9th Microfinance Training of Trainers (MFTOT 9)

A Blended Distance Learning Course

Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)  are pleased to announce the 9th delivery of the Microfinance Training of Trainers course (MFTOT9) from July to November 2013.

MFTOT9 is designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of microfinance in the Asia-Pacific region and African region. The course makes high-quality microfinance training accessible to decision-makers, professionals and practitioners in the field of microfinance and increases the number of accredited microfinance trainers in the Asia Pacific region and around the world. Two types of certificate are available for participants who complete the course depending on learning objectives, level of commitment and performance.

Online registration will be available from May 1, 2013 at MFTOT 9 course website.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Microfinance Training of Trainers Course (MFTOT)

6th Delivery of Happy Mothers, Happy Children

Blended Learning Program to Train Nurses and Health Care Specialists in Mongolia

Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC), Kitasato University and Mongolia Nurses Association delivered the 6th blended learning program to train nurses and other health care specialists in Mongolia on March 28, 2013.  This full-day program covered mental health nursing, and was delivered to over 500 participants at five sites in Ulaan Bataar in Mongolia.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Happy Mothers, Happy Children

Policies for Job Creation

AFDC Distance Learning Seminar Series 2013

Full employment is one of the most important objectives of a well-functioning macro economy in a country. The current global economic crisis has resulted in high unemployment rate which, if not well dealt with, would affect the social stability and economic development. The Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC) in collaboration with the World Bank, KDI School of Public Policy and Management, and the Tokyo Development Learning Center will launch a series of Distance Learning Seminars in 2013 to share experience and exchange ideas on policy framework of job creation. The first session will take place on Thursday, May 9, 2013.

Lessons from the Reconstruction Efforts after the Great East Japan Earthquake:

Joint Seminar by the ILO-Japan and the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center

The massive earthquake that hit Eastern Japan on March 11, 2011 and the subsequent tsunami left devastation in its wake, but it also shed light on many valuable lessons that may contribute to future reconstruction efforts in and outside of Japan. This joint seminar prepared by the ILO Office in Japan and the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center focuses on the collaborative reconstruction efforts between international organizations and the government of Japan by sharing the outcome of the international symposium in Iwate during March 13-14, 2013 and reporting on the World Bank-GoJ “Learning from Mega Disasters” project.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Global Labor Market and Youth Employment

KDI-Development Case Study Series 2013: Rural Development Series

Session 3: Reforestation

In order to promote knowledge sharing in the field of reforestation, KDI School organized this VC seminar in collaboration with the World Bank and other GDLN affiliates. This is the third session of Rural Development Series after the first session on “Rural Community Development” and the second session on “Enhancing Agricultural Productivity” were held in 2012. It is designed to reduce poverty and increase sustainable growth mainly in EAP region and beyond.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see KDI-Development Case Study Series 2012

Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF): Community Monitoring in Burkina Faso

World Bank Public Seminar "Burkina Faso: Community Monitoring for Better Health and Education Service Delivery"

The World Bank’s Global Partnerships and Trust Fund Operations (CFPTO) Department in cooperation with the Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) and The World Bank Tokyo Office will hold the fourth Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) Dialogue Series: “Burkina Faso: Community Monitoring for Better Health and Education Service Delivery” on February 28, 2013.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see JSDF Self-Reliance Project: Women in Mining and Petroleum Areas in PNG

Policies and Practices for Natural Resource Management

A Blended Distance Learning Course

Natural resource management is a key to sustainable development, and it is of interest for all nations. It requires proper understanding of policies and practices for solving problems and issues associated with managing the natural resources to achieve both environmentally and socially sustainable development. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC), with support from the The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) are pleased to announce the blended distance learning course, “Policies and Practices for Natural Resource Management” on 14 March – 31 May 2013.

Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF): Access to Justice for the Poor in the Russian Federation

Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) Dialogue Series session: “Strengthening Access to Justice for the Poor in the Russian Federation”  will be held on December 19, 2012 15:00pm-17:00pm. This session will highlight the achievements of one of the JSDF’s projects in the Russian Federation by bringing together key stakeholders involved in the project. The session will include an overview of the preparation, planning, lessons learned and results from this innovative project. Beneficiaries, who will primarily join the session via video conferencing from their respective project location(s), will address the challenges they faced before the project and describe how it is bringing justice to Russia’s poorest and most vulnerable groups.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see JSDF Self-Reliance Project: Women in Mining and Petroleum Areas in PNG

Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) Lessons learned and way forward

Session 1: Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2013 Series

The rural poor are particularly vulnerable to disasters. They are more likely to reside in hazardous locations and in substandard housing. They are less able to deal with the impacts of disasters due to lack of financial, material, and technical resources, social networks etc. Thus effective measures to resist to disasters and recover from their impacts shall be taken to minimize the loss of life, property or assets.

