Introduction to Islamic Finance

Intensive Course (4 Sessions)

Introduction

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.

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.

Goals

After attending the course, participants will be able to
• Describe fundamental concepts in Islamic finance and its growth potential
• Structure financial products and mechanisms under Islamic finance
• Understand key actors and roles in regulating, supervising and monitoring, and
• Learn from practices in other countries on Islamic finance.

Learning Contents and Schedule (local time)

Session 1: Introduction to Islamic Finance

Definition and fundamentals of Islamic finance; global trend and estimated growth of the sector; and overview of emerging markets, products, and services in Islamic finance
Date: May 14, 2012
Time: Dakar 12:00-14:30 / Tokyo 21:00-23:30

Session 2: Structuring Islamic financial products

Basic models of Islamic finance; and various financial products and transaction models (loans, deposits, Sukuk-bonds, funds, Takaful-insurance) with practical examples
Date: May 24, 2012
Time: Dakar 10:00-12:30 / Tokyo 19:00-21:30

Session 3: Geographical Expansion of Islamic Finance

Emerging markets; and their government policies and jurisdiction; and international organizations
Date: May 31, 2012
Time: Dakar 10:00-12:30 / Tokyo 19:00-21:30

Session 4:  Risk Management in Islamic Finance

Market and credit risk management; and briefly presenting on legal issues under Islamic finance
Date: June 7, 2012
Time: Dakar 12:00-14:30 / Tokyo 21:00-23:30

Speakers

- Mr. Zamir Iqbal, Lead Investment Officer, The World Bank, Washington DC.

- Mr. Etsuaki Yoshida, Advisor, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nuclear and Renewable Energy Finance Department, Energy, Natural Resources and
Environment Finance Group and Adjunct Research Fellow (Islamic Finance), Waseda University, Tokyo.

Moderator

- Mr. Mor Seck, Senegal, Manager / Director Senegal Distance Learning Centre and President of the Association of African Distance learning Centers (AADLC)

Delivery of the program

• Participants are expected to attend all 4 sessions at your nearest GDLN center.
• Each session will be a 2.5-hour interactive session using Video Conference technology.
• Each session consists of presentations followed by Q&A and open discussion.
• Lecture materials will be provided at the GDLN centers.
• Webcasting (Live Streaming via Internet) will be available. 

Language

English and French

Target Audience

• National and local government officials from financial ministries and agencies.
• Officers from commercial banks, legal department, insurance, security and asset management companies.
• Microfinance institutions and NGOs who wish to develop knowledge on Islamic finance for their business activities in Africa and selected countries in South and East Asia.
• Financial sector staff from international organizations.

Participating Countries

French: Senegal, Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Madagascar, Mali and Burkina Faso

English: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Japan, and China-Shanghai

How to Apply

• Contact your nearest GDLN centers (see PDF)
GDLN_Contacts_Islamic_Finance.pdf

• Please register by sending us an email or using the form below, indicating your name, organization, country, telephone number, e-mail address.

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 Post-traumatic stress disorder (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.

Connecting Countries

- Indonesia (3 sites)
- Sri Lanka (3 sites)
- Vietnam (2 sites)
- Thailand
- Nepal
- Philippines

Target Audience

Nurses with 5 years or more of clinical experience in above connecting countries (this course is not offered in Japan).

Financing Growth: Improving the Investment Environment through Infrastructure Development

Seminar 1: Urban 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.

Ever since China started to reform and open up in the late 1970s, the Chinese government has paid considerable attention to financing and building the domestic infrastructure to improve its investment environment. As a result, China has been a very attractive place for investment and this has helped to achieve its rapid growth over the past three decades. Many other emerging economies in the region have also been very successful in this regard.

AFDC Distance Learning Seminar Series

The Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC) is a platform established by the Chinese government with the objective of supporting capacity building in the areas of finance and development. Its mission is to share development experiences among developing economies, and by doing so, to promote cooperation and social development in the region.

AFDC plans to run a series of VC seminars in 2012 to tackle the challenges in financing growth in the post-crisis world, in cooperation with the World Bank and other Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) affiliates.

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

Organizer:

- The Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC)
- Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) – Shanghai Distance Learning Center

Cooperation:

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

Program Description:

The framework and global perspective
- Mr. Kamran M. Khan, Program Director, The World Bank–Singapore Urban Hub

Experience sharing
- Prof. Byungho Oh, KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Korea

- Mr. Liu Hanyong, Director of International Division, Shanghai Municipal Finance Bureau, China

- Prof. Do Duc Minh, Director General of Institute of Financial Training, Ministry of Finance, Vietnam

Q&A session

Language:

English

Target Audience:

- Policy makers from central & local government agencies
- Representatives from civil society, academia, and private sector
- Staff from the development agencies

Fee:

Free  

Registration:

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served). You can attend any combination of sessions or all four sessions.

Please register by sending us an email or using the form below, indicating your name, organization, telephone number, e-mail address.

Conceptual Framework for a Green Economy in a Blue World

Session 1: Green Economy in a Blue World

Topic: Opportunities and rationale as well as practical approaches from case studies.
Participating Countries: Vietnam, Indonesia and approximately 10 other Asia-Pacific countries

Related Files:

Agenda_Session_1.pdf
Outline_Session 1.pdf

Presentation:

Anne Solgaard and Yannick Beaudoin.pdf
Adrian Ross.pdf
Sefanaia Nawadra.pdf

Presenters:

Yannick Beaudoin and Anne Solgaard, GRID - Arendal
Green Economy in a Blue World: the Proposition

Adrian Ross, Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) 
Southeast Asia: What’s at stake?

Sefanaia Nawadra, SPREP (Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Program, Apia, Samoa)
Framework for a Pacific Oceanscape

Moderator:

Marea E. Hatziolos, Senior Coastal & Marine Specialist, EAP The World Bank Blue Team

Target Audience

- National and local government officials in environment, fisheries, finance, and planning ministries and agencies. 
- Officials from relevant regional organizations (e.g. ASEAN, SPREP, COBSEA, and SOPAC)
- Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector, practitioners, civil society organizations in the field of environment and fisheries.
- World Bank staff and other donor staff in country offices.

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)

Introduction

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.

It is globally recognized that the loss of life and damage could have been far greater had it not been for Japan’s disaster risk management policies and measures. Emergency plans, sharp drills, and training activities saved thousands of lives as procedures were implemented properly and carefully. Patience, responsibility and the general sense of collected and dignified calm drove the rescue process. Success stories as well as unfortunate failures must be collected, analyzed and shared to make the world more resilient.

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.

In more details, the objectives are to:

1. Develop Knowledge Notes (KNs) by collecting data and facts about damage and loss caused by the unprecedented disaster that recently hit Japan.

2. Share draft KNs with Disaster Risk Management (DRM) experts around the world for the peer review and discuss the adaptability of the KNs to developing countries context by holding Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) session with practitioners and experts.

3. Facilitate mutual learning and cooperation in building resilient societies around the world by drawing on Japan’s long experience in dealing with mega disasters.

About the Knowledge-Sharing Sessions

Under this project “Learning from Mega Disasters”, a series of interactive Knowledge-Sharing (KS) sessions will be organized in collaboration via videoconferencing system with GDLN.

This is aimed at

(i) sharing initial findings and lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake with practitioners throughout the world and
(ii) exchanging views among experts on how these lessons could be transferred and adapted to developing countries.
33 Knowledge Notes (KN) have been developed. The KNs will be grouped into 6 clusters for this GDLN knowledge-exchange sessions.

The themes and target countries for each session are as follows:

Session 1: Structural Measures

Addressing experiences and lessons learnt on (i) tsunami dykes; (ii) building code; and (iii) prepare for cascading effects.

Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Time: 20:00-22:00 (JST)
Participating countries: East Asia, Latin America

Presenters
- Hirotoshi Mori, Director, International Cooperation, Overseas Project Division, Policy Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan

- Tatsuo Narafu, Senior Advisor (Disaster Management), Registered Architect of Japan, PhD Engineering, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Session_1_Learning_from_Mega_Disasters.pdf

Session 2: Non-structural Measures

Addressing experiences and lessons learnt on (i) community based risk assessment/DRM; (ii) early warning and evacuation planning; and (iii) local vs. national planning and the role of urban planning in DRM.

*Session 2 will be held twice (same agenda)

Date: Thursday, April 19, 2012
Time: 20:00-22:00 (JST)
Participating countries: East Asia, Latin America

Date: Friday, April 20, 2012
Time: 18:00-20:00 (JST)
Participating countries: South Asia, Africa

Presenters
- Yoichiro Ibi, Deputy Director of River Planning Division, Water and Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan

- Takahiro Ono, Senior Researcher, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) (Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan)

Session_2_Learning_from_Mega_Disasters.pdf

Session 3: Response

Addressing experiences and lessons learnt on (i) vulnerable group and gender; and (ii) logistics, coordination and communication.

Date: Monday, April 23, 2012
Time: 15:00-17:00 (JST)
Participating countries: East Asia, South Asia, Africa

Presenters
- Yoko Saito, Reduction and Human Renovation Institute (Kobe, Hyogo, Japan)

- Makoto Okumura, Professor, Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Tohoku University (Tohoku area, Japan)

Session_3_Agenda_Emergency_Response.pdf

Session 4: Recovery

Addressing experiences and lessons learnt on (i) recovery planning; (ii) debris management; and (iii) livelihood.

Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Time: 15:00-17:00 (JST)
Participating countries: East Asia, South Asia, Middle East

Presenters
- Yasuo Tanaka and Akihiko Hokugo, Professors, Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University (Kobe, Hyogo, Japan)

- Sanjaya Bhatia, Knowledge Management Officer and Yasuo Kawawaki, Senior Recovery Expert, International Recovery Platform (Kobe, Hyogo, Japan)

Session_4_Learning_from_Mega_Disasters.pdf

Session 5: Risk Information and Risk Financing

Addressing experiences and lessons learnt on (i) disaster risk Insurance; and (ii) risk assessment and communication.

Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012
Time: 17:30-19:30 (JST)
Participating countries: Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, East Asia

Presenters
- Mr. Masahiko Furuichi, Senior Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan

- Ms. Emily White, Disaster Risk Financing Specialist, Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance (DRFI) program, FCMNB and GFDRR, The World Bank

Session_5_Learning_from_Mega_Disasters.pdf

Moderators (All 5 sessions)

- Federica Ranghieri, Senior Urban Specialist, The World Bank Institute

- Mikio Ishiwatari, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, The World Bank Institute

Language

English

Target Audience

- National and sub-national government officials
- Officials from relevant Regional organizations
- Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector, practitioners, civil society organizations in the field of environment
- World Bank staff and other donor staff in country offices

Registration information

You can attend any combination of sessions or all four sessions. Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by below form or FAX (03-3597-9161).

