)

DG ,CIRDAP Meeting with Acting Executive Director of LDTA, Nepal

H.E. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General of CIRDAP, had a meeting with Dr. Jaya Krishna Shrestha, Acting Executive Director of the Local Development Training Academy (LDTA), Nepal.

The discussion focused on strengthening cooperation and advancing shared priorities in rural development and capacity building. Key points covered several important areas of mutual interest including:
• Ongoing and upcoming programs of CIRDAP and LDTA
• Potential collaborative activities between the two institutions
• Plans for the upcoming celebration of World Rural Development Day
• Dissemination of CIRDAP publications
• The upcoming Technical Committee meeting scheduled to be held in Nepal

The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between CIRDAP and LDTA, Nepal, and reiterated the shared commitment of both institutions toward promoting integrated rural development across the Asia Pacific region.

Local Development Training Academy (LDTA)



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🇵🇭 Warm Greetings on the National Day of the Philippines! 🇵🇭

CIRDAP extends its warmest greetings to the Government and people of the Republic of the Philippines on the occasion of their Independence Day.

As a valued member country of CIRDAP, the Philippines has long been a partner in advancing integrated rural development and improving the lives of rural communities across the Asia Pacific region.

On this special day, CIRDAP reaffirms its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Philippines in pursuit of inclusive and sustainable rural development.

Philippine Embassy in Bangladesh
Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippines



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DG CIRDAP Courtesy Meeting with Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal

DG CIRDAP H.E. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Nepal on 10 June 2026.

The meeting was held in a spirit of mutual cooperation, focusing on strengthening regional collaboration in rural development and sustainable agriculture. The meeting was also graced by Dr. V.V. Sadamate, Chief Coordinator of Agricultural Extension Platform for South Asia (AEPSA) and briefed on proposed pilot projects.

As a valued Member State of CIRDAP, Nepal continues to play an important role in advancing integrated rural development initiatives across the region. The engagement reflects CIRDAP’s continued commitment to fostering strong partnerships with member governments to improve rural livelihoods and promote sustainable development.

CIRDAP highly values its partnership with Nepal and looks forward to enhancing future joint initiatives for the benefit of rural communities.



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🏆 DG CIRDAP Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award in International Conference in Nepal

CIRDAP is deeply honoured to share that, Director General, H.E. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, has been conferred the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Conference on Women and Youth for Transforming Agribusiness Ecosystems, held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The conference was jointly organised by the Society for Community Mobilization for Sustainable Development (MOBILIZATION), India, and Nepal Farmers Advisory Council Pvt. Ltd. (NFAC), Nepal. The opening session featured remarks by Dr. Yogendra Kumar Karki, Chairman of NFAC, who underscored the critical role of agriculture in sustaining livelihoods, food security, and national economies across Nepal and India.

The conference spotlighted the immense potential of women and youth as drivers of this transformation, through agripreneurship, digital agriculture, agro processing, and strengthened market linkages. Empowering the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs is seen as essential to building more resilient, productive, and sustainable food systems across the region.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes H.E. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara’s outstanding contributions to rural development, agricultural transformation, agribusiness promotion, and regional cooperation across Asia and the Pacific. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment continue to inspire efforts toward building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable rural communities.

CIRDAP extends its heartfelt congratulations to DG CIRDAP on his well-deserved recognition and remains committed to advancing integrated rural development across Asia and the Pacific the region.

Nepal Farmers Advisory Council



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Strategic Partnership Visit: DG CIRDAP Meeting with Chairman, Nepal Farmers Advisory Council (NFAC), Nepal

DG CIRDAP, H.E. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, visited Kathmandu and met with Dr. Yogendra Kumar Karki, Chairman of the Nepal Farmers Advisory Council (NFAC), at the NFAC headquarters on 08 June, 2026. The visit reinforced the strong institutional partnership between CIRDAP and NFAC, a valued MoU partner, and opened new avenues for collaborative rural development action in Nepal.

Discussions centred on joint partnership programmes planned for 2026 in Nepal, including the active involvement of additional partner institutions in Nepal based initiatives. Both organisations are also jointly organising an online training programme in June 2026, reflecting their shared commitment to capacity building and knowledge exchange across the region.

Nepal Farmers Advisory Council



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📢 Webinar Announcement

🌐 CIRDAP Knowledge Series – 59: Webinar to celebrate International Year of Women Farmers

Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific is pleased to announce the upcoming Knowledge Series 59 webinar marking the International Year of Women Farmers.

