Opinion
Countries in Asia and the Pacific need to work together to protect our common forest and fresh water resources
United we stand, divided we fall – it’s an old cliché, but when talking about access to fresh water in this Asia and Pacific region, it’s worth reminding ourselves how imperative it is to work together, within countries and across borders, to share and protect this precious resource.
Like water, our forests recognize no boundaries, but they are equally vulnerable and play such an important part in our region’s commonly shared ecosystem. They too need a united front to protect and restore our forests for the common good.
Taken together, water and forests are two of mother nature’s children.
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This month, the world and our Asia-Pacific region observes two special days, back-to-back – International Day of Forests on the 21st of March, and World Water Day on the 22nd.
While each day has its own theme, ‘Forests and Innovation’ and ‘Water for Peace’, their natural bond is evident and essential. The latter reminds us that water can be a tool for peace, but unfair advantage by one country or community, or lack of access to water, can spark and intensify conflict and hostility. Likewise, neglect and over-exploitation of forests can lead to land disputes that can spill across borders, and impact communities, particularly those of Indigenous peoples in our region.
This is why countries in Asia and the Pacific need to work together to protect and enhance our common forest and water resources for this generation and for those still to come.
From the perspective of forests and water’s link to agrifood systems in Asia and the Pacific – the systems that provide us with the nutrition we need each day to survive and thrive – the stakes are high. In this region, water resources form the basis of agrarian prosperity and economic development. The vast majority of aquaculture produced in the world comes from this region, as just one example.
Yet more than 90 percent of this region’s population is on the brink of a water crisis, with water scarcity increasing across Asia and the Pacific. Transboundary water resources add a layer of complexity to the water scarcity challenges, with over 780 million people depending on transboundary rivers in the Asia-Pacific region.
And so governance of these shared water resources is vital for sustaining livelihoods, agriculture, and development, as well as for securing regional and international peace and prosperity. However, national water policy and regulatory responses in the Asia-Pacific region are often limited and, in some cases, not effectively operationalized in practice. Meantime, transboundary water treaties and institutions need greater political support.
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Hence, there is an urgent need to support countries in building stronger policy frameworks to navigate water scarcity, ensure inclusion in water management decisions, collect data, and establish sustainable and equitable water allocation systems. Working together, with shared commitments and actions, water and peace can coexist.
In this region, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has established an FAO Asia-Pacific Water Scarcity Programme to bring water use to within sustainable limits. FAO is also helping to improve transboundary cooperation for effective management of shared water resources, working with eight countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Reducing degradation of forests goes hand-in-hand with securing water resources. In forestry, FAO has worked with partners to compile a range of innovative technologies in the forest sector. Many of these innovations are being successfully applied in the region. Examples include the use of drones and advance remote sensing in forest management. Many countries in this region, with help from FAO, are deploying geospatial technologies for strengthening national forest monitoring.
Such innovations are important in the context of promoting sustainable supply and use of forest ecosystem services and crucial for advancing a sustainable bioeconomy. Employing them further can help achieve many other objectives too, like mapping and securing customary land which can empower the region’s Indigenous Peoples.
Indeed, innovative approaches under the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration can contribute one third of the total climate mitigation needed to limit warming to below 2°C by 2030, while boosting food security and livelihoods.
We can already see the power of research and science and how they are pushing the boundaries of what we can do to protect and make better use of our forests and our water resources. By doing so, we can provide significant socio-economic and environmental benefits for countries in the Asia and Pacific region.
Let’s work together to help Mother Nature’s children not only survive but thrive.
Jong-Jin Kim is Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Opportunities and Challenges: Ambassador Haas reflects on two years in Bangladesh
My country’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, once said, “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” As I begin my third year as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, these words ring true – each day, I remain impressed by the potential of the country, by the energy and resiliency of its people, and by its vibrant civil society.
As I said last year, Bangladesh has come a very long way from its beginnings. As I look to the future – a future that comes one day at a time – I see opportunity, but also significant challenges. Prior to the January 7, 2024 parliamentary election, the United States advocated publicly for a free and fair election that would reflect the democratic aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.