There will be live-webcasting on the day of the session. To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows media Player Version 10.0

Green Economy in a Blue World

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

Introduction

Oceans and coasts support irreplaceable natural, social, and financial capital. Coastal areas have relatively dense human settlements. Coastal ecosystems – such as coral reefs, mangroves, salt marshes, and sea grass beds—are highly productive environments at the interface of land and sea. They protect coastlines, maintain near-shore water quality, serve as nursery grounds for juvenile fish, support tourism, and also act as natural carbon sinks. These habitats also protect homes, communities, and businesses from storms, sea level rise and storm surges.

The global value of coastal and marine ecosystem services has been extremely difficult to quantify—some estimates place it on the order of trillions of dollars/year. At the local level these ecosystem services are supporting livelihoods and meeting basic human needs like food and shelter among some of the poorest coastal communities, while at the national level they may be generating hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign exchange from tourism, fisheries and mineral exports. If managed properly oceans and coasts have the potential to create and sustain wealth for coastal economies, and provide jobs for a growing global population.

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.

About the GDLN Seminar Series

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.

The themes of the sessions are as follows:

Session 1:  Conceptual Framework for a Green Economy in a Blue World
Opportunities and rationale as well as practical approaches from case studies.
Participating Countries: Vietnam, Indonesia and approximately 10 other Asia-Pacific countries

Session 2 (June 2012):  Untapped Potential

Addressing the need to value the contribution that ocean ecosystem services can make as a result of a number of reforms or more sustainable management measures, and demonstrate how flows of capital—from natural to social to financial and back again—can lead to green growth under appropriate governance frameworks

Session 3 (September 2012):  Building on Success

Selected case studies within the Asia Pacific region which illustrate successful application of policies and practices that effectively capture ocean resource rents to build community wealth and welfare, and their potential for scaling up a Green Economy in a Blue World.

Language

English

Target Audience

- National and local government officials in environment, fisheries, finance, and planning ministries and agencies. 
- Officials from relevant regional organizations (e.g. ASEAN, SPREP, COBSEA, and SOPAC)
- Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector, practitioners, civil society organizations in the field of environment and fisheries.
- World Bank staff and other donor staff in country offices.

Delivery of the program

The session will be a 3-hour interactive session using Video Conference technology. The session consists of presentations followed by Q&A and open discussion.

See also:

• Conceptual Framework for a Green Economy in a Blue World

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. 

The vision of this exemplary JSDF project was to begin creating the foundations for women to assert their rights to participate equitably in the development of their communities.  The project aimed to improve the impacts of extractive industries developments on women from remote areas of PNG, through building the capacity of women groups and associations to better manage their community programs and providing them with the necessary skills and tools to become a reliable partner in the decision-making processes which affect their lives.

The Government of Japan and the World Bank established 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.

*Webcasting (Live Streaming via Internet) of VC will be also available (To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows Media Player Version 10.0. and PC speakers).

Streaming URL: http://streaming.jointokyo.org/viewerportal/vmc/home.do

- JSDA Good Practice Notes 20: February 2012
JSDF_Good_Practice_Notes_PNG.pdf

Program

Opening remark

- Mr. Kazushige Taniguchi, Special Representative, The World Bank Tokyo Office

JSDF project in PNG- Introduction of Project
- Ms. Adriana Eftimie, Task Team Leader, The World Bank

JSDF project in PNG- Preparation and Planning
- Mr. Greg Anderson, Executive Director, PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum

Q&A session

JSDF project in PNG-  M&E, lessons learned and results
- Ms. Lesley Bennet, WIM Program Manager, PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum

JSDF project in PNG- Scaling up of the project and other issues
- Mr. Greg Anderson,Executive Director, PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum
- Ms. Adriana Eftimie, Task Team Leader, The World Bank

Closing remark

- Mr. Kazushige Taniguchi, Special Representative, The World Bank Tokyo Office

Language:

English (with simultaneous interpretation to Japanese)

Registration:

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served).
Please register by sending us an email using the form below or by fax (03-3597-9161), indicating your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address.

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.

Each seminar provides case studies from Korea and other selected countries (Japan, China, Indonesia, others), connecting various audiences from GDLN- affiliate centers in Asian countries.

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)

Program Description:

Session 1: Rural Community Development

Rural community development is one of the dominant means to address rural poverty. While it encourages political and economic participation in rural areas, it facilitates planning and implementation of development policies in line with community needs.

Moderator:
Mr. Phil Karp, Advisor, East Asia and Pacific Region, The World Bank

Speakers:
Prof. Joon-Kyung Kim, Professor, Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management (KDI School), Korea

Dr. Zhang Huidong, Deputy Chief, Training Division, International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC), China

Dr. Kun Wildan, Director, Community Institutions and Training, Directorate of Community Empowerment, Ministry of Home Affairs, Indonesia

Session 2: Enhancing Agricultural Productivity

Improving agricultural performance is important for reducing rural poverty as it leads to income increases for the poor, improves access to food, and spurs structural transformation.

Speakers:
Prof. Je-Kyu Kim, Professor, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Korea

Mr. Shunichi Nakada, Senior Advisor to the Director General, Rural Development Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan

The World Bank, TBC

Target audience

- Government officials, researchers, experts, in the field of rural development
- Participants may be from a wide range of fields (government, private firms, academia, NGO, etc.)

Language:

English

Participants:

30 people (registration will be closed after capacity is reached)

Fee:

Free

Registration:

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served). You can attend any combination of sessions or both sessions.

Please register by sending us an email or using the form below, indicating your name, organization, telephone number, e-mail address and which session you wish to attend.

Science and Policy of Climate Change 2012

A Blended Distance Learning Course

Responding to increasing global concerns on global warming and climate change we are pleased to announce the second delivery of the Blended Distance Learning Course to address the climate change, “Science and Policy of Climate Change” from April 11 to July11, 2012.

Background

Few issues pose a greater challenge to economic prosperity and human security than climate change. It represents one of the biggest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet. This twelve-week, blended learning course has been jointly developed by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC)

The course follows an interdisciplinary approach enriched by audio, video, and interactive web-based content. It uses the latest information and communication technology (ICT) tools and techniques and also employs a unique format of learning through video conferencing by utilizing the facilities of the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) - an initiative started and developed by the World Bank in 2000.

Objectives

• Build capacities of individuals and organizations in the Asia-Pacific region towards better understanding of climate change dynamics;

• Evolve an interdisciplinary approach towards understanding the various challenges posed by climate change; and

• Provide participants an opportunity to demonstrate functional knowledge of the core issues of climate change through analysis and diagnosis of real-world problems.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of the course, the participants will be able to:

• Develop a holistic understanding of the climate-change problem, which can potentially affect all dimensions of life (business, society, environment, etc);

• Acquire technical skills required to address problems with respect to the varied dimensions of climate change;

• Identify, create, and reflect upon ‘integrated approaches’ and appropriate interventions that may lead to taking necessary action and coping with climate change; and

• Put theory into practice by

• Applying science into policy making;

• Exploring the risks and opportunities for business;

• Formulating sound strategies for adaptation and mitigation; and

• Understanding the interface between development and climate change.

Target Audience

The course has been customized for:

• Development practitioners
• Policy makers
• Corporate sector
• Graduates and mid-level professionals

Course Approach

The course will commence with an introductory videoconference session that will provide an overview of the course structure and the core concepts. The 12-week course will consist of four learning modules spread over two weeks each. The duration of each module will be 20-25 learning hours. The course will be delivered through a blended learning format comprising video-recorded lectures, academic articles and multimedia among others. It will be made available through the Moodle learning management system.

In order to ascertain assimilation, the participants will be evaluated on:

• Participation in activities (20%):
-  Discussion Forum
-  Videoconferences
-  Participant Feedback
• Intermediate tests (30 %)
• Final assignment (50%)

At the end of the course, there will be a concluding videoconference during which a synthesis of the concepts presented throughout the course modules will be provided. The session will also summarize key themes and present the way forward.

Schedule (Tentative)

Introductory VC session: Apr 11, 2012
Module 1 (including VC): Apr16 - May 5, 2012
Module 2 (including VC): May 7-26, 2012
Module 3 (including VC): May 28 - Jun 16, 2012
Module 4 (including VC): Jun 18- Jul 7, 2012
Concluding VC session: Jul 11, 2012

Course Content

Module 1: Science of climate change
Fundamental concepts related to the science of climate dynamics, natural forcing of the climate system, greenhouse effect, natural and anthropogenic drivers of climate change, methods and tools to detect changes in the climate, modeling, observed changes in the climate and causes behind climate change, scientific evidence of climate change, and so on.

Module 2: Impacts of climate change
Impacts of climate change on different sectors and regions of the world.

Module 3: Coping with climate change
Potential to harm societies and ecosystems, in particular, agriculture, forestry, water resources, human health, coastal settlements and natural ecosystems. This module will cover the following topics:

• Vulnerability assessment
• Concept of adaptation
• Types of adaptation
• Costs of coping with climate change

Module 4: Action and political economy
• Negotiations, including the outcomes of the recent COP17 to the UNFCCC;
• Climate-change policies such as those promoting low-carbon technologies or lifestyle changes in key mitigation sectors; and
• Linking the negotiations with public policy, looking back at developments at COP17.

Prerequisites

To successfully complete the course, participants should have:

• Proficiency in English language; and
• Strong commitment and subject interest

Certification

On successful completion of the course, the participants will be awarded a joint certificate from TERI, IGES and TDLC.

Course Fees

US$ 250 per participant. 20-40% scholarship may be offered to undergraduate students, unemployed and low income participants.

To apply, please contact TERI or TDLC (please use below contact form for TDLC)

- Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Contact: Vinod Bhargava
Email: bhargava@teri.res.in

How to Apply

Online registration at: http://www.esdonline.org

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) joined by a new partner of China Development Bank (CDB) to support participants in African countries, 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.

Background

Microfinance is recognized as an effective development intervention that enhances access to financial services by low-income individuals. The Microfinance Training of Trainers (MFTOT) Course was initially jointly sponsored by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) in 2005. The interactive Microfinance Distance Learning Course (MFDL) developed by United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the core learning material for study. This course has received high rating from participants and become popular in many countries.