Partners

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2013 Series

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2013 Series

As part of the EAP Sector Management Unit Initiatives, which is a program promoting outreach and knowledge-sharing, the East Asia and Pacific Disaster Risk Management (DRM) team, in collaboration with the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), is supporting Disaster Risk Management Distance Learning Seminar Series for EAP client countries to build capacity and increase knowledge of all professionals who will be involved in DRM activities as well as to help them drive the agenda for DRM activities in their respective countries and empower local partners.

Partners

See also:

• Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) Lessons learned and way forward

Health Insurance System

KDI-Development Case Study Series 2012

The role of health care in economic development has received increasing attention in recent years since poor health is a primary cause of impoverishment and bankrupt families. According to WHO in 2000, health-related impoverishment is derived from a lack of risk pooling and proper insurance system. A wave of health insurance initiatives has swept across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and compulsory social health insurance in many developing countries is taken as a popular approach to health care reform.

This session seeks to portray the experiences of Korea, Japan and the World Bank in the field of health insurance, and to share the implications that can be learned. They are expected to review theories and to analyze how health insurance systems have been designed and implemented at each stage of development. The participants will learn how having an effective health insurance system contributes to promoting sustainable and broad-based development of a country.

Global Labor Market and Youth Employment

Joint Seminar by the ILO-Japan and the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center

While the Euro debt crisis continues to weaken the global economy, the labor market is making limited progress by remaining at a lower level than before the global economic crisis in 2008. Notwithstanding there is a serious youth employment crisis with nearly 7.5 million youth unemployed worldwide.

Youth employment issues were discussed at the World Bank / IMF Annual Meetings which recently took place in Tokyo. As part of a global employment crisis response, ILO member states also discussed youth employment issues at the 101st session of International Labour Conference in 2012, and a resolution concerning actions to be taken towards youth employment was adopted. 

This seminar on global employment crisis welcomes ILO’s Mr. José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Director of Employment Sector and Professor Keijiro Otsuka, a core team member behind “World Development Report 2013: Jobs” as keynote speakers.

See also:

• Lessons from the Reconstruction Efforts after the Great East Japan Earthquake:

Governing the Remote: Green Growth in Offshore Resources

GDLN series on a Green Economy in a Blue World Session 3

Session 3 in the series will focus on offshore marine resources, primarily seabed mineral deposits and fisheries. As technology improves, opportunities for resource harvesting and rents to countries increase, along with social and environmental risks associated with extraction and benefit distribution. Fishing and mineral extraction both present potential sources of sustainable growth for coastal economies. However, managing these offshore resources also poses tremendous governance, environmental, technical and social–economic challenges.

Using examples of innovative initiatives, in particular from the Pacific Islands countries, delivered by experienced professionals in an interactive setting, this session will seek to address these issues.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Green Economy in a Blue World

Financing Growth: Improving the Investment Environment through Infrastructure Development

Seminar 3: Infrastructure Development and Financing

A good investment environment plays a very important role in a country’s development strategy. When a country starts to grow, many aspects of the investment environment should be taken into account, and infrastructure is one that comes on top. Yet many developing countries in the region face a challenge to build and promote their infrastructure. As indicated by economic theories and practice, shortage of capital has always been a major impediment to growth and development. Therefore, financing of infrastructure development has become an urgent issue for these countries to deal with.

AFDC runs a series of VC seminars to tackle the challenges in financing growth in the post-crisis world, in cooperation with the World Bank and other GDLN affiliates.

The second seminar will focus on Transport Infrastructure Development and Financing.

Seminar on Sharing Lessons from Great East Japan Earthquake

How can lessons from Tohoku be shared with the world

Learning from Mega disasters, a knowledge-sharing project sponsored by the World Bank and the Government of Japan, is collecting and analyzing information, data, and evaluations performed by academic and research institutions, nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and the private sector—all with the objective of sharing Japan’s knowledge on DRM and post-disaster reconstruction with countries vulnerable to disasters.