This did not happen. The United States still cares deeply about democracy – in Bangladesh and elsewhere. Quite simply, we believe democracy is the best way to achieve enduring economic prosperity that serves all of a country’s people. We will continue to support the brave members of civil society and human rights defenders. We will continue to call for an end to the systematic repression and harassment of media professionals who are just doing their jobs. We will continue to press for greater freedom of speech and assembly. And we will continue to call for meaningful political dialogue to pave the way for a more open, peaceful, and democratic society.
At the same time, we will look for areas where Bangladesh and the United States have shared interests. On these issues, the United States is willing to move as quickly as Bangladesh is. I have already begun a series of meetings with cabinet members of the new government, looking for opportunities where we can collaborate on areas of mutual importance.
Social and environmental resilience, for example, is critically important. My team and I intend to continue engagement with Bangladesh on climate change and the transition to clean energy. Climate change affects everyone, Americans and Bangladeshis alike. And I hope to build on our excellent cooperation that brought more than one hundred million of Covid vaccines to the people of Bangladesh.
The security relationship between our countries and in the region is also an important one. Our militaries (or armed forces) and law enforcement officials are finding more ways to expand their ability to work together to counter security threats and alleviate the impact of natural disasters. We also hope to play a role in the modernization of Bangladesh’s military.
On the labor front, the United States believes that Bangladesh must align its laws, policies, and practices with international labor standards. President Biden has set out a Global Labor Strategy that prioritizes labor rights around the world. This Strategy will guide our actions in encouraging Bangladesh to adopt laws and policies that ensure workers can form and join independent, democratic unions freely and without fear, reprisal or retribution.
The United States remains committed to supporting Bangladesh’s progress on labor rights, including through targeted development assistance. The United States is by far the largest foreign investor in Bangladesh, as well as the largest single market for Bangladesh’s exports of goods and services. We can – and should – make our economic relationship function for everyone’s benefit.
Finally, we will continue to work closely with the government to sustainably provide humanitarian assistance to nearly one million Rohingya survivors of genocide, and to seek a safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return home for all, once conditions in Myanmar allow.
The future comes one day at a time, and each day brings opportunity. Know that the United States stands with the people of Bangladesh as you reach towards that future – and we will always support you on your journey.
Good-bye Helal bhai
I didn’t even know that Ihsanul Karim Helal bhjai was seriously unwell and was hospitalized. I learnt that from the obituary published in the media. They refer to his month long hospitalization but not the cause of his ill health. It doesn’t even mention how old he was. It’ as if I was reading an anonymous death notice and a stranger had died. Except that I knew him and loved him like my own older brother.
Nothing else mattered to me when I read the notice. I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and loss. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t met or talked to him in the last decade.
BBC days
I was the reporter for the BBC Bengali service during the heady days of Awami League’s final years out of power for long that is 1994-95. I did my daily dispatch for six days and Helal bhai held the weekend. He was then working for the BSS and was absolutely the nicest person to be with in the tumultuous days of street protests, violence and the rest.
We however came from two different media positions. I held then and still do that a journalist will find it very difficult to report objectively if they have strong political beliefs. In fact I was a political “cynic “type who didn’t even subscribe to any political identity. I still don’t.
Helal bhai was very different because he was not just a loyalist of the Awami League but close to the current PM. In fact the entire family was in some ways. Helal bhai never hid his views and saw that as his duty. Yet Helal bhai’s reporting held no bias and it was both a surprise and a pleasure to see that. After all, I cared more about him than media reports.
He was more of a desk person in the sense that he knew his way around and people who were involved in politics. He could get information simply by asking, which I couldn't do that easily. I was more of the street variety reporter and perhaps closer to Ataus Samad bhai that way. We liked the gunfire and smoke, billowing smoke rising from burning tires and interviews done on the run. But Helal bhai’s credibility was unshakeable and the audience reports clearly showed that.
His brief background
BDNews 24 has published this brief bio.