Over the past six years, seven courses were successfully delivered in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. Over 2,000 participants conducted self-study using the interactive e-Learning package, attended videoconference sessions, received online tutoring for 11 assignments and took part in the final exam. Among them, a total of 694 in 51 countries were accredited to become a fully certified trainer of the UNCDF MFDL course. Top 29 graduates who are located in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Ghana, India, Japan, Lao PDR, Malawi, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, PNG, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam were engaged to work as tutors for the courses.
Since 2007, the course materials (workbook and interactive CD-ROM) have been translated from English into several local languages such as Chinese, Khmer, Lao, Thai, Vietnamese, Mongolian, and Bahasa Indonesia.
The ADBI and TDLC, joined by a new partner of China Development Bank (CDB) to support participants in African countries, are pleased to announce the eighth delivery of the Microfinance Training of Trainers course (MFTOT8) from December 2011 to April 2012.

Goals and Objectives

MFTOT8 continues to pursue its goal of strengthening the institutional capacity of microfinance in the Asia-Pacific region and African region by making high-quality microfinance training accessible to more decision-makers, professionals and practitioners in the field of microfinance as well as increasing the number and country coverage of accredited microfinance trainers in the Asia Pacific region and around the world.

Course Content

The course consists of 3 modules and special topics in microfinance.

At the end of Module I (The World of Microfinance), participants will be able to:
• Describe fundamental concepts in microfinance
• Design client-focused services
• Apply effective microcredit methodologies
• Describe the effects of the local environment on microfinance

At the end of Module II (Financial Analysis), participants will be able to:
• Read financial statements
• Measure delinquency
• Identify key financial factors
• Identify effective interest rate practices
• Measure financial viability

At the end of Module III (Institutional Analysis), participants will be able to:
• Gauge institutional viability
• Strengthen relations between donors and microfinance institutions

Through interaction with experts during videoconference sessions on special topics in microfinance, participants will be able to broaden their understanding of key issues in microfinance.

Course Description

The course features a unique, blended approach consisting of:
1. Self-paced study using the Microfinance Distance Learning (MFDL) package developed by UNCDF. The package is available also online at http://www.uncdf.org/mfdl.
2. Online tutoring and e-discussion. Tutors will assist participants throughout the course in completing course assignments through grading and feedback. Online discussions will be moderated by the team leader of tutors.
3. Meeting with international microfinance experts through four 3-hour videoconference sessions at selected GDLN centers. The videoconference sessions will feature presentations and discussions on current issues and best practices in microfinance. The videoconferences will also be webcast live.
4. Local courses in selected countries will be available during the same time period.

Target Audience

This course is aimed primarily at development practitioners, microfinance professionals, policy makers, donor staff, socially responsible investors, students, and others who want to improve their knowledge of best practices in microfinance.
Participants who wish to develop their skills in delivering microfinance training and become fully certified trainers of the UNCDF course can earn accreditation by completing all weekly assignments and the final examination for this course.

Certificate and Accreditation of Trainers

Statistics of previous courses showed that submission of assignments and receiving online tutoring help participants to master the knowledge of best practice of microfinance. Since MFTOT5, submission of assignments to a designated tutor has become mandatory for all participants. Two types of certificate will be available for participants depending on their learning objectives, level of commitment and performance.

Completion Certificate: Those who do not plan to become a certified trainer can earn a course completion certificate by completing the course assignments. They don’t need to take the final exam. Course assignments may be submitted in local language if the local language version of CD-ROM and a country tutor are available. The learning material translation has been undertaken in China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Accreditation Certificate: The accreditation is an important element of the course offering, and has great impact on the institutional capacity building for microfinance sector. Course participants can earn this certificate and become a fully certified trainer of the UNCDF MFDL course by completing all assignments and final exam in English with quality up to a standard.

*Certificates will be issued electronically in PDF

Course Fee

The MFTOT8 courses will be sponsored jointly by ADBI and TDLC. Participants need to pay a course fee to receive learning materials and online tutoring. The revenue of participants’ fees is used to cover partially the operational costs.
To meet increasing demand to deliver this high quality learning program, we have introduced new participation fee structure since MFTOT7. A full course fee is USD 300. Participants in less developed and middle-income countries will receive financial supports from the course sponsors and organizers.

• US$50 for participants in least developed countries (“IDA” or “Blend” category in the link)

• US$150 for participants in middle-income countries (“IBRD” category except for “High-income economies”)

• US$300 for all the other countries
Country classifications can be found on the World Bank Open Data website.

*Please note that country is based on participant’s residence/location, not his/her nationality

Requirements of Participation

To successfully complete the course, participants should have:

• English proficiency. Videoconference sessions and final examination will be conducted in English. For participants who wish to receive the accreditation certificate, English proficiency is crucial.
• Strong commitment and self-discipline. The course will require between 10-20 hours of self-study per week, depending on the participant’s background in microfinance and language proficiency.
• Support from employer. To ensure that participants can devote enough time to the course activities, we encourage participants to seek endorsement from their employers.

In addition, participants will need:
• A computer with 486 processor using Windows 95 or later, a CD-ROM drive, speakers or earphones, monitor of 800x600 resolution and at least 256 colors.
• An e-mail account

How to Apply

Registration has been closed.

Our thanks to the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) for contributing their CD-ROM and textbook to the course.

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

‘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).

*Webcasting (Live Streaming via Internet) of VC will be also available (To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows Media Player Version 10.0. and PC speakers).

Streaming URL: http://www.jointokyo.org/en/programs/catalogue/drm2011

Agenda:

Facilitator:Kazushige Taniguchi (The World Bank Tokyo Office, Special Representative)

Opening remarks
Shigeo Shimizu
Director, Development Intuitions Division, International Bureau, Ministry of Finance Japan

Setting the stage
Pamela Cox
Vice President of East Asia and Pacific, The World Bank
“The World Bank and Disaster Risk Management in the East Asia and Pacific Region”

Masahisa Fujita
President, Chief Research Officer, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry
“Mainstreaming Global Resilience: The Lessons from Complex Mega-Disasters”

Panel discussion
Facilitator: Abhas K. Jha (Lead Urban Specialist, East Asia and Pacific Region, The World Bank)

Panelist:(TBC)
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
- SEEDS Asia
- The World Bank

Q&A session

Target Audience:

Policy makers, academics, development assistance agencies officials, civil society groups that are active in the field of disaster risk management, environment, infrastructure and finance, World Bank staff and other donor staff in country offices etc.

Language:

English (with simultaneous interpretation)

Registration:

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served).
Please register by sending us an email using the form below or by fax (03-3597-9161), indicating your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address.

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. 

The first blended learning course ‘Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing’ in collaboration with Satsukidai Hospital, Chiba University will start in October 2011. The course consists of a combination of 10 e-learning lectures by Japanese professors and practitioners, and several Q&A sessions with local workshops. With the assistance of a local facilitator in Vietnam, program participants are expected to learn fundamental knowledge and good practices through lectures delivered by Japanese experts in the field.

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.

Organizers:

International Labour Organization Office in Japan (ILO)
Aoyama Gakuin University
Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC)

Session Description:

(Thursday) October 20, 2010
ILO activities on CRISIS
Mr. Alfred Lazarte (Director, CRISIS, ILO Geneva)

Co-hosted by UN Organizations in Japan: UN day 2011 @ Tohoku University (Recovery and Regeneration from the Great East Japan Earthquake: Message from Tohoku to the world) Pre-event
—- Will be connecting with Regional Innovation Research Center, Graduate School of Economics and Management / Faculty of Economics, Tohoku University—-

(Thursday) November 10, 2010
ILO Better Work Project
Mr. Dan Rees (Director, BETTER WORK, ILO Geneva)

(Thursday) November 17, 2010
Latest trends on Social Security- Social Security Floor
Mr. Michael Cichon (Director, SOC/SEC, ILO Geneva)

(Thursday) December 22, 2010
Employment and Labour challenges in Asia- 15th APRM round-up
Ms. Thetis Mangahas (Deputy Director, ROAP, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific)

Fee:

Free

Language:

English (Simultaneous interpretation)

participants:

30 people (registration will be closed after capacity is reached)

Registration:

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served). You can attend any combination of sessions or all four sessions.
Please register by sending us an email or using the form below, indicating your name, organization, telephone number, e-mail address and which session you wish to attend.

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. 

What is Green Growth and why is it important to the East Asia Pacific region?

Green Growth is a term to describe a path of economic growth which uses natural resources in a sustainable manner. It is used globally to provide an alternative concept to standard economic growth.  Environment Ministers gathered at the 13th Tripartite Ministerial Meeting among Korea, China, and Japan held in Busan, Korea on April, 2011, expressed concern over the negative impact of climate change on sustainable development, ecosystems and the environment. The Ministers agreed that it is imperative for countries in Asia to continue their economic growth to alleviate poverty and to achieve social progress, while at the same they emphasized the need for increased dialogue on Green Growth by joint research, workshops and other forums.

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.

Presenters

Mr. Tetsuro Fujitsuka
Director, On-site domestic waste water treatment promotion,
Waste Management and Recycle Department,
Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan

Dr. Bai Quan
Deputy Director, Energy Efficiency Department,
Energy Research Institute National Development and Reform Commission, China

Mr. Li Junfeng
Deputy Director-General, Energy Research Institute National Development and Reform Commission, China

Prof. Byungho Oh
Professor,
KDI School of Public Policy and Management, South Korea

Modarator

Mr. Tomoyuki Naito
Manager, Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), The World Bank

Organizers

Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)
Korea Development Institute (KDI) School
Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC)

Language

English

Target audience

- Academics, private sector, practitioners
- Civil society groups in the area of climate change, environment, infrastructure and finance
- Government official
- Students

Fee

Free

Registration

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served).
Please register by sending us an email using the form below, indicating your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address.

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.

Opening Remarks:

James W. Adams
The World Bank East Asia and Pacific, Regional Vice President

Authors:

Emanuela Di Gropello
The World Bank, Lead Economist

Prateek Tandon
The World Bank, Economist

Discussants:

Annie Koh
Dean, Executive Education; Associate Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University

Edilberto C. de Jesus
President, Asian Institute of Management

Kiyoshi Kodera
Vice President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Language:

English (with simultaneous interpretation)

Registration:

Advance registration required (first-come-first-served).
Please register by sending us an email using the form below or by fax (03-3597-9161), indicating your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address.

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.