Visualizing your city in 2025

World Bank Workshop

The World Bank has initiated a special study to develop a forward-looking action plan for transformation to fill the role of a “green bank”. This workshop will reflect the possible future direction for the World Bank in terms of sustainable, green economic development. Over the past 20 years the World Bank has emerged as a global leader and advisor to developing countries on sustainable development. Most recently, the Bank is exploring how it can assist countries to transform to a green economy where the growth of income and jobs, and the reduction of poverty and inequity, are driven by targeted environmental and social investments.

The objective of the workshop will be to gather a variety of inputs on the study questions from the perspectives of those working and making decisions in the world of 2025. We hope to really hear from the participants themselves about their own vision for their city and for cities of the future (hopes), what they expect of their city and cities of the future, and what actions they can take to achieve this vision - as well as what actions can (or can NOT) be taken by foreign development assistance organizations.

Target audience

University students, graduate school students and professionals under 35 years old (especially with strong interest in future city and urban development and environment policy)

CSR Practices & Knowledge sharing between Japan and India

Videoconference Seminar

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities have been playing essential roles in addressing the development needs of nations and in promoting social inclusion, particularly in developing economies. In India, US$7.5 billion was spent by private companies for the year 2009-2010 and US$700 million by public-sector enterprises for CSR activities.

The World Bank is currently assisting the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India, via IICA (Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs) – under the MCA- through technical assistance to structure its CSR work through advocacy, research, and capacity building. The Bank has also been working closely with the IICA in structuring the National Foundation for CSR that is the model body for CSR work in India. It helps channelize CSR efforts towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals in a socially responsible manner. As a part of the efforts, the World Bank is providing the MCA with access to international best practices, including institutional frameworks with transparent guidelines and effective monitoring mechanisms. After the first video conference on CSR held through Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) in December 2011, a strong demand for learning international best practices in CSR has emerged among CSR stakeholders in India, especially with regards to various approaches to engage with local community, CSOs and local government, CSR promotion, integrated policy development, stakeholder consultations and capacity development.

In response to this demand, IICA, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the World Bank and the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) will jointly organize a video conference-based seminar to exchange practice and knowledge on CSR in India and Japan.

Please submit your confirmation of participation to the designated local contact person in India or using the form below for Japan, and specify a city site (either Delhi or Tokyo) you wish to participate from.

Registration Deadline: July 31, 2012

Human Resource Development

KDI-Development Case Study Series 2012

Education is central to development. It is a powerful equalizer, opening doors for all people to lift themselves out of illiteracy which is one of the most prominent predictors of poverty. In particular, competency enhancement education and training for government officials is especially important. As the autonomous authority of local governments gets stronger, the skills required are changing. The demand is increasing due to the expanding duty and skills required to meet internal and external needs for capacity development.

In general, the objective of training government officials is to increase their knowledge & skills and to increase their motivation to perform. Governments often require officials to take essential training programs that are specifically developed to improve their ethics as government officials. They may also establish certain incentive mechanisms to meet the need for career development of its staff.

By attending this learning series, participants will learn how training and education for public officials contribute to promoting sustainable and broad-based development of a country. It is expected that lessons will be drawn from case studies and recommendations will be suggested for partner countries, corresponding to their situation.

This program welcomes anyone who has an interest in this topic.

JSDF: Urban Partnerships for Sustainable Upliftment, Renewal, Governance and Empowerment Project

World Bank Public Seminar

The World Bank’s Global Partnerships and Trust Fund Operations (CFPTO) Department, Tokyo Office and Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) will hold a public seminar “Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF): an innovative approach to assist vulnerable groups- report from the Philippines”.

This seminar will highlight one JSDF-funded program “Urban Partnerships for Sustainable Upliftment, Renewal, Governance and Empowerment Project (UPSURGE)” in the Philippines by bringing in key stakeholders of the project via video conferencing, and will present an overview of the preparation, planning, M&E, lessons learned and results etc.  There will be presentations from the beneficiaries themselves.

The Government of Japan and the World Bank established Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) in June 2000, with a goal of providing grants in support of community-driven development and poverty reduction projects that empower and directly improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable groups not reached by other programs.  A unique and valued feature of the JSDF program is that it provides a platform for cooperation with NGOs and other local stakeholders in the development process. The Government of Japan had contributed US$680 million to the program including pledges, and had approved 290 grants totaling US$534 million, up to the end of September 2011.

