News and Events

AIT now an International Intergovernmental Organization, as New Charter comes into force
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Welcome to MDG Summit & Exhibition 2012
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ARCMDG is organizing the Asia-Pacific International MUN, which is an exclusive five-day simulation for university/college students hosted annually in Bangkok, with the aim to gather students from the five continents offering a higher-level atrium of dialogue and debate between culturally-diverse leaders, with the UN building as backdrop.

APMUN arises from the experience by ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence on Millennium Development Goals (ARCMDG) in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and its 50-year academic experience.
The Conference will be held from 8-12 April 2012 at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, Bangkok.
More details are available at this Link

BIMTECH and AIT Thailand sign collaboration agreement, 22/08/2011.
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand and Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida, have signed MoU. more

An article on MDGs: "The Guardian and Global development – committed to a fairer world". 'The Guardian's new development site is the web's central hub for new debates and stories around international social justice' more

Dr. Sandro Calvani has attained as guest speaker and Panelist for the ‘United Nations Millennium Development Goals Session’ at the inaugural Joint Conference June 26, 2011 (Sunday)2011 that is jointly hosted by two internationally recognized medical students’ associations: the Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) International and the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA). Where he gave to the 700 participants from 25 countries a key note speech on MDGs and on AIT contribution to the MDGs cause.
http://www.jointconference2011.com

Dr. Sandro Calvani has given Keynote speech on "Happiness is About True Responsibility" at the graduation ceremony of Webster University in Hua Hin, Thailand on May 15th, 2011.
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Freedom from Want magazine carves out niche in development thinking
Freedom from Want, a new magazine produced and published by the ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence on Millennium Development Goals (ARCMDG at AIT), reached the public in early April 2011 in print and online.
http://www.ait.asia/news-and-events/2011/news/freedom-from-want-magazine-carves-new-niche-in-development-thinking/

APEC ACT senior officials meeting from 2-4 March in Washington DC.
Dr. Sandro Calvani has attended the 2011 APEC ACT senior officials meeting from 2-4 March in Washington DC. The consultation included the future APEC plan of action to enhance member economies collaboration to reduce forms of crime and corruption which affect the attainment of MDGs as well as innovative collaboration between APEC's human security policies and MDGs policies.

The ARCMDG Board had its annual meeting on January 29th. The Board confirmed Mr. Apichai Sunchindah as its Chairman for a period of three years. The ARCMDG activities report and its business plan were considered and guidance was provided to the management in all the main components. Specific advices addressed the fund raising and partnership plans. UNDP joined the Board for the first time and encouraged me and ARCMDG to continue our commitment to contribute to the knowledge management on MDG.

ARCMDG had organized an International workshop on ASEAN MDG Roadmap for ASEAN Senior officials in Bangkok on 24-25 January, that was fully funded by UNDP and ASEAN. More than 130 Senior Officials including 8 UN agencies attended. A complete plan on future follow up steps was approved. ARCMDG was invited to attend (and attended) on 26 Jan the closed session of ASEAN Senior Officials on Rural Development and Poverty Elimination to consult on how to strengthen collaboration between ASEAN and ARCMDG.

The Bangkok Post published a note on the MDGs workshop on 25 January 2011:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/217981/asean-strives-to-tackle-hiv-cut-poverty

Also the ASEAN TV broadcasted a reportage on 25 January 2011on the workshop.

The Nation Multimedia published an Opinion Article which I wrote with Dr. Sandro Calvani, Director of the ARCMDG on 28 January 2011:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Practical-tools-needed-to-cut-poverty-in-half-on-t-30147342.html

Cross-Sectoral Consultation on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
10 January 2011 , ASEAN secretariat, Jakarta. more

The Seventh Coordinating Conference on The ASEAN socio-cultural community (7 th soc-com)
11 January 2011 , ASEAN secretariat, Jakart

UN Secretary General will press ahead on MDGs.

This year's United Nations Day, celebrated on 24 October, focused on the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and followed on the MDG Summit, which adopted a global action plan to achieve the eight goals by their 2015 target date.

“I am determined to press ahead as the 2015 deadline approaches,”

declared Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “Despite our problems, despite polarization and distrust, our interconnected world has opened up vast new possibilities for common progress. Let us commit to do even more to realize the great vision set out in the UN Charter.”
Video: http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2010/10/un-day-2010-secretary-generals-message.html (2:10 minutes)
Message: http://www.un.org/en/events/unday/2010/sgmessage.shtml

Dealing with discrepancies and gaps of MDG data Workshop on MDG Monitoringwas held in Geneva from 8-11 November

The Workshop, which is organized by UN DESA’s Statistics Division in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), will bring together representatives from national statistical offices and line ministries to review recommendations for reporting of MDG data and to establish strategies for dealing with data discrepancies and data gaps at the national and international level, particularly for health related MDG indicators.