Agenda

• Session 1:  Environment Assessment in Commercial Banks: Key Issues, Indicators, and Framework
• Session 2: Environment Assessment in Commercial Banks: Experiences in China, Korea, and Japan

Speakers

Ms. Valeria Salomao Garcia
Senior Financial Specialist
World Bank
USA

Mr. Xu Mingqi
Deputy Director,
The Institute of World Economy of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences
China

Mr. Dongsoo Kang
Director and Vice President,
Department of Macroeconomic and Financial Policy,
Korea Development Institute (KDI)
Korea

Mr. Koji Sakuma
Director,
Economic Research Department and Emerging Economy Research Department,
Institute for International Monetary Affairs
Japan

Language

English

Target audience

• Credit-rating officers in commercial banks
• Policy makers from financial supervision department and related departments
• Civil society, academia, and private sector

Registration

Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by this form or FAX (+81-3-3597-9161).

Global 4 Dimensions Water Cycle Management Seminar

VC seminar

The World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region are hosting the Global 4 Dimensions Water Cycle Management Seminar in collaboration with the WBTDLC, Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), and the Foundation for Riverfront Improvement and Restoration- 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.

Presenters:

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. Often, remote communities, where weather, water and climate related vulnerabilities are largest, suffer from the absence of even a minimal level of meteorological or hydrometeorological service, with no access to competent warnings enabling informed decision-making.
The objective of this session is to share knowledge and experiences on hydromet modernization initiatives for developing countries.

This session will focus on:
• Target and goals of hydrometeorologic modernization. How to set them right?
• Modernization of hydrometeorological system. How to design and deliver it cost-effectively?
• How to sustain the modernized EWSs?
• Capacity building. How to design a meaningful capacity building program and where to learn from?
• How to disseminate good practices within the region?

Agenda and key issues

• Opening (Introduction of participants and objectives)
• Overview of Hydromet Services and Early Warning System
• Presentations on country case studies
• Q&A and open discussion
• Conclusions

Presenters

From Washington DC, USA
Mr. Curtis Barrett
Hydrologist
Hydrologic Forecasting Systems
End-to-End Multi Hazard Early Warning Systems

From Naga, Philippines
Elmer Claveria
Faculty Member, Electronics and Computer Engineering -Computer Engineering Department, Naga University,

From Tokyo, Japan
Hidetomi Oi
Technical Advisor for Disaster Risk Management,
JICA, Tokyo Japan

Main moderator

Mr. Cuong Hung Pham
Senior Operations Officer
The World Bank, Vietnam Country Office

Language

English

Target Audience

EAP professional staff working on DRM
• ASEAN and SOPAC member state counterparts
• Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector practitioners, civil society groups that are active in the area of disaster risk management, environment, infrastructure, gender and finance
• National and sub national government officials
• World Bank staff in country offices

Registration

Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by this form or FAX (03-3597-9161).

There will be live-webcasting on the day of the session. A button allowing access to the live stream of the event will appear on the main program page shortly before the event begins.
To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows media Player Version 10.0.

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.

After attending the session, participants will be able to:

• Gain characteristics of community practices from case studies and their challenges
• Draw lessons of how to advocate and apply principles of community practices across different contexts and levels of society

Agenda and key issues

• Opening (Introduction of participants and objectives)
• Overview of Community Knowledge and DRM
• Presentations on country case studies
• Presentation on findings and tools to be developed
• Q&A and general discussion
• Conclusions

Presenters (TBC)

Mr. Rajib Shaw, Associate Professor; and
Ms. Yukiko Takeuchi, Assistant Professor
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES), Kyoto University

Mr. Yasuo Kawawaki, Senior Expert
Ms. Akiko Nakamura, Senior Researcher
Mr. Makoto Ikeda, Researcher
Mr.Tetsuo Ibaraki, Senior Researcher
Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)

Main moderator

Lorna Victoria
Training and Learning Circle, Philippines

Language

English

Target Audience

EAP professional staff working on DRM
• ASEAN and SOPAC member state counterparts
• Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector practitioners, civil society groups that are active in the area of disaster risk management, environment, infrastructure, gender and finance
• National and sub national government officials
• World Bank staff in country offices

Registration

Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by this form or FAX (03-3597-9161).

There will be live-webcasting on the day of the session. A button allowing access to the live stream of the event will appear on the main program page shortly before the event begins.
To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows media Player Version 10.0.

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. Recognizing the importance of a gender informed response, the World Bank is developing guidelines and tools for policymakers and practitioners to raise awareness of gender balanced approaches to DRM and increase gender-sensitive investment programs. 

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. After attending the session, participants should be able to:

• Gain a better understanding on why gender issues matter for DRM;
• Learn from regional good practices country cases how gender aspects can successfully be integrated into DRM operations.

Agenda and key issues

• Opening (Introduction of participants and objectives)
• Overview of Gender and DRM
• Presentations on country case studies
• Presentation on findings and tools to be developed
• Q&A and general discussion
• Conclusions

Presenters

Ms. Doracie Zoleta-Nantes
Fellow, Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Program
Australian National University of Asia and the Pacific

Ms. Hanindya Artati
Technical Assistance Expert,
Community Based Housing Reconstruction Project (REKOMPAK),
Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Ms. Adelina Kamal - TBC
Head, Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Division
Cross-Sectoral Cooperation Directorate,
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Department,
The ASEAN Secretariat

Main moderator

Ms. Helene Carlsson Rex
Senior Social Development & Gender Specialist,
The World Bank, Vientiane Country Office

Language

English

Target Audience

EAP professional staff working on DRM and Gender

• ASEAN and SOPAC member state counterparts
• Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector practitioners, civil society groups that are active in the area of disaster risk management, environment, infrastructure, gender, and finance in the ASEAN and SOPAC member states
• National and sub national government officials
• World Bank staff in country offices

Registration

Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by below form or FAX (03-3597-9161).

There will be live-webcasting on the day of the session. A button allowing access to the live stream of the event will appear on the main program page shortly before the event begins.
To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows media Player Version 10.0.

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.

Application

Please send your name and affiliation by e-mail (ilo-tokyo@ilotokyo.jp) or fax (03-5467-2700) by Wednesday, May 17.
*Because of the limited seating, when applicants reach maximum enrollment, we may stop accepting applications.

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

Introduction

Natural disasters are a main source of risk for the poor, and present a serious obstacle to achieving sustainable social and economic development. Disasters affect the poor most severely; measures taken to manage hazards and reduce their impact provide an effective vehicle to make substantial advances in the fight against poverty. Since 1980, the World Bank has allocated more than US$26 billion for projects related to natural disasters. It is a leader in providing reconstruction assistance, and is working actively to integrate risk reduction into its development strategies and projects so that all development activities contribute to reducing hazard impacts in our client countries.

Because natural disasters have a disproportionate impact on the poor, disaster mitigation and management programs are an integral part of poverty alleviation strategies. In this regard, the EAP region is working with clients to shift from post-disaster response to risk reduction and mitigation programs in order to build disaster resilient societies.

About the Distance Learning Seminar 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. This seminar series will highlight the following areas:

・Disaster risk analysis, preparedness and mitigation
・Emergency preparedness and early warning systems
・Community and local level disaster risk management

Within these three areas of focus, this series is comprised of 5 sessions delivered via VC by connecting 5-7 countries in the region starting from June through February 2012. Support for this initiative has been provided by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR).

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

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.

Background

In recent years, more and more countries, including many APEC countries, have started to consider resources and environment-friendliness as an important part of their economic development strategy. They face formidable challenges as well as huge opportunities in developing a green energy saving economy. Policy makers and regulators from APEC developing countries will learn the latest thinking and practices regarding green development for revitalizing their economy in the post-crisis world and building a sustainable economy in the long term.

Government policies and strategies without doubt play very important roles in the development of green energy saving economies and each economy has its unique experience in this area. Through this seminar, we can reach consensuses on government policies and strategies in promoting green energy saving economies, and share experiences in this area, which will help us promote sustainable development of both economies and society in the region.

Objectives of the session

The objective of this distance seminar is to serve as a platform for experts and government officials to exchange views and experiences with the participants on how to restructure the economy towards a green energy saving economy, and by doing so, to form scientific policy recommendations in this regard.

Agenda & Key Issues

- Necessity and feasibility of developing a green energy saving economy
- Green development strategy
- Restructuring pathways of the green energy saving economy
- Fiscal and monetary policy framework
- Role of the market
- Experiences of China, Vietnam and Japan

Speakers

Dr. Eric Zusman, Climate Change Policy Researcher at Institute for Global Environmental Strategy (IGES), Japan
Prof. Yin Xingmin, Deputy Director-General of Research institute of Chinese Economy, Fudan University, China
Prof. Do Duc Minh, Acting Director, Institute of Financial Training, MOF, Vietnam
Mr. Gailius J. Draugelis, Acting Energy Sector Coordinator ,Senior Energy Specialist at The World Bank

Moderator

Dr. Li Kouqing, Deputy Director-General of Asia-Pacific Finance Development Center, Vice President of Shanghai National Accounting Institute

Language

English

Target Audience

- Academics, private sector, practitioners
- Civil society groups in the area of climate change, environment, infrastructure, and finance
- Government officials
- Students

Sponsors

- Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC)
- Vietnam Development Information Center (VDIC)
- Institute of Financial Training, Vietnam
- The World Bank
- Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)

Admission

Free

Registration

Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by below form or FAX (03-3597-9161)

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.

1/3 of the total nursing population (2913 participants) have participated and directly benefited from this on-going training initiative so far. 

Venue

- Mongolia WBGDLN Center
- Health Sciences University of Mongolia
- Mongolia Japan Center for Human Resources Development
- Govi-Altai Medical Collage
- Darkhan-Uul Medical Collage
- Dorno Gob Medical College
- Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)

Related Links

For details on first program, see Mother and Child Healthcare Program Launched in Mongolia.

See Mongolian Nurses Inspire Collaboration to find out how this program was developed.

The organizers would like to thank Jeeyeon Seo (World Bank Institute) for designing the logo for this program.

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.

In this session, Dr. Robert Muir-Wood, Chief Research Officer, Risk Management Solutions (RMS) and Dr. Charles Scawthorn, Professor, ret., Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University and Visiting Scholar, Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California at Berkeley, will present on this topic with case studies and discuss the ways of increasing the availability and use of such models in DRM activities.

After attending the session, participants will be able to:
• Understand concepts of the open-source and proprietary risk models and the way to use of them in DRM activities
• Understand challenges of relating the localized hazards to specific vulnerability by use of the models
• Understand the roles and development challenges of the models

Agenda and key issues
• Opening (Introduction of participants and objectives)
• Brief overview of open-source vs. proprietary risk models
• Case studies and experiences
• Q&A and general discussion
• Conclusions

Speakers
Dr. Robert Muir-Wood
Chief Research Officer,
Risk Management Solutions (RMS)

Dr. Charles Scawthorn
Professor, ret., Graduate School of Engineering,
Kyoto University and
Visiting Scholar,
Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center,
University of California at Berkeley

Main moderator
Richard Sanders

Language
VC session: English

Target Audience
• EAP professional staff working on DRM
• ASEAN and SOPAC member state counterparts
• Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector practitioners, civil society groups that are active in the area of disaster risk management, environment, infrastructure, and finance in the ASEAN and SOPAC member states
• National and sub national government officials
• World Bank staff in country offices

Registration
Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by this form or FAX (03-3597-9161).