As seating is limited, registration will be on a first come, first served basis. To attend, please send your name, affiliation, contact information via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Webcasting (Live Streaming via Internet) will be also available.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see JSDF Self-Reliance Project: Women in Mining and Petroleum Areas in PNG

Greening Growth in Coastal Cities

GDLN Series on a Green Economy in a Blue World Session 2

The 2nd session of the GDLN Series on a ‘Green Economy in a Blue World’ will focus on the challenges and opportunities faced by coastal cities to reverse cumulative impacts on ocean health. The opportunities derived from a healthy ecosystem include job creation related to value chain development of goods and services (tourism, fisheries, renewable energy, green port and marine transport, minerals and natural products). The session will look at how to stimulate green economic growth, and to restore natural ecosystems which have been polluted by rapid urbanization, and in particular the policies and practices which have proven effective to help coastal cities restore.

Webcasting (Live Streaming via Internet) will be available.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Green Economy in a Blue World

Linking Social Protection, DRM and Climate Change Adaptation

Session 6- DRM 2011 series: Improving Climate and Disaster Resilience

Rapid and unplanned urbanization, growing number and magnitude of disasters globally, and the uncertainty over climatic variations are factors which increase the exposure and vulnerability of households, their livelihoods, physical infrastructure and economic networks. In the face of these challenges, stronger linkages between disaster risk management (DRM), climate change adaptation (CCA), and social protection (SP) sectors are needed. Poor, socially disadvantaged and informal settlers are disproportionately affected by natural hazards. Often living in hazardous areas, they have limited capacity to cope with and quickly recover from disasters, so that efforts need to be made to help these groups become more resilient to the adverse impacts of natural disasters and climate change.

The objective of this session is to highlight the operational linkages between DRM, CCA and SP. Looking at lessons learnt from recent projects and developments in this field, the participants will learn how a multi-sectoral partnership can support governments in preparing integrated DRM and CCA programs which use a range of preparedness, response and recovery measures in a systematic way in order to achieve faster recovery and sustainable development.

Webcasting (Live Streaming via Internet) will be available on the day of the session.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2011 Series

Reforming the Disaster Risk Management Framework in the Philippines

Session 5- DRM 2011 series: An Orientation on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Law (RA 10121)

In view of the Philippines’ high exposure to natural hazards and lessons learned from past events, the Government has begun to take a proactive approach to disaster risk management as by approving the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act in May 2010. The Act supersedes Presidential Decree No. 1566, which in 1978 established the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the disaster risk management system in the country, which was primarily focused on post-disaster response. To complement the DRRM Act, the Philippine Government has also formalized the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the DRRM Act, the NDRRM Framework and the NDRRM Action Plan, which translates the country’s commitments to the Hyogo Framework for Action, in line with global good practice.
This session will orient the participants on Republic Act 10121, highlighting the key institutional reforms to underpin the long-term resilience of the Philippines to natural hazards. The session will also highlight the experience of the Provincial Government of Albay which is among the most advanced local government units in the country in terms of DRM practice. The session will also facilitate an exchange of views among the participants, especially on the challenges and opportunities in implementing the NDRRM law at the local level.

There will be live-webcasting on the day of the session.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2011 Series

5th Blended Learning Program to Train Mother and Child Health Care Specialists in Mongolia

Happy Mothers, Happy Children

Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC), Kitasato University and Mongolia Nurses Association delivered the 5th blended learning program to train nurses and other health care specialists in Mongolia on May 28, 2012.  This half-day program covered perinatal loss, and was delivered to over 400 participants at three sites in Ulaan Bataar and one rural location in Mongolia to TDLC. Unfortunately, Govi-altai Medical Collage and Dorno Gob Medical collage were unable to join in the video-conference due to a heavy sandstorm.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Happy Mothers, Happy Children

Introduction to Islamic Finance

Intensive Course (4 Sessions)

Islamic finance has been growing rapidly in developing and developed countries in recent years. Islamic financial assets have expanded by over 10% annually and represented over 0.5% of global financial assets in 2010. The strong growth is likely to continue in the coming years despite the recent financial crisis. 

Islamic finance is operated free of interest and any ambiguity under the principle of profit-risk-sharing. In contrast to conventional finance, business transactions under Islamic finance require underlying genuine trade and assets.

The Islamic finance market is still below its true potential. Some countries in Africa and Asia are stepping up efforts to capitalize on the growing popularity of Islamic financial service industries. 

With the initiative of the Association of African Distance Learning Center (AADLC) and in partnership with the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) and the Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), this course has been organized to share fundamentals of Islamic finance with a special focus on policy makers and officials of the financial sector in Africa and Asia.

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served).

Registration Deadline: April 30, 2012

Disaster Nurse Training

Video Conference (VC) based course

Disaster-stricken individuals, groups and communities need organized and systematic care for recovery, and a public health workforce that is competent to respond to disasters is extremely important. The late response of nurses toward disaster conditions can impact on the chance of victim survival from death and disabilities. 