“ Ihsanul, karim a distinguished journalist with a career spanning over 40 years, was born on Jan 5, 1951, in Kushtia. He graduated from Dhaka University and did his post-graduation at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).
He joined the Liberation War in 1971 and fought in the western frontier as a member of the Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF).
He started his career as a staff correspondent of the government-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha or BSS in 1972. He worked as the bureau chief of BSS in New Delhi for five years from 1997.He also worked as the Bangladesh correspondent of several international media, including the BBC, and the Press Trust of India. Nicknamed Helal, he was known to his colleagues as “Helal Bhai”.
He was appointed the prime minister’s press secretary in 2015 for a year. His contract was extended by three years in 2016 and a further three years in 2019.Before joining the Prime Minister’s Office, Ihsanul worked as the president’s press secretary, and managing director and chief editor of BSS.
He is survived by his wife Shireen Karim, a son and a daughter. “
The details of his life are there but what no bio or obituary can capture is his grace, dignity and friendship. Good bye Helal bhai. Till we meet again.
International Women’s Day: “Invest in women—accelerate progress”
Each year, on March 08, the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD) to renew our collective commitment to achieving gender equality. While much progress has been made in this regard, there is still a lot of work left for us to do.
This year, IWD’s theme enjoins us to “Invest in women - accelerate process,” and to mark this occasion WHO is calling for intensified investments in the health of women and girls in our South-East Asia Region and across the world. This must be done to ensure that all women and girls, everywhere, realize their right to health and to accelerate progress towards gender equality.
Our Region has made significant progress towards gender equality. Admittedly starting from a low base, countries in South Asia have registered the fastest gains in closing the gender gap in the last decade – especially in health and survival.
Despite this progress, the highest any country in our Region is ranked in the 2022 UNDP Gender Inequality Index is 66 (out of 191 countries). The lowest ranked is 149. Clearly there is much work left to do.
Investing in the health and wellbeing of women and girls requires adequate investment in health overall. In this regard, current government health expenditure in our Region is unacceptably low - our Region is ranked the lowest among all WHO Regions in terms of government spending on health.
As a result of this, out-of-pocket expenditure for health remains unacceptably high for everyone in our Region. We know that oftentimes, when families have to pay out of pocket, they delay or forgo the needed care. This has a gender impact, because societally the burden for caring for the sick and elderly falls disproportionately on women and girls.
In fact, women and girls already perform most of the unpaid work in households - spending two to fives times more time than men on such work. This is a significant constraint on women from playing their full roles in economic and political life. I am heartened that there is now a public discussion on officially recognising and including the value of a woman’s unpaid work in a nation’s GDP calculations.
When it comes to health, the advances we have made in the region have not been equally felt by all women. Geographical location, educational levels and household income levels continue to correlate to persistent inequalities in women’s health.
The proportion of women receiving antenatal care from skilled providers has improved, but uneducated women have a lower antenatal care coverage rate, with a gap of more than 40 percentage points in some countries in our Region.
There has been a significant increase in skilled attendance at delivery in the Region, and the proportion of women satisfied with modern methods of family planning have improved. However, in both cases, women from rural areas, those with lower education and those from poor households are not experiencing these as much as others.
Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS among adolescent girls has improved slightly, but still ranges from fewer than one to five in every ten adolescent girls across countries in our Region.
Policies do not fully recognize women’s autonomy in sexual and reproductive health decisions. Most countries in the Region allow abortion only when the mother’s life is at risk due to pregnancy. Investing in comprehensive reproductive healthcare services, including contraception and maternal health services, is crucial for empowering women and improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Biological factors interact with gender norms, roles and activities to result in differences between men and women in their exposure to risks of noncommunicable diseases in our Region. For example, the higher prevalence of overweight and obesity among women than men, and the lower prevalence of physical activity among women than men, likely reflect gender differences in mobility, physical access to recreational facilities, and perceptions of safety from crime and traffic.