There will be live-webcasting on the day of the session. A button allowing access to the live stream of the event will appear on the main program page shortly before the event begins.
To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows media Player Version 10.0.

Partners

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. Possible topics for discussion may include;

- Human resource issues and capacity building for better- tourism standards
- Tourism risk management for climate change and pandemics
- Reducing tourism environment footprint

Tourism experts and practitioners from international organizations, Japanese tourism organizations and corporate sectors are expected to present, make suggestions and recommendations for improvement.

Target Audience

- Embassy and public sector workers in representative countries
- Tourism industry practitioners

Organizers

- World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
- Asia Pacific Tourism Exchange Center (APTEC)
- Tokyo Development Learning Center, The World Bank (TDLC)

Sponsors

- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Japan Tourism Agency

Supporters

- The Nippon Foundation
- Japan Association of Travel Agent (JATA)
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Language

English

Fee

Free

Registration

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

Please register by sending us an email using the form below, indicating your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address.

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 Course to address the climate change, “Science and Policy of Climate Change” from April 8 to June 8, 2011.

Background

Few issues pose a greater challenge to economic prosperity and human security than climate change. It represents one of the biggest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet.

This eight-week, blended learning program has been jointly developed by TERI and IGES, in collaboration with TDLC.

The program follows an interdisciplinary approach and is enriched by audio, video, and interactive web-based content. It uses the latest information and communication technology (ICT) tools and techniques and also employs a unique format of learning through video conferencing by utilizing the facilities of Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) - an initiative started and developed by the World Bank in 2000.

Objectives

• Build capacities of individuals and organizations in the Asia-Pacific region towards better understanding of climate change dynamics;

• Evolve an interdisciplinary approach towards understanding the various challenges posed by climate change; and

• Provide participants an opportunity to demonstrate functional knowledge of the core issues of climate change through analysis and diagnosis of real-world problems.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of the program, the participants will be able to:

• Develop a holistic understanding of the climate-change problem, which can potentially affect all dimensions of life (business, society, environment, etc);

• Acquire technical skills required to address problems with respect to the varied dimensions of climate change;

• Identify, create, and reflect upon ‘integrated approaches’ and appropriate interventions that may lead to taking necessary action and coping with climate change; and

• Put theory into practice by

- Applying science into policy making;
- Exploring the risks and opportunities for business;
- Formulating sound strategies for adaptation and mitigation; and
- Understanding the interface between development and climate change.

Target Audience

The program has been customized for:

• Development practitioners
• Policy makers
• Corporate sector
• Graduates and mid-level professionals

Program Approach

The program will commence with an introductory videoconference session that will provide an overview of the course structure and the core concepts.

The 8-week program will consist of four learning modules spread over two weeks each. The duration of each module will be 20 learning hours. The program will be delivered through a blended learning format comprising video-recorded lectures, academic articles and multimedia among others. It will be made available through the Moodle learning management system.

In order to ascertain assimilation, the participants will be evaluated on
• Participation (20%)
• Completion of the course (10 %)
• Intermediate assignments (70%)

At the end of the program, there will be a concluding videoconference during which a synthesis of the concepts presented throughout the course modules will be provided. The session will also summarize key themes and present the way forward.

Schedule (Tentative)

Registration: Feb 21- Mar 31, 2011
Introductory VC session: Apr 8, 2011
Module 1 (including VC): Apr 11-23, 2011
Module 2 (including VC): Apr 25-May 7, 2011
Module 3 (including VC): May 9-21, 2011
Module 4 (including VC): May 23- Jun 4, 2011
Concluding VC session: Jun 8, 2011

Program Content

Module 1: Science of climate change
Fundamental concepts related to the science of climate dynamics, natural forcing of the climate system, greenhouse effect, natural and anthropogenic drivers of climate change, methods and tools to detect changes in the climate, modeling, observed changes in the climate and causes behind climate change, scientific evidence of climate change, and so on.

Module 2: Impacts of climate change
Impacts of climate change on different sectors and regions of the world.

Module 3: Coping with climate change
Potential to harm societies and ecosystems, in particular, agriculture, forestry, water resources, human health, coastal settlements and natural ecosystems. This module will cover the following topics:

• Vulnerability assessment
• Concept of adaptation
• Types of adaptation
• Costs of coping with climate change

Module 4: Action and political economy
• Negotiations, including the outcomes of the recent COP16 to the UNFCCC;
• Climate-change policies such as those promoting low-carbon technologies or lifestyle changes in key mitigation sectors; and
• Linking the negotiations with public policy, looking back at developments at COP16 and forward to the possibilities at COP17.

Prerequisites

To successfully complete the program, participants should have:

• Proficiency in English language; and
• Strong commitment and subject interest

Certification

On successful completion of the program, the participants will be awarded a joint certificate from TERI, IGES and TDLC.

Course Fees

The course is open for participants from Asia-Pacific region only.

• US$300 for Group 1 countries (Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong)
• US$150 for Group 2 countries (All other countries in Asia Pacific region)

How to Apply

Registration for this course has been closed.

GDLN Asia Pacific Professional Management Program

The “GDLN Asia Pacific Professional Management Program” was conducted in Bali, Indonesia on June 22-25, 2010.  Members of GDLN Asia Pacific and peers from the World Bank Institute provided the content for, and facilitated the 5-Module program.  The program served as a platform to (i) allow experienced DLCs and World Bank Institute colleagues to share their knowledge and know-how and, to advise and mentor other DLCs in the region and (ii) to set up an on-going community of practice/peer learning group within the region. The program that was carried out in Bali, Indonesia targeted DLC managers and training coordinators.

The “GDLN Asia Pacific Professional Management Program” presentation files are listed below as an overview to the program. 

Summary presentation of the “GDLN Asia Pacific Professional Management Program”

Module 1: GDLN and GDLN Asia Pacific overview

Module 2: How to run a DLC

Module 3: Event management

Module 4: GDLN Technology

Module 5: GDLN Programs

Session 5: Urban Flood Risk Management: Experiences of Cities

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

Urban flooding poses a significant hazard and causes damage on infrastructure and the economy in cities. Urban poor populations are likely to be the hardest hit. Cities have tackled with it but there are still challenges in cities that have different characteristics.

The overall objective of this session is to disseminate good practice and approaches to flood and drainage management, and address issues and challenges of urban flooding prevention.  In this session, speakers from Senegal and Vietnam will be invited that would be a good opportunity for cross-regional knowledge exchange on urban flooding and drainage.

This session will also incorporate discussion on the effects and implications of climate change.

The 5th session of the DRM Distance Learning Seminar Series will help participants to:
• Gain better understanding on urban flooding and drainage issues
• Understand issues and challenges in reducing the impact of urban flooding
•  Discuss some of the real operational challenges

Agenda and key issues to present and discuss
• A short opening (introduce participants, program and objectives )
• A brief overview and major issues of urban flooding and drainage management
• Case studies and experiences
• Q&A and general discussion
• Conclusions

Speakers
• From Senegal
Mr. Khalifa Ababacar Sall, The Mayor of Dakar
Denis Jean-Jacques Jordy, Senior Environmental Specialist, The World Bank Senegal Office
Christian Diou, Senior Municipal Engineer, The World Bank Senegal Office
•From Vietnam
Dr. Ho Long Phi, Senior Advisor/Project Manager of the Steering Center of Flood Control in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Language
VC Session: English

Registration
Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by this form or FAX (03-3597-9161).

There will be live-webcasting on the day of the session. A button allowing access to the live stream of the event will appear on the main program page shortly before the event begins.
To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows media Player Version 10.0.

Partners

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

Session 4: It Is Not Too Late: Preparing for East Asia’s Next Big Earthquake

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

The overall objective of this session is impart knowledge on reducing earthquake risk through promotion of safer construction, dissemination of good practice for new and existing infrastructure, and increasing the level of preparedness.

In this session, Peter Yanev, Senior Earthquake Specialist, Yanev Associates and Senior Consultant to the World Bank, one of the world’s top seismologists, to do a policy-note on preparing for East Asia’s next big earthquake. We will release the note during the upcoming Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR in Korea. Yanev is collaborating with local one local expert in China, Philippines and Indonesia. Another top seismologist , Professor T. C. Pan, Dean of NTU’s College of Engineering and Director of the Protective Technology Research Center, will speak on various aspects of seismic vulnerability reduction. 

Abhas K. Jha, World Bank Regional Coordinator for DRM, will moderate the session. This session is fourth in a series of sessions on disaster risk management.  After attending the session, participants should be able to:

1. Know how to utilize seismic risk information into land use plans and building codes
2. Be informed about the challenges and opportunities in reducing seismic vulnerability, and
3. Learn from global good practices in seismic vulnerability reduction.

Agenda and key issues to present and discuss
• A short opening to introduce participants, program and
• A brief overview of earthquake vulnerability reduction
• Case studies and experiences
• Q&A and general discussion
•Conclusions

Target Audience
-　 EAP professional staff working on DRM
-  ASEAN and SOPAC member state counterparts
-  National and sub national government officials,
-  Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector practitioners, civil society groups that are active in the area of disaster risk management, environment, infrastructure, and finance in the ASEAN and SOPAC member states.
- World Bank staff in country offices

Speakers
Mr. Peter I. Yanev
Senior consultant of the World Bank
President of EQRM International Inc.

Professor Pan Tso-Chien
Founding director of ICRM
Dean, College of Engineering
Director, Protective Technology Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Main moderator
Abhas K. Jha, Regional Coordinator, Disaster Risk Management, East Asia and the Pacific, The World Bank

Language
VC Session: English. Simultaneous translation is available at each site as required.

Registration
Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or FAX (03-3597-9161).

There will be live-webcasting on the day of the session. A button allowing access to the live stream of the event will appear on the main program page shortly before the event begins.
To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows media Player Version 10.0.