This 2-day training course organized by Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) aims to provide the essential foundations for disaster nursing to the nurses to fill the need for responding disasters. Lectures from experts in Japan and other countries cover the knowledge on disaster nursing such as triage, mental health nursing under disaster such as PTSD, emergency preparedness competencies and the emergency response etc. Training purpose of this course is to increase the level of understanding of a basic matter of the disaster medical treatment and nursing and to acquire a necessary knowledge and practical skills for the disaster nursing.

Conceptual Framework for a Green Economy in a Blue World

Session 1: Green Economy in a Blue World

Video archive from Green Economy in a Blue World Session 1 is now available.

Topic: Opportunities and rationale as well as practical approaches from case studies

Participating Countries: Vietnam, Indonesia and approximately 10 other Asia-Pacific countries

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Green Economy in a Blue World

Learning from Mega Disasters

Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) Seminar Series (5 sessions)

On March 11, 2011, the world watched the Great East Japan Earthquake measuring a staggering 9.0 on the Richter scale, hit the Tohoku region along the pacific coast of Japan. It was the fourth largest earthquake in the world. The subsequent Tsunami washed away towns and villages along the sea shore, resulting in huge numbers of human casualties and left devastation.

In October 2011, the Government of Japan (GoJ) and World Bank started working on a new program, “Learning from Mega Disasters: Program of Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Exchange”, which is aimed at supporting Japan share its lessons from disaster risk management and reconstruction with the rest of the world. Under this project “Learning from Mega Disasters”, a series of interactive Knowledge-Sharing (KS) sessions will be organized in collaboration via videoconferencing system with the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN).

The themes are as follows:

Session 1: Structural Measures
Session 2: Non-structural Measures
Session 3: Response
Session 4: Recovery
Session 5: Risk Information and Risk Financing

Advance registration required. You can attend any combination of sessions or all four sessions. Webcasting (Live Streaming via Internet) of VC will be also available.

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Green Economy in a Blue World

Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) Seminar Series (3 Sessions)

Oceans and coasts support irreplaceable natural, social, and financial capital. With the ‘Global Partnership for Oceans’ representing an unprecedented commitment to ocean and coastal ecosystem health, there is a unique opportunity for the East Asian and Pacific region to collaborate in identifying practical solutions for some of the most challenging issues currently encountered by implementers in the field.

To promote dialogue and to share knowledge and experiences on coastal and marine ecosystem-based economic development, GRID-Arendal and The World Bank are organizing a series of three interactive video conference sessions in collaboration with Global Development Learning Network (GDLN).

The sessions will highlight opportunities and discuss practical experiences of how ocean ecosystem-based economic development can be sustained and contribute to building strong and climate resilient communities.

See also:

• Conceptual Framework for a Green Economy in a Blue World
• Greening Growth in Coastal Cities
• Governing the Remote: Green Growth in Offshore Resources

JSDF Self-Reliance Project: Women in Mining and Petroleum Areas in PNG

Public Seminar

The World Bank’s Global Partnerships and Trust Fund Operations (CFPTO) Department will hold a public seminar “Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF): JSDF Self-Reliance Project for Women in Mining and Petroleum Areas in Papua New Guinea (PNG)”. 

This seminar will highlight the JSDF Self-Reliance Project for Women in Mining and Petroleum Areas in PNG by bringing in key stakeholders of the project via video conferencing from the respective project location(s).  It will present an overview of the preparation, planning, M&E, lessons learned and results.  There will be presentations from the beneficiaries themselves, covering the challenges they faced before the project and describing how the project has impacted their lives.

Webcasting (Live Streaming via Internet) of VC will be available on the day.

See also:

• JSDF: Urban Partnerships for Sustainable Upliftment, Renewal, Governance and Empowerment Project
• Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF): Access to Justice for the Poor in the Russian Federation
• Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF): Community Monitoring in Burkina Faso

KDI-Development Case Study Series 2012

Rural & Economic Development

East and South Asia are predominantly agricultural continents with economic growth relying heavily on agriculture. By 2050, the total population in the world is expected to reach 9.1 billion, 34% larger than that of today. While 70% of the population is rural-based and will likely remain the driving force for the overall economy, the East and South Asian region is experiencing widespread poverty, especially in rural areas.

Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management (KDI School) plans to launch a video conference seminar series in collaboration with the The World Bank, the Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) and other Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) centers in order to share Korea’s experiences in rural development and to promote knowledge exchange with other countries in East and South Asia.

