Preparation and Facilitation for Launching of ACE-BK for Women Empowerment and International Workshop in Iran and Regional Conference in Vietnam Following the assumption of office as the new Secretary General on July 1, 2014, APRACA has prepared and facilitated Bank Keshavarzi on the Launching of ACE-BK for Women Empowerment” and the “International Workshop on Women Empowerment for
- Preparation and Facilitation for Launching of ACE-BK for Women Empowerment and International Workshop in Iran and Regional Conference in Vietnam Following the assumption of office as the new Secretary General on July 1, 2014, APRACA has prepared and facilitated Bank Keshavarzi on the Launching of ACE-BK for Women Empowerment” and the “International Workshop on Women Empowerment for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development” to be held on August 30 – September 4, 2014 in Tehran and Zanjan, I. R. Iran. The APRACA is also facilitating the regional conference on ‘Agriculture Lending and Evaluation Systems’ being hosted by the Vietnam Bank for Agricultural Development to be held in October 2014 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
- The visit to FAO RAP Bangkok July 4, 2014, the new Secretary General of APRACA together with 2 IFAD Grant Project Managers paid a visit and courtesy call on Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, Assistant Director-General, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. APRACA and FAO discussed and exchanged ideas and information on the on-going activities and further cooperation between the 2 institutions. 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 timelyImplementation of the programs assigned by FAO. FAO will 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 July 17-18, 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.
- The visit to BAAC July 22, 2014, the new Secretary General paid a courtesy call on MR. Luck Wajananawat, President of BAAC. Both had discussed the strategic framework of APRACA and cooperation with BAAC. There was a good sign of greater support and contribution of BAAC to APRACA.
- The visit to the Branch of APB, Loa PDR July 29, 2014, Secretary General visited Savanakhet Branch of Agricultural Promotion Bank (APB) in Savannakhet in the southern region of Loa PDR. The SG discussed with the branch manager and staff of APB and learned the current situation and needs of APB.
- 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.