Partners

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

2010 Lecture Series: Asian Decent Work Agenda under Global Job Crisis

ILO / Aoyama Gakuin University / TDLC

Above screen:

• Interviews with students from Aoyama Gakuin University

Video Archives:

• CSR and Decent Work: Global trends and ILO approaches
  Ms. Yukiko Arai
  Senior Specialist, Multinational Enterprise Programme (MULTI), ILO Geneva

• Child Labour (2) Activities in Asia and the Pacific
  Ms. Simrin Singh
  Senior Specialist on Child Labour, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

——————————————————————————————————————————————

International Labour Organization (ILO), Aoyama Gakuin University and The Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) will host a lecture series on “Asian Decent Work Agenda under Global Job Crisis”. The lecture series consists of 6 sessions, featuring experts and specialists from ILO headquarters (Geneva), ILO Asia Pacific (Bangkok), the ILO Office in Japan, and various Japanese experts as speakers. This series will address ILO’s decent work activities as well as local activities in Japan via videoconference.

Organizers

International Labour Organization Office in Japan (ILO)
Aoyama Gakuin University
Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)

Session Description

All lectures (Japan Standard Time): Doors open: 17:30, Lecture: 18:00 to 20:00

1st Session: October 14, 2010 (Thur)
Title: International Labour Standards and its Supervisory Machinery
Speaker: Mr. Shingo Miyake, Legal Officer on international labour standards, (NORMES), ILO Geneva
Language: Japanese

2nd Session: October 21, 2010 (Thur)
Title: CSR and Decent Work: Global trends and ILO approaches
Speaker: Ms. Yukiko Arai, Senior Specialist, Multinational Enterprise Programme (MULTI), ILO Geneva
Language: Japanese and English (Simultaneous interpretation)

3rd Session: November 11, 2010 (Thur)
Title: ILO’s Technical Cooperation Activity focused on Occupational Safety and Health
Speaker: Mr. Tsuyoshi Kawakami, Senior Specialist on occupational safety and health, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the pacific (ROAP)
Language: Japanese

4th Session: November 18, 2010 (Thur)
Title: Child Labour (1) Global Report 2010
Speaker: Ms. Yoshie Noguchi, Senior Legal Officer, IPEC: International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, ILO Geneva
Language: Japanese

5th Session: November 25, 2010 (Thur)
Title: Child Labour (2) Activities in Asia and the Pacific
Speaker: Ms. Simrin Singh, Senior Specialist on Child Labour, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Language: Japanese and English (Simultaneous interpretation)

6th Session: December 9, 2010 (Thur)
Title: Gender Equality
Speaker: Mr. Raphael Crowe, Gender Specialist, ILO Geneva
Language: Japanese and English (Simultaneous interpretation)

Fee

Free

Participants

30 people (registration will be closed after capacity is reached)

Registration

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

You can attend any combination of sessions or all six sessions.

Please register by sending us an email using the form below, indicating your name, organization, telephone number, e-mail address and which session you wish to attend.

Microfinance Training of Trainers Course 7 (MFTOT 7)

A Blended Distance Learning Course

The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) are pleased to announce the seventh delivery of the Microfinance Training of Trainers course (MFTOT7) from December 2010 to April 2011.

Background

Microfinance is recognized as an effective development intervention that enhances access to financial services by low-income individuals. The Microfinance Training of Trainers (MFTOT) Course is jointly sponsored by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC). The interactive Microfinance Distance Learning course (MFDL) developed by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the core learning material for study. This course has received high rating from participants and become popular in many countries.

Over the past five years, six courses were successfully delivered in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. About three thousand participants conducted self-study using the interactive e-Learning package and attended videoconference sessions. Over 1,100 participants received online tutoring for 11 assignments and took part in the final exam. Among them, a total of 509 in 48 countries were accredited to become a fully certified trainer of the UNCDF MFDL course. Top 28 graduates who are located in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Lao PDR, Malawi, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, PNG, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam were engaged to work as tutors for the courses. Since 2007, the course materials (workbook and interactive CD-ROM) have been translated from English into several local languages such as Chinese, Khmer, Lao, Thai, Vietnamese, Mongolian, and Bahasa Indonesia.

Goals and Objectives

MFTOT7 continues to pursue its goal of strengthening the institutional capacity of microfinance in the Asia-Pacific region by making high-quality microfinance training accessible to more decision-makers, professionals and practitioners in the field of microfinance as well as increasing the number and country coverage of accredited microfinance trainers in the Asia Pacific region and around the world.

Course Content

The course consists of 3 modules and special topics in microfinance.

At the end of Module I (The World of Microfinance), participants will be able to:
• Describe fundamental concepts in microfinance
• Design client-focused services
• Apply effective microcredit methodologies
• Describe the effects of the local environment on microfinance

At the end of Module II (Financial Analysis), participants will be able to:
• Read financial statements
• Measure delinquency
• Identify key financial factors
• Identify effective interest rate practices
• Measure financial viability

At the end of Module III (Institutional Analysis), participants will be able to:
• Gauge institutional viability
• Strengthen relations between donors and microfinance institutions

Through interaction with experts during videoconference sessions on Special Topics in microfinance, participants will be able to broaden their understanding of key issues in microfinance.

Course Description

The course features a unique, blended approach consisting of:

1. Self-paced study using the Microfinance Distance Learning (MFDL) package developed by UNCDF. The package is available also online at http://www.uncdf.org/mfdl.

2. Online tutoring and e-discussion. Tutors will assist participants throughout the course in completing course assignments through grading and feedback. Online discussions will be moderated by the team leader of tutors.

3. Meeting with international microfinance experts through four 3-hour videoconference sessions at selected GDLN centers. The videoconference sessions will feature presentations and discussions on current issues and best practices in microfinance. The videoconferences will also be webcast live.

4. Local courses in selected countries will be available during the same time period.

Target Audience

This course is aimed primarily at development practitioners, microfinance professionals, policy makers, donor staff, socially responsible investors, students, and others who want to improve their knowledge of best practices in microfinance.

Participants who wish to develop their skills in delivering microfinance training and become fully certified trainers of the UNCDF course can earn accreditation by completing all weekly assignments and the final examination for this course. 

Certificate and Accreditation of Trainers

Two types of certificate will be available for participants depending on their learning objectives, level of commitment and performance.

Completion Certificate: Those who do not plan to become a certified trainer can earn a course completion certificate by completing the course assignments. They do not need to take the final exam. Course assignments may be submitted in local language if the local language version of CD-ROM and a country tutor are available. The learning material translation has been undertaken in China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Accreditation Certificate: The accreditation is an important element of the course offering, and has great impact on the institutional capacity building for microfinance sector. Course participants can earn this certificate and become a fully certified trainer of the UNCDF MFDL course by completing all assignments and final exam in English with quality up to a standard. 

Course Fees

MFTOT 7 course is sponsored by ADBI and TDLC. The revenue of participants fees are used to cover partially the operational costs. The participation fee structure applies World Bank’s analytical income categories (low, middle, high income) that are based on the Bank’s operational lending categories (civil works preferences, IDA eligibility, etc.).

Course fee is $300, however, participants from the least developed countries and middle-income countries will receive $250 and $150 sponsorship respectively.

• US$50 for least developed countries (IDA or Blend category in the link)
• US$150 for middle-income countries (IBRD category in the link except for High-income OECD members category)
• US$300 for all other countries

How to Apply

Registration for this course has been closed.

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

Microinsurance and its application in disaster risk management programs

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

Session 3

The poor, with their limited assets and resources, are often excluded from formal insurance instruments. In many developing countries, the poor have resorted to other instruments – credits, grain banks, remittances, savings, etc – to tide them over during times of hardship. Microinsurance is thus seen as an effective instrument to protect the poor from the increasing impacts of disasters. It is flexible enough to suit the particular needs of the clients and to accommodate non-traditional institutional arrangements.

This session will highlight the various innovations on the application of microinsurance in DRM and the experiences and insights of practitioners.
After attending the session, participants should be able to:

- Gain better understanding on microinsurance and its applications;
- Clarify issues based on experts’ insights and live cases; and
- Consider introducing microinsurance as a social protection scheme

Agenda and key issues to present and discuss
- A short opening to introduce participants, program and objectives
- A brief overview of microinsurance initiatives in DRM
- Case studies and experiences
- Q&A and general discussion
- Conclusions

Target Audience
- EAP professional staff working on DRM
- ASEAN and SOPAC member state counterparts
- National and sub national government officials, government counterparts
- Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector practitioners, civil society groups that are active in the area of disaster risk management, environment, infrastructure, and finance in the ASEAN and SOPAC member states
- World Bank Staff in country offices

Speakers
• Ms. Zenaida Delica Willison (Unit South-South Cooperation, UNDP Regional Office in Bangkok)
• Prof. Robert Tiong (Schoold of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang University)
• Mr. William Martirez, (Microensure) - Philippine experience
• Mr. Mehul Padya (All India Disaster Mitigation Institute)
• Ms. Lorna Victoria (Traiing and Learning Circle)

Main moderator
Ms. Lorna Victoria, (Training and Learning Circle)

Language
VC session: English

Registration
Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or FAX (03-3597-9161).

There will be live-webcasting on the day of the session. A button allowing access to the live stream of the event will appear on the main program page shortly before the event begins.
To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows media Player Version 10.0.

Partners

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

Conducting multi-hazard risk assessments

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

Session 2
The Risk Assessment shows the likelihood of an extreme hazard event and its impacts to vulnerable communities.  Disaster risk is a function of the characteristics and frequency of hazards experienced in a specified location, the nature of the elements at risk, and their inherent degree of vulnerability or resilience (which can include capacity). Effective risk reduction requires a multi-hazard risk assessment in order to determine which areas are at highest risk of experiencing a disaster and why, so that appropriate and cost-effective mitigation measures can be identified, adopted, and implemented. This session will also incorporate discussion on the effects and implications of climate change.

After attending the session, participants should be able to:

• How to systematically capture, track and consolidate vulnerability information.
• Conduct risk assessments using hazard data from several sources.
• Discuss some of the real operational challenges.

Agenda and key issues to present and discuss

• A short opening to introduce participants, program and objectives
• A brief overview of conducting risk assessments
• Case studies and experiences
• Q&A and general discussion
• Conclusions

Target Audience

• EAP professional staff working on DRM
• ASEAN and SOPAC member state counterparts
• National and sub national government officials,  government counterparts
• Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector practitioners, civil society groups that are active in the area of disaster risk management, environment, infrastructure, and finance in the ASEAN and SOPAC member states.
• World Bank staff in country offices

Speaker
Vietnam:
Mr. Cao Tuan Minh, (Project Director of the Natural Disaster, Risk Mitigation Project, Central Project Office (CPO), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam
Singapore:
Mr. Kusnowidjaja Megawati (Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University)
Australia: TBC

Language
VC session: English

Registration
Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or FAX (03-3597-9161)
There will be live-webcasting on the day of session.
A button allowing access to the live stream of the event will appear on the main program page shortly before the event begins.
To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows Media Player Version 10.0.