The meeting is part of the regular consultation with both national and international experts to review and discuss issues related to the MDG monitoring. It will focus on localizing the MDG indicators, country capacity building and creation of appropriate frameworks for monitoring national development; as well as the coordination of related technical cooperation activities in countries. The meeting will also plan the production of the global MDG monitoring outputs for 2011. In addition, the workshop will provide participants with skills needed to improve the production and dissemination of MDG indicators. more

Training on Gender Mainstreaming and Equality with Focus on MDGs, 6-11 December, 2010

A six-day training program on “Gender Mainstreaming and Equality with Focus on MDGs” was conducted during 6-11 Dec 2011 for the officials of Afghanistan, at AIT Conference Center, Bangkok, Thailand following the request of Mrs. Sharmistha, Dasbarwa, Gender Equality Project of the UNDP, Kabul Afghanistan. This training program was funded by the UNDP, Kabul Office. (Report)

International conference on "Language, Education and the Millennium Development Goals"

An international conference on "Language, Education and the Millennium Development Goals" was held on November 9-11, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Conference was co-organised by a consortium of organizations from the Asia Multilingual Education Working Group, particularly: UNESCO, Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia" (RILCA), SIL International, UNICEF, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), CARE, Save the Children, Royal Thai Institute, ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence on Millennium Development Goals and Asia South Pacific Association For Basic and Adult Education more

Senior Executive Training & Multi-Country Study visits on“Development Planning, Management & Governance” for Government of India Officials, 1-12 November 2010

ARCMDG and GIC Jointly organized a Senior Executive Training & Multi-Country Study visits on“Development Planning, Management & Governance” for Government of India Officials", 1-12 November 2010.

"Freedom from Fear and Freedom from Want: a review of myths and realities of Human Rights and MDGs"

Dr. Calvani has given an invited lecture on "Freedom from Fear and Freedom from Want: a review of myths and realities of Human Rights and MDGs" at the Webster University in Cha-Am on 28 November

The Third IAI Development Cooperation Forum (IDCF-3), 19 October 2010, ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia

ARCMDG director, Dr. Sandro Calvani took part and gave a keynote speech at the IDCF-3, the ASEAN Integration Development Cooperation Forum and participated at the ASEAN regional workshop towards an ASEAN statistical report on MDGs. more....

14th Global Anti-Corruption Conference in Bangkok on 10-12 November

ARCMDG director will also chair one of the panels at the 14th Global Anti-Corruption Conference in Bangkok on 10-12 November. more

Keeping the promise alive to end poverty more

Published on:  Thu. 14 October 2010
Published by: Social Issues, Outlook, Bangkok Post
Country of Origin: THAILAND
Link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/leisure/leisurescoop/201288/keeping-the-promise-alive-to-end-poverty

“Study Visit Program on Strategic Planning and Pro-Poor Growth” on 3-10 October 2010 in Thailand and Indonesia

ARCMDG conducted a training cum study visit program in two countries (Thailand and Indonesia) on Strategic Planning and Pro-Poor Growth from 3  - 10 October, 2010 for the high level government officials of Bangladesh and the UNDP office at Dhaka. Prof. J. K. Routray  designed the course and implemented this course in AIT, Jakarta and Yogyakarta. This course was funded by the UNDP office of Dhaka. Mr. Sujana Royat, Deputy for Coordination for Poverty Reduction of the Coordinating Ministry for People's Welfare (MENKOKESRA), Republic of Indonesia, and Ms. Sinta Dewi, faculty Member of the Architecture Department, Unversity of Atma jaya Yogyakarta had excellently facilitated the meetings at the national, provincial and district levels with field visits to pro-poor projects in urban and rural areas in Yogyakarta. Prof. Routray and Ms. Mahbooba Amin, Program Office of ARCMDG accompanied the group and made necessary logistics and arrangements in making the training course a great success.more......

Dr Sandro Calvani joins as Director ARCMDG

Dr. Sandro Calvani has joined as Director of the ASEAN Regional Centre of Excellence on Millennium Development Goals (ARCMDG) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) from 01 September 2010. more.

Training on Gender Mainstreaming and Equality with Focus on MDGs,9-17 August 2010

A ten day training on “Gender Mainstreaming and Equality with Focus on MDGs” was organized by the ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence on Millennium Development Goals (ARCMDG) at the Conference Center of Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). The training was attendanced by more than 20 participants from various countries. more......

MDGS 6th Round Table in Danang, Vietnam , April 22-23, 2010

On 22-23 April, Prof. Jayant Routray and Ms. Jagriti Shankar visited Danang, Vietnam to participate in the 6 th MDG Regional Round Table conference. The conference was organized and hosted by Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation (VPDF) and co-sponsored by ARCMDG. High level government officials, NGOs and civil society representatives of 12 Asian countries participated in the conference which was a preparatory step for the UN- ECOSOC Meeting in New York in July 2010. The 2 days conference discussed the MDGs status in the region. Prof. Routray presented AIT and ARCMDG as the training and research centers to serve the needs of the region. Many participants expressed their wish to participate in the upcoming events and trainings offered by ARCMDG. more

ARCMDG organizes workshop on MDG Analysis and Gender Mainstreaming and Equality, January 28-29, 2010

A two day workshop on “MDGs Analysis and Operational Indicators for Gender Mainstreaming and Equality” was organized by the ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence on Millennium Development Goals (ARCMDG) at the Conference Center of Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).

The workshop attendanced more than 40 participants from various agencies including UNIFEM, United Nations Millennium Campaign, UN/ISDR, UNEP.RRCAP, Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development of the Royal Thai Government; apart from NGOs namely, Association of the Promotion of Status of Women, Foundation for Women, Gender Development Research institute (GDRI), Committee for Asian Women. Other participants included representatives from Women and Youth Studies Department of Thammasat University, Bangkok University, and faculty, researchers, Master and Doctoral students of AIT. more
Workshop Report

ARCMDG holds first advisory board meeting, January 20, 2010

The first advisory board meeting of ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence for Millennium Development Goals (ARCMDG) expressed its satisfaction on the progress achieved by ARCMDG since its establishment.

The Board also decided to further collaboration with the Asian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility at AIT (ACCSR), Yunus Center at AIT and AIT’s Center for Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change (SDCC) to catalyze and help achievements of MDGs in the ASEAN Region. It was also decided that the AIT Extension and Geoinformatics Center will be main partners for implementing different training programs. more