If you have an interest in this topic you are most welcome to this program!

Organizer:

- Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management (KDI School)

Cooperation:

- The World Bank
- Asia-Pacific Financial Development Center (AFDC)
- Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)

See also:

• KDI-Development Case Study Series 2013: Rural Development Series

Science and Policy of Climate Change 2012

A Blended Distance Learning Course

Responding to increasing global concerns on global warming and climate change, the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC) are pleased to announce the second delivery of the Blended Distance Learning Course, “Science and Policy of Climate Change” on 11 April - 11 July 2012.  The course targets graduate students, development practitioners, policy makers, business persons, and mid-level professionals in the Asia Pacific region.

Registration has been closed.

8th Microfinance Training of Trainers (MFTOT 8)

A Blended Distance Learning Course

Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)  are pleased to announce the 8th delivery of the Microfinance Training of Trainers course (MFTOT8) from December 2011 to April 2012.

MFTOT8 is designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of microfinance in the Asia-Pacific region and African region. The course makes high-quality microfinance training accessible to decision-makers, professionals and practitioners in the field of microfinance and increases the number of accredited microfinance trainers in the Asia Pacific region and around the world. Two types of certificate are available for participants who complete the course depending on learning objectives, level of commitment and performance.

Online registration is now available at MFTOT 8 course website (http://mftot.jointokyo.org).

Registration has been closed.

‘Mainstreaming Resilience in a Complex, Networked World’ Seminar

World Bank Seminar

Following recent large scale disasters in the East Asia and Pacific region including the March 11 earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan, large-scale flooding in Thailand as well as the tropical storm in the Philippines, mainstreaming disaster risk management (DRM) in investments and operations has become an increasingly urgent issue.

The seminar will provide an opportunity to discuss how we can make further progress on the mainstreaming issue, as well as ways to enhance collaboration across organizations to sustain these efforts. World Bank East Asia and Pacific Regional Vice President Pamela Cox will open the session with an overview of the Bank’s work on Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in the region. The session will be hosted in Tokyo and connect by video conference to audiences located in Bangkok (Thailand), Manila (Philippines), Jakarta (Indonesia), Hanoi (Vietnam) and Vientiane (Laos).

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served). Webcasting (Live Streaming via Internet) of VC will be also available.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2011 Series

Vietnam Nurse Training Program

1. Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Course

The Tokyo Development Learning Center, (TDLC), Vietnam Development Information Center (VDIC) and AHP Network will be starting a new blended learning program “Vietnam Nurse Training Program”. This program will focus on three subjects; ‘Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing’, ‘Elderly Nursing’ and ‘Home Care Nursing’. It aims to improve the nursing education and training system in Vietnam, and also to grow the capacity of the overall health sector in Vietnam through innovative learning program design and methods. The program will develop understanding and practical skill of Vietnamese nursing trainers and practitioner nurses in specific subjects that are not part of the standard nurse education curriculum in Vietnam. Target participants are nurse trainers and practitioner nurses at the trainer’s level in hospitals in Hanoi and Danang, and participants will receive a program participation certificate upon completing the program.

International Labour Organization (ILO) / Aoyama Gakuin University / TDLC Lecture series (4)

The International Labour Organization (ILO), Aoyama Gakuin University and the Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) will host a 2011 lecture series. This year’s lecture series will be focusing on ILO’s decent work activities from ILO’s Better Work Project to Social security trends. Lectures will be given by experts and specialists from ILO headquarters and the ILO Asia Pacific office via videoconference.

Come participate in one of the rare opportunities to be able to ask questions of the specialists who are actively involved in labor issues in ILO Bangkok regional office or ILO headquarters in Geneva.

We look forward to your participation.

Green Growth Seminars

Distance Learning Seminar Series

Come along to two seminars on “Green Growth” at Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) connecting other Distance Learning Centers. Green Growth is a globally relevant approach to sustainable economic growth.  Expert speakers from Japan, China and Korea will update and share knowledge about each country’s Green Growth policy formation and its implementation process to date. They will also take part in a regional dialogue to further disseminate the concept of Green Growth and to analysis and discuss relevant issues within Asia and beyond. 

The Green Growth seminars will be co-hosted by TDLC with Korea Development Institute (KDI) School, and Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC) in collaboration with the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) - connecting with Korea, China, Japan and other countries via videoconferencing system.