Partners

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

Japanese Making a Difference in the World: Reports from the Field~Medical Service Providers

International Midwives' Day / International Nurses' Day Commemoration Seminar

In commemoration of International Midwives’ Day (5th of May) and International Nurses’ Day (12th of May), a seminar will be held on May 12. 2010. Sister Yukie Makino (77) and Sister Michiko Hirama (70 yrs) will connect from Madagascar to talk about the status in Madagascar, their efforts and hardships they’ve encountered as a medical service provider in the country, and also about the needs of the people who seek their services.

This event will be held in Japanese language only.
Please refer to our Japanese language pagefor further information.

Date:　
May 12, 2010 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Venue:　
Tokyo Development Learning Center（TDLC）
10F Fukoku Seimei Bldg.
2-2-2 Uchisaiwai cho, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, Japan

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

TDLC, WHO, Kitasato University and Mongolia Nurses Association will deliver the third blended learning program to train mother and child health care specialists in Mongolia on April 15, 2010.  The third distance learning program will focus on emergency obstetrics and neonatal care and is expecting to be delivered to over 450 participants at 6 sites in Ulaan Bataar and other rural locations in Mongolia.

Venue

Health Sciences University of Mongolia
Govi-Altai Medical College
Darkhan-Uul Medical College
Dornogobi Medical College
Mongolia Japan Center for Human Resources Development
World Bank Mongolia Distance Learning Center
WBTDLC

Related Links

For details on first program, see the program page.

Find out how this program was developed, with inspiration from Mongolian nurses.

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

New Challenges and Responses in Global Labor Safety and Health

Over the last 10 years or so, our work place in regards to safety and health have improved greatly. Implementation of measures promoting occupational safety and health over the last 10 years has significantly improved our workplaces.  However, annually 2.3 million people are estimated to have died due to work-related accidents and diseases globally.  This is equivalent to a loss of 1.25 trillion US dollars, 4% of the world’s GDP.  Believing that accidents and diseases could have been prevented if appropriate measures were in place, in 2003, the ILO set 28 April as World Day for Safety and Health at Work in order to raise people’s awareness on promoting and creating a safety and health culture at work. 

In commemoration of the World Day, ILO Office in Japan, The World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), and the ILO Association of Japan, Inc. will hold a seminar.

We look forward to your participation.

Hosted by:
The ILO Office in Japan
The World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center
ILO Association of Japan, Inc.
In partnership with:
Japan Industrial Safety & Health Associaion （TBD）

Date:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 15：30～17：30

Location:
The World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center
Fuko Seimei Bldg. 10 F, 2-2-2 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Program:
This program will be held in Japanese language only.

If you are interested in participating in this seminar, please contact the ILO Office in Japan either by fax or email （FAX: 03-5467-2700, email: ilo-tokyo@ilotokyo.jp）and include your name, organization, contact information.

Blended Learning on Partograph

Obstructed labor is one of the five major causes of maternal death in many countries. Many of those who survive prolonged and obstructed labor suffer long term disabilities such as obstetric fistulae, and often become outcasts from society. Prolonged obstructed labor may lead to death and disability for the infant. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of the partograph – a simple and reliable tool for graphic recording of progress of labor and monitoring the health of the mother and the fetus. The partograph serves as an “early warning system” and assists in early decision making on interventions in labor.

The WHO Partograph e-Learning Tool

Jointly developed by the World Health Organization’s Department of Making Pregnancy Safer and John Snow, Inc., this tool may be used for self-learning or as an aid in classroom learning in pre-service and in-service midwifery and medical training.
The tool includes
• Step by step instructions on how to fill in a partograph
• Exercises to practice plotting progress of labor on the partograph
• Case studies on the use of the partograph for making clinical decisions during labor.

Course Details:

This course consists of:
1) introductory video viewing session at your local distance learning center
2) self-study with CDROM “WHO Partograph e-Learning Tool”
3) workshop at your local distance learning center connecting all sites and WHO in Geneva via videoconference

After the introductory video viewing session, participants are expected to study the course materials (CDROM) and join the video conference workshop on April 28, 2010.

Date & Time：

- Session 1: Introductory video viewing session at your local distance learning center
(Please contact your local distance learning center for the exact date and time)

- Session 2: Workshop (video conference) at your local distance learning center on April 28, 2010
Please see times below for locations and time

Locations & Local Times:

Ghana: 7:00~9:15
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
Jordan: 10:00~12:15
Global Distance Learning Center, Atheer, University of Jordan
Tanzania: 10:00~12:15
Tanzania Global Distance Learning Centre (TGDLC)
Madagascar: 10:00~12:15
Madagascar Distance Learning Center
India: 12:30~14:45
India TERI Distance Learning Center
Sri Lanka: 12:30~14:45
Distance Learning Centre Ltd.
Indonesia: 15:00~17:15
GDLN Udayana University
Philippines:15:00~17:15
Asian Institute of Management
Mongolia: 15:00~17:15
Mongolia Development Learning Center
Tokyo: 16:00~18:15

Language：　 English
Fee: Free

Conducting Post-disaster Damage and Needs Assessments (PDNAs)

Video of this session is also available from our streaming Video On Demand server

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2010 Series

Session 1

The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is a critical part of the reconstruction process for areas struck by disasters.
In this session, representatives from the governments of Indonesia and Pakistan will speak on the lessons learned from the PDNAs conducted in their respective countries.
Abhas K. Jha, World Bank Regional Coordinator for DRM, will moderate the session.

This session is the first in a series of sessions that will commence in April 2010 and run through the remainder of 2010.

After attending the session, participants should be able to:
-Be aware of best practices in conducting PDNAs in both MIC and IDA countries.
-Know what logistical challenges to prepare for when embarking on a PDNA
-Understand how the outcomes of the PDNA process can influence sustainable recovery planning and longer term risk reduction efforts

Agenda and key issues to present and discuss
 
- A short opening to introduce participants, program and objectives
- A brief overview of the PDNA concept and framework
- Case studies and experiences – Pakistan and Indonesia
- Break
- Q&A and general discussion
- Conclusions

Target Audience

- EAP professional staff working on DRM
- ASEAN and SOPAC member state counterparts
- National and sub national government officials, government counterparts  
- Other partners and stakeholders such as academics, private sector practitioners, civil society groups that are active in the area of disaster risk management, environment, infrastructure, and finance in the ASEAN and SOPAC member states.
- World Bank staff in country offices

Main moderator

Abhas K. Jha, Regional Coordinator, Disaster Risk Management, East Asia and the Pacific, The World Bank,

Language

VC Session: English.

Registration

Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by this .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or FAX (03-3597-9161).

There will be live-webcasting on the day of session.
A button allowing access to the live stream of the event will appear on the main program page shortly before the event begins.
To view webcasting, participants will need a PC with internet access, Windows Media Player Version 10.0.

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

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2010 Series

Introduction

Natural disasters are a main source of risk for the poor, present a serious obstacle to achieving sustainable social and economic development. Disasters affect the poor most severely thus, measures taken to manage hazards and reduce their impact provide an effective vehicle to make substantial advances in fight against poverty. The countries of East Asia and the Pacific are among the most vulnerable in the world to effects caused by disasters.

A joint Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed between ASEAN, UN/ISDR, and the WB in May 2009, marking the beginning of a five year partnership. The WB supports capacity building activities and is organizing this series of videoconferences to assist clients in enhancing their knowledge on DRM in the region. A similar MoC is under preparation with the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC).

About the Distance Learning Seminar 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), has planned 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. This seminar series will highlight the following areas:

• Post-disaster response and recovery planning
• Disaster risk assessment, prevention and mitigation
• Emergency preparedness and early warning systems

Within these three areas of focus, this series is comprised of 5 sessions delivered via VC by connecting 5-7 countries in the region starting from April through December 2010. Support for this initiative has been provided by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR).

Partners

See also:

• Conducting Post-disaster Damage and Needs Assessments (PDNAs)
• Conducting multi-hazard risk assessments
• Microinsurance and its application in disaster risk management programs
• Session 4: It Is Not Too Late: Preparing for East Asia’s Next Big Earthquake
• Session 5: Urban Flood Risk Management: Experiences of Cities
• Session 6:  Open-source risk vs. Proprietary risk models

Rapid Design of e-Learning Programs

‘Essentials of e-Learning Program Design in a Nutshell’

The ‘Rapid Design of e-Learning Programs’ course has been developed jointly by the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and the Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC).

The term “e-Learning” (electronic learning) refers to learning delivered or enabled by electronic technology. It covers a wide range of concepts—computer-based learning, Web-based learning, virtual classrooms and digital collaboration. It includes delivery of learning via Internet, Intranet/extranet, audio, video, satellite broadcasting, interactive TV, CD-ROM, and more.

e-Learning has been growing rapidly in higher education and corporate training in the past decade due to significant social and economic benefits such as flexibility, accessibility, scalability and cost effectiveness. In order to ensure students and trainees have quality learning experiences, educators and trainers must embrace e-learning solutions by expanding their notion and competence of instruction to include online courses and digital materials into their education and training programs.

Objectives

The 5-week blended course aims to update your notion of e-Learning and enhance your skills in designing e-Learning programs in a short time frame.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:
1.  Be aware of development status and trends of e-Learning in the world and to make connection to own context;
2.  Explain major learning theories and principles and their applications in adult learning;
3.  Improve skills of learning design in real world project, including target audience analysis, writing learning objectives/outcomes, and selecting learning methods and delivery mode; 
4.  Understand and experience blended learning with various delivery modes, especially videoconferencing, online learning and facilitation.

Methodology

The course consists of a one-day workshop via videoconference and local face-to-face activities, followed by four weeks online learning by using the open source learning management system (LMS) Moodle. You can bring a real learning scenario or a course design task to work on as your course project. During the online learning period, the course instructors will provide online facilitation and tutoring by moderating asynchronous online discussions, grading assignments and providing feedback on project work. The course also promotes peer-learning through interaction among participants. 

You are expected to study approximately 10 hours per week, depending on your background and English proficiency. 

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a course completion certificate issued jointly from USQ and TDLC.