Theme: Women Farmers Leading Climate-Resilient Farming

On this special occasion, Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) together with Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (ARINEENA), Central Asia and the Caucasus Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (CACAARI), Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and CIRDAP are jointly co organizing a global webinar series in 2026 titled Women Farmers Leading Climate Resilient Farming.

The webinar will be held on 23 June 2026 at 3:00 PM Bangkok Time and 2:00 PM Dhaka Time.

Key focus areas include
• Women’s leadership in climate change adaptation and resilience building
• Climate smart and nature positive agricultural practices
• Risk management, diversification, and ecosystem based approaches
We warmly invite you to join this important global dialogue and kindly request you to share this invitation widely through your networks.

Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xA6MksA9RLKfTSUya36prg

We look forward to your active participation and continued collaboration.



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🌍✨ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 | CIRDAP–NIRDPR Collaborative International Training Programme on Geo-informatics Applications in Rural Development, Hyderabad, India

Here is a reflection from MD ABU TALEB, Joint Director, Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), Bangladesh:

“The 'Geo-Informatics Applications in Rural Development' training was well-structured and insightful. As a beginner, it provided me with a comprehensive introduction to spatial data and its practical applications in the field. I gained a clear understanding of how GIS can revolutionize sectors critical to Bangladesh, such as precision agriculture, efficient land use planning, and proactive disaster management. Learning to navigate platforms like Bhuvan and Samudra, alongside methods for accessing free satellite data, was particularly eye-opening, as these tools offer cost-effective solutions for long-term rural planning in our resource-constrained context. The practical exposure gained through field visits to ICRISAT, INCOIS, and the RTP bridged the gap between theory and reality, demonstrating how advanced geosensing technologies can be scaled for real-world impact. Overall, this training has empowered me with the foundational skills to contribute effectively to Bangladesh's rural development through modern technology.”

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Participant Feedback | MR.MOHAMMAD FURQUAN, India

Check out one of the participants feedback from the CIRDAP–NIRDPR International Training Programme on “Community-Driven Approaches to Sustainable Rural Livelihoods”, held at NIRDPR, Hyderabad, India from 13 – 18 April 2026.

MR.MOHAMMAD FURQUAN, Accountant, Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural development , New Delhi, India, shares his reflections on the programme.

Watch his insights and experience here:

https://youtu.be/RLE1smdvycw?si=kYTtbFJioEQb8dfY

Participant's Feedback on CIRDAP-NIRDPR Intl' Training Programme on Community-Driven Approaches MR.MOHAMMAD FURQUANAccountant, Department of Rural Development, MI...

📘 CIRDAP is pleased to announce the release of the Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development (APJORD), Volume 36, Issue 1, June 2026.

As a flagship publication of CIRDAP, APJORD continues to serve as a critical platform for addressing key issues and fostering discussions on Rural Development, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

This bi-annual academic journal is designed to provide a forum for academics, policymakers, NGOs, research scholars and all other stakeholders interested in IRD to exchange insights, field observations, and empirical research on rural development.

If you are interested in access to full journal, kindly visit this link below:

https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/jrda/36/1

Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development




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CIRDAP Holds Consultative Meeting with Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF)

CIRDAP held a consultative meeting with the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) on 2nd June 2026, a valued MoU partner, to strengthen regional collaboration and explore new avenues of joint action for rural development across Asia and the Pacific.

The meeting was graced by PIDF Secretary General Ms. Arpana Pratap, who shared an overview of PIDF and its work across the Pacific Island nations. HE. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General of CIRDAP, provided a comprehensive briefing on CIRDAP's mandate, initiatives, and ongoing programmes. Other officials from CIRDAP were also present in the meeting.

Discussions covered a broad range of areas of mutual interest, including potential collaboration on rural development programmes, identification of shared development priorities, and an overview of major activities undertaken by both organizations. The meeting also featured briefings on proposed projects, their implementation frameworks, and the scope for collaborative initiatives under the existing MoU.

A key focus of the meeting was expanding CIRDAP membership among Pacific Island countries, with PIDF playing a central facilitative role in bringing more nations into the CIRDAP family. This step is seen as vital to deepening regional solidarity and ensuring inclusive rural development across the Asia Pacific.

CIRDAP looks forward to working closely with PIDF to translate these discussions into meaningful action on the ground.

Pacific Islands Development Forum
Krishi Jagran



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