World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region Flagship Report Seminar

Putting Higher Education to Work – Skills and Research for Growth in East Asia

The World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region is pleased to announce the launch of our regional flagship report on higher education in East Asia. The report Putting Higher Education to Work -  Skills and Research for Growth in East Asia focuses on how higher education can be improved to contribute to East Asia’s growth agenda, and the role of public policy in this process.

The World Bank East Asia and Pacific in collaboration with Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC) are hosting a report launch seminar to disseminate the findings of the report using video-conferencing system, and connecting 10 countries in the region. This launch seminar will provide valuable information to policy makers, researchers and practitioners in the field.

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served).

Deadline: October 7th, 2011

Economic Environment Assessment of Credit Rating for Banking Sector

VC seminar organized by AFDC, co-sponsored by TDLC, WB, Sri Lanka DLC and KDI School

In accordance with Basel Accord, strengthened credit rating and risk management systems have been required to be built in commercial banks. Macroeconomic environment assessment plays a very important role in these systems. In the post-crisis world, all countries have to tackle increasingly complex issues in the international and domestic economic environment. In particular, commercial banks face a great challenge in the assessment field.

Many countries have put forward a series of measures to improve their financial supervision and credit rating systems, especially the credit rating system in commercial banks. The Chinese government has paid much attention to implementing the Basel Accord and improving risk management systems in its commercial banks. It is important for each country to share new approaches and experience in macroeconomic environment assessment field, and by doing so, to promote financial system stabilization.

In order to promote experience-sharing on economic environment assessment for credit rating in commercial banks, the Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC) in collaboration with the World Bank, Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC), Sri Lanka Distance Learning Center and Korean Development Institute (KDI) School will hold a half-day VC seminar, to tackle the challenges in economic environment assessment in commercial banks in the post-crisis world.

Global 4 Dimensions Water Cycle Management Seminar

VC seminar

The World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region, the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), Foundation for Riverfront Improvement and Restoration and Tokyo Development Learning Center, are hosting the Global 4 Dimensions Water Cycle Management Seminar- connecting with China, Indonesia, Madagascar, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Japan via videoconferencing system.

Global 4 Dimensions Water Cycle Management is a system that simulate past, present and future water cycle systems and visualizes the result with easy-to-understand graphics. It provides county based information on water that helps policy makers when drawing up and executing strategic action plans. This system is the world’s latest cutting-edge water cycle and water resource management technology and was originated in Japan. Even countries with insufficient funds and access to basic water cycle data information can visualize their nationwide water circulation system by using satellite systems at low cost. It is expected to be the powerful tool in policy making of water cycle and water resource management.

Modernization of Hydrometeorological Services and Early Warning Systems

Session 3: Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2011 Series

Major advances in observation, analysis and prediction of high-impact weather and climate events have been achieved by some countries and are available to all. Effective Early Warning Systems (EWS) building on such information have substantially reduced deaths and injuries from severe weather events. National Meteorological Systems in many developing countries lack the capacity to access recent scientific and technical advances. Such agencies have limited observation networks, little experience in using numerical weather prediction, few opportunities for training, and have recurrent difficulty retaining their best-qualified staff. These circumstances weaken service delivery. The poor weather information services provided in these countries often make early warnings impossible, and lack of warning in turn leads to economic damage and loss of life that could have been avoided.

The objective of this session is to share knowledge and experiences on hydromet modernization initiatives for developing countries.

Partners

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2011 Series

Scaling-up and Integration of Community Knowledge into Disaster Risk Reduction

Session 2: Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2011 Series

Communities are a reservoir of collective wisdom for disaster risk reduction. Such wisdom and community practices, though some are lost, have been transferred over many years. The community is the key actor and primary beneficiary; they can make best judgment of their own vulnerability by use of own resources. Over the last couple of decades, it has become apparent that top-down approaches to disaster risk management alone fail to address the specific local needs of vulnerable communities. Given this fact, it has also become clear that there is a strong need to recognize the potential community knowledge and actions and to shift to a bottom-up approach that uses appropriate community practices as the base for policy formulation.

This session will highlight various innovative community practices to draw lessons from for how to advocate for and apply principles of community engagement in disaster risk reduction across different countries and levels of society. It will also provide participants with opportunities to discuss about bottom-up approaches linking up with national and international level to address the complexity of community’s vulnerability issues.

Partners

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2011 Series

Making Women’s Voices Count in Disaster Risk Reduction Programs

Session 1: Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2011 Series

Women and men’s different needs, roles and opportunities put women and men differently at risk from disasters and influences emergency management strategies. Women and men experience disaster impacts differently in health, safety, community support, and resource needs at the household and community levels. It is therefore important that women’s and men’s particular vulnerabilities and needs are assessed and taken into consideration into Disaster Risk Management (DRM) strategies.