Major Contents

1.  Course Preparation and Introduction:
Contents: Become familiar with the online learning environment; Course objectives/outcomes and contents; How to study the course

2.  Introduction of e-Learning and Learning Design
Contents: Concepts of e-Learning and related terminologies, e-Learning development status and trends, what is learning design

3.  Learning Theories and Instructional Design Principles
Contents: Cognitivism, Behaviorism, Constructivism and Adult learning theory; learning design principles and application in program design

4.  Learning design process and rapid design of your project
Contents: Learning design process, key skills of learning design and apply to your e-Learning project
Exercises and assignments are built in throughout the learning process to support immediate application.

Schedule

Certificate

A course completion certificate will be issued by TDLC/USQ to participants who complete the full course, including submission of course assignments.

Target Audience

Educators and trainers in the East Asia Pacific and South Asia region who want to include e-Learning in their program and instruction design. Potential participants can be:
•  Faculty members of universities
•  Educators/trainers for adult learners who are interested in e-Learning

Requirements

 
To successfully complete the course, you should have:
•  English proficiency, especially in reading and writing.
•  Strong commitment and self-discipline.
In addition, you will need:
•  A computer using Windows 95 or later, speakers or earphones, monitor of 800x600 resolution and at least 256 colors.
•  Internet connection and an e-mail account

Course Fees

•  USD $200 for resident of Group 1 Country (Australia, Japan, New Zealand)
•  USD $100 for resident of Group 2 Country (All other countries in East and South Asia and Pacific region)

Payment via PayPal at online registration or to the GDLN Center in your country

How to Apply

This course will be hosted and delivered via the open source learning management system Moodle. 
Online registration is now available at http://tinyurl.com/programdesign

Please register by March 5, 2010.

Capacity Building for Climate & Disaster Resilience

Disaster in Mumbai, India   Photo courtesy of CITYNET

Climate change is happening.

Asia Pacific, one of the most vulnerable regions in the world, has experienced repeated destruction and loss of lives caused by climate-induced and hydro-meteorological disasters.
Dense-population cities are becoming increasingly affected. To avoid being struck unprepared, appropriate measures need to be taken, now.

“Local governments must act to increase community resilience,” the Hyogo Framework for Action stresses.

The Climate and Disaster Resilience Initiative (CDRI) capacity-building program seeks to help local governments manage current and potential risks posed by climate change. Through distance learning methods, CDRI promotes the development of plans and measures to address these issues, to maximize the resilience of urban communities.

Introduced in 2008 by Kyoto University, CDRI covers research, education, training, and the development of city profiles to indicate existing levels of resilience. CITYNET, the UNISDR Hyogo Office, and the UNU have joined in these efforts to further advance city profiling.

By using the profiling methodology to design a comprehensive and action-oriented learning and training package, TDLC is now also involved in realizing the CDRI capacity-building program. Led by Kyoto University, SEEDS is developing content, and monitoring for the program is to be based on the broad network of CITYNET.

Disaster in Mumbai, India   Photo courtesy of CITYNET

The program comprises three stages:

Stage 1: CDRI Basics

  - capacity-building for overall resilience mapping

  - urbanization and urban risk, CDRI methodology, concept of Climate Action Plan (CAP)

  - resilience map questionnaire completion

Stage 2: Training and Action Workshop

  - design and initiation of Climate Action Plan (CAP), based on:

  - CDRI analysis results

  - self-evaluation matrix

Stage 3: CAP Development and Implementation

  - City Climate and Disaster Resilience Policy framework

  - CAP implementation with specific time frames

The CDRI capacity-building program encompasses a wide range of approaches: face-to face workshops, field trips, Internet-based self-study incorporating Moodle, videoconferencing, and working group discussions to prompt active interaction among participants.

In line with the UNISDR World Disaster Campaign 2010-2011 “Building Resilient Cities” scheme, qualified candidates for Champion Cities are to be selected from among program participants.

Organizers/Partners：

CITYNET – The Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements

Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University

SEEDS

World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center

UNISDR

Public Seminar “Green Jobs and the Global Economic Crisis”

To Commemorate World Day of Social Justice

To commemorate a “World Day of Social Justice” designated by the United Nations, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office in Japan and the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) are jointly organizing a public seminar on “Green Jobs and the Global Economic Crisis” on February 22.

Upon the conclusion of COP15, international agencies have been urged to address environmental issues such as climate change.

The global recession, triggered by the financial and economic crisis, has necessitated greater effort by environmental sectors to help bring the world out of a critical situation.

A significant approach is the Green Jobs Initiative, implemented by ILO in collaboration with its partners.

The initiative is based on tripartism, facilitating activities in cooperation with governments, employers’, and workers’ organizations, and fosters a favorable environment to shift attention toward greener industries, with particular focus on the creation of new job opportunities.

The public seminar will showcase activities of the Green Jobs Initiative, with due consideration for both the needs of Asian countries and the expectations and potential of Japan’s environmental sector.

Organizers：

International Labour Organization Office in Japan
Tokyo Development Learning Center

Date and Time (JST)：

February 22, 2010 (Monday)
3:00 to 5:00pm

Location：

Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)
10F, Fukoku Seimei Building, 2-2-2 Uchisaiwai-cho,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Agenda：

• Opening Remarks
Ryu Fukui, World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center Manager

• Presentations;
“Growth Strategies and Employment Creation in Environmental Sector ”
Kazuaki Sakamitsu, Counsellor of Labour Policy, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

“ILO Green Jobs Initiative – Now and the Future”
Sachiko Yamamoto, Regional Director, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

“Greener Business Asia – ILO’s Challenges in Asia”
Vincent Jugault, Senior Specialist in Environment and Decent Work
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

“ILO Activities and the Global Economic Crisis”
Shinichi Hasegawa, Director, ILO Office in Japan

• Q&A

Fee：

  Free

Language：

    English and Japanese (simultaneous interpretation)

Registration：

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

Please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)(jointokyo@worldbank.org) or FAX (03-3597-9161).

We look forward to seeing you there!

PPPs for Infrastructure in Asia Pacific: Global Challenges and constraints

The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) organized a symposium on “PPPs for Infrastructure in Asia Pacific: Global Challenges and constraints” on December 16 and 17, 2009. The event was held at Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters in Manila, Philippines with video links offered in Bangkok, Guiyan, Hanoi, Jakarta, Melbourne, Shanghai and Tokyo.



The event was organized by MP3IC partners - ADB, the World Bank/World Bank Institute, and the Inter-American Development Bank - Multilateral Investment Fund, together with the APEC Study Center at Royal Melbourne Institute for Technology (APEC-RMIT), the Cities Development Initiative Asia, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Lecture Series: Women and Their Families—Health Services for Pregnancy and Child Care Session 2

Session 2: Mental health before and during pregnancy, and postpartum depression

Kitasato University School of Nursing, World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Making Pregnancy Safer, and Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) will jointly host a series of video conferences on safe motherhood and reproductive health issues from November 2009 through spring 2010.

In the second session, Dr. Mari Takahashi, Dean of School of Nursing, Kitasato University will lecture on mental health before and during pregnancy, and postpartum depression.

Date and Time (JST):

December 18, 2009 (Friday) 6:00-8:00pm

Venue:

Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)
10F, Fukoku Seimei Building, 2-2-2 Uchisaiwai-cho,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Lecturer:

Dr. Mari Takahashi,
Dean of School of Nursing, Director of Department of Maternity Nursing and Midwifery, Kitasato University
Director, Kitasato University Center for Nursing Career and Development and Research

Lecture Topic:

Mental health before and during pregnancy, and postpartum depression
•  Women’s psychological transformation during pregnancy, childbirth delivery, and at postpartum period
•  Mother-Child and Parents-Child relationship during postpartum period
      -Spousal abuse, child abuse or intimate partner violence,
        postpartum depression, pregnancy loss / baby loss and grief-care.

Fee:

Free

Language:

English and Japanese (simultaneous interpretation provided)

Organizers:

Kitasato University School of Nursing
World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Making Pregnancy Safer
Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)

Registration/Inquiries:

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

To register or to make an inquiry, please send us your name, organization, telephone number and e-mail address by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (jointokyo@worldbank.org).

We look forward to seeing you there!

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Lecture Series: Women and Their Families—Health Services for Pregnancy and Child Care

Training Course for Teachers

Instructional Design for Theme-based Sharing and Project-based Learning

To complement its Kids & Youth Initiative for better multicultural understanding among young people, TDLC is organizing a videoconference-based training course for teachers.

The Teachers’ Training Course is full of tips on how to organize effective videoconference sessions. It is specifically designed for elementary and junior high school teachers, instructors, and specialists involved in cross-cultural education.

The course provides Japanese and international expertise, and can be used as a platform for international exchanges of opinion.

Hong Kong-based IT and education specialist, Dr. Christopher Tan was featured lecturer at a training course held in spring 2008. The session extended beyond international borders in a lively discussion – just like in the kids’ sessions!

Please click below for a program outline.

Note: The course uses Moodle as a learning management system.

For more details, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

See also:

• Kids Go Multicultural via GDLN (TT)

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Kids & Youth Initative Programs

Kids & Youth Initative Programs

“Globalism” is a key word in our world today. As the world becomes a smaller place, our children’s lives are affected by changing need and diversification. The “Kids & Youth Initiative” was borne at such a time, to enhance multicultural awareness among the younger generation, in whose hands lie our future.

Through the use of videoconferencing and the latest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) learning methods, the program aims to broaden the scope of their knowledge and understanding of different cultures. The Kids & Youth Initiative seeks to create opportunity for opinion exchange on topics of common interest across cultures.

In the program, participants engage in artistic and creative workshop activity while enjoying multi-cultural experiences. Please click below for a program outline.

The “Kids & Youth Initiative” is a “fun learning” program. It is designed to nurture rich spirit and imagination through creative activity, for kids to experience the joy of expression and communication. It is an ideal way to improve their skills, while stimulating their sensitivity for better understanding of cultures and social issues.

The “Kids & Youth Initiative” videoconference sessions have been well received to date, and TDLC hopes to continue to organize more sessions for larger numbers of young “ambassadors”.

If you teach at the elementary or junior high school level, the community, an NGO or an NPO, and are interested in creating intercultural experiences for your kids, please take a look at the program outline above.

*attn: Elementary School and Junior High School Teachers, Instructors and Specialists of Inter-cultural Education*
re: Teachers’ Training Course

Your leadership is crucial.

To help plan, design, and implement the most effective videoconferences and ICT sessions possible, TDLC offers a training course for teachers.

Based on our Teachers’ Training Handbook, the course goes over the latest technology and provides guidelines on how to manage and facilitate Kids & Youth Initiative sessions, and how to collaborate with counterparts from different countries.

For an outline on the Kids Initiative Teachers’ Training Course, please click here.

See also:

• Kids Initiative
• Orphan Meets Artist
• Training Course for Teachers