Preparation, coordination and facilitation of “The Launching of ACE-BK for Women Empowerment” and the “International Workshop on Women Empowerment for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development” 30 August – 4 September 2014 in Tehran and Zanjan, I.R. Iran and Regional Forum on Agricultural Financing 22-25 September 2014 in Vietnam.

Courtesy Call on Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, Assistant Director-General, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific on 4 July 2014. Discussion and exchange of ideas and information on the on-going activities and further cooperation between the 2 institutions were also made. The Letter of Agreement (LoA) between FAO and APRACA was signed by both parties. As a service provider, APRACA shall provide administrative and operation services required for timely implementation of the programs assigned by FAO. FAO shall pay APRACA for providing such services. APRACA’s representatives also visited FAO’s high ranking officers to strengthen and maintain the good relationship and cooperation with FAO.

APRACA’s provision of services to FAO 17-18 July 2014 APRACA conducted the Internal Consultancy Meeting and 2nd Meeting of the ASEAN Ad hoc Task Force on Development ; New Vision on Food, Agriculture and Forestry towards 2020 for FAO. APRACA earned approximately USD 7, 000 for this service.

Visit to BAAC for discussion with BAAC’s President in seeking the financial and technical support. BAAC positively responded.

SG in collaboration with BAAC, had meeting with 500 high school students in Kalasin, Thailand on 28 July 2014 for public relation, presentation of APRACA’ s roles and granting of scholarships (on SG’s owned fund)

Visit to a branch of Agricultural Promotion Bank, Lao PDR for discussion on further support and cooperation on 29 July 2014

Membership fee collection The efforts in collecting annual membership fee have consistently been made. As August 2014, membership fee from 44 members have been collected. However, 3 members have paid the fee of 2 years, resulting in income earning hit the target of USD 188,000. It is expected that the income would exceed the target.

Membership expansion We have planned to expand membership to not only financial institutions but also government agencies, universities, NGOs and development agencies. The target countries include New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Training of Trainers in “Agricultural Value Chain Finance” in AFRACA, Nairobi. Dr. Prasun Kumar Das, Project Manager, APRACA was invited to train the participants of the ToT on Agricultural Value Chain Finance in Nairobi, Kenya during 21-25 July 2014 which was organized jointly by the FAO and AFRACA.

2 on-going IFAD Grant Projects APRACA is currently implementing 2 IFAD Grant Projects namely “Documenting Global Best Practices on Sustainable Models of Pro-Poor or RuFBeP and Enhancing Access for Rural Poor People to Sustainable Financial Services Through Policy Dialogue, Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing in Rural Finance or FinServAccess. Both projects have progressed according to planned schedules.

Training on Social Research Methodology for Yala Research Network. Dr. Marlowe U. Aquino served as the main resource speaker and trainer of the – South Border Research Institute, Yala Rajabaht University, Muang, Yala, Thailand for faculty-researchers and officials working on rural development, finance, agriculture, community health and nutrition, education and business management on14-18 July 2014.

Replication of Risk Management Strategies and Tools for Smallholder Farmers and Rural People (Phase 1).Dr. Marlowe U, Aquino, project manager of FinServAccess Project coordinated and conducted the assessment of risk management situation/condition, strategies and tools for smallholder farmers and rural people in Bangladesh with Mr. Suwit Poolsilp, technical expert from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Thailand on 21-24 July 2014.

Coordination of APRACA FinServAccess Project – researches on microfinance in agriculture for seven countries and agricultural insurance for five countries. Research results and findings of the Regional Study on Microfinance in Agriculture will be presented in a regional forum scheduled on 28-30 October 2014 in Siem Reap, Cambodia in partnership with APRACA Cambodia member institutions and the agricultural insurance will be presented next year.

SG meeting with the 12 delegates from ADBL during their exposure study visit on agricultural value chain financing to BAAC, Thailand Replication of Small Ruminants Value Chain Finance Phase II India 18-22 August 2014 for 7 delegates from Nepal

Visit to NARBARD, State Bank of India and National Cooperative and Agriculture Banks Federation in India on 25 August 2014 to enhance relationship and cooperation and follow up membership fee.

The Launching of ACE-BK for Women Empowerment” and the “International Workshop on Women Empowerment for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development” 30 August – 4 September 2014 in Tehran and Zanjan, I.R. Iran. The ACE-BK is the fourth ACE now ready to serve the members in the field of women empowerment. There were 30 people in the workshop including 18 international and 12 national participants. The participant actively contributed to the workshop and finally came up with the strategies and plan of actions in promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development.