This session will provide participants with an understanding of the key findings and tools for taking into account women and men’s particular needs, roles and opportunities into DRM programs and share lessons learnt on how gender dimension can be incorporated in a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and recovery programs.

Partners

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2011 Series

Briefing session on the agenda at the International Labour Conference, 100th Session, 2011

ILO Office for Japan: "Social security for social justice and a fair globalization"

Under the UN’s initiative of “Social Protection Floor,” International Labour Organization (ILO) and World Health Organization (WHO) are leading organizations to secure and promote social protection.  Social protection is one of the main strategic objectives of ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. 

At International Labour Conference, 100th Session 2011 which will be held from 1 to 17 June, Social Protection (social security) is one of the technical agenda.  Together with this opportunity, ILO Office for Japan will hold a briefing session on the social security through video conference facility. 

Ms. Christina Behrendit, ILO Social Security Specialist with Social Security Department will explain the report to the Conference and discussion points from Geneva, followed by Questions and Answers from the floor in Tokyo.  We look forward to your participation.
* English-Japanese consecutive interpretation is provided.

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2011 Series

As part of the EAP Sector Management Unit Initiatives, which is a program promoting outreach and knowledge-sharing, the East Asia and Pacific Disaster Risk Management (DRM) team, in collaboration with the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), is supporting Disaster Risk Management Distance Learning Seminar Series for EAP client countries to build capacity and increase knowledge of all professionals who will be involved in DRM activities as well as to help them drive the agenda for DRM activities in their respective countries and empower local partners.

Partners

See also:

• Making Women’s Voices Count in Disaster Risk Reduction Programs
• Scaling-up and Integration of Community Knowledge into Disaster Risk Reduction
• Modernization of Hydrometeorological Services and Early Warning Systems
• ‘Mainstreaming Resilience in a Complex, Networked World’ Seminar
• Reforming the Disaster Risk Management Framework in the Philippines
• Linking Social Protection, DRM and Climate Change Adaptation

Restructuring the Economy toward a Green Energy Saving Economy

Distance Learning Seminar Series

Responding to an increasing global demand towards Green & Energy Saving Economy, the Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC) in China,  in collaboration with the Vietnam Development Information Center (VDIC), the Institute of Financial Training in Vietnam, The World Bank and Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) in Japan are pleased to announce a distance seminar, “Restructuring the Economy toward a Green Energy Saving Economy” on May 17, 2011.

Fourth Blended Learning Program to Train Mother and Child Health Care Specialists in Mongolia

Happy Mothers, Happy Children

Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC), Kitasato University and Mongolia Nurses Association delivered the fourth blended learning program to train nurses and other health care specialists in Mongolia on March 11, 2011.  This half-day program was delivered to over 670 participants at 3 sites in Ulaan Bataar and 3 rural locations in Mongolia to TDLC.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Happy Mothers, Happy Children

Session 6:  Open-source risk vs. Proprietary risk models

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2010 Distance Learning Seminar Series

This session will provide participants with an understanding on the concepts of open-source risk and proprietary risk models on catastrophe hazards and vulnerability to measure economic losses attributed to natural disasters. It also aims to impart pros and cons of these models in assessing cat risks and discuss issues of challenge in applying these models to local context.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2010 Series

Tourism Exchange for South Pacific Islands

2-day seminar

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Asia Pacific Tourism Exchange Center (APTEC) and Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC), are jointly hosting a 2-day seminar ‘Tourism Exchange of South Pacific Islands’. 5 countries will be connected via Video Conferencing- Indonesia, Fiji, Maldives, Timor-Leste and Japan to discuss and promote ideas and approaches for sustainable tourism. The purpose for this seminar is to improve the tourism sector, as well as developing the tourism relationship between participating countries and Japan. Advance registration required (first-come-first-served).

Science and Policy of Climate Change

A Blended Distance Learning Course

Responding to increasing global concerns on global warming and climate change, the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC) are pleased to announce the Blended Distance Learning “Science and Policy of Climate Change” on April 8 – June 8, 2011. The course targets graduate students, development practitioners, policy makers, business persons, and mid-level professionals in the Asia Pacific region, capturing the Science of Climate Change (Module 1), Impacts of Climate Change (Module 2), Coping with Climate Change (Module 3) and Action and Political Economy (Module 4).

Registration for this course has been closed.