Gender inequality also affects equitable access to diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable health conditions. For example, compared to men, a higher proportion of women with raised blood glucose go untreated. This diagnosis and treatment gap is also seen for hypertension.
Access to quality healthcare services is key to advancing the right to health. Women in our Region speak of facing various gender-related barriers to access to services (such as lack of availability of a woman health provider), lack of access to household resources (such as money), longer distances to health facilities, issues of transport, and more.
The scourge of violence against women and girls persists, and is a violation of their human rights. The significant negative health consequences of this make it a priority public health issue too. More than one in three women in our Region have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Sadly, this is significantly higher for rural and uneducated women, and those from the poorest households. Increased investment is needed in comprehensive policies and programmes to prevent and respond to violence against women, and to equip the health sector with the capacity to play its due role.
Gender-responsive health policies and programs, informed by gender analysis of sex-disaggregated data, can help reduce gender gaps in health and improve women’s overall health and well-being. All countries in the Region have adopted the concept of gender mainstreaming in their national plans, with many having specific policies for gender equality. However, the institutional capacity to implement these strategies needs strengthening.
Gender-responsive budgeting is a promising approach--it involves allocating resources to address the specific needs and priorities of women and girls, towards more equitable access and reduced gender gaps in health. Only seven countries in the Region have national plans for gender-responsive budgeting, most of them pre-dating Covid-19.
My own office is currently tasked with designing one of my priority programmes targeting the health of women and children, including pregnant women.
This programme is being created with education, empowerment and prevention in mind. Structured with a life-course approach, this will include comprehensive health and well-being screenings, vaccination and nutrition programs, promotion of both physical and mental well-being, and resilience.
Focusing on women’s health has multigenerational impacts on public health, on early childhood development, and even on societal & economic development. This is something the SDG framework also recognises.
The health outcomes of the next generation are impacted even before they are born - and so we must pay a particular focus to the health of pregnant women.
Better informed mothers lead to lifelong benefits for subsequent generations. They provide better nutrition for children, encourage active lifestyles, instil cleanliness and hygiene, and other healthy habits.
Their knowledge, understanding and practices regarding their own health are taught to not only their own families, but to their broader communities as well. When we improve a woman’s knowledge of health, she will teach other women around her.
On International Women’s Day, we reiterate our commitment to invest in women, and to accelerate progress.
Saima Wazed is the WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia
Women’s Work: time to recognize their critical role in agriculture – and invest in it!
Despite women's significant contributions to our agrifood systems in the Asia-Pacific region, women continue to face persistent obstacles, including limited access to resources, services, and discriminatory practices all along the food value chain. As we gather to celebrate this year’s International Women's Day (IWD), it is time for action, to fully recognize women's indispensable role in the fields, in the factories, and those running small and medium-sized companies, associations and cooperatives – all of which produce the nutritious food we eat each day.
But recognizing and acknowledging this is not enough. In Asia and the Pacific, there is a critical need for financial investments to achieve gender equality in agrifood systems. This would play a huge role in the region’s agrifood systems transformation – now underway across the region – a transformation endorsed by 40 FAO Member Nations at the recently convened FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
This year's IWD theme, "Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress," underscores the urgency not only to increase investments but also to ensure better investments for creating an enabling environment and sustainable results toward gender equality.
While the importance of investing in women's economic empowerment is well-established, financial investments, specifically those geared towards gender equality within the economic and productive sectors, have remained inadequate. This underinvestment has contributed to insufficient progress in advancing women's economic empowerment and hindering women’s opportunities in agrifood systems. According to FAO data from 2023, by narrowing the gender gap in farm productivity, and the wage gap in agrifood system employment, the world’s gross domestic product would rise by 1 percent (nearly USD 1 trillion). This would also reduce global food insecurity by about 2 percentage points, decreasing the number of food-insecure people by 45 million.
So, what can we, collectively, do to bridge this financial investment gap? In addressing this question, it is imperative to thoroughly review both traditional and innovative financial and policy instruments. Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is a key approach, but it is essential to recognize the wide array of strategies available for investing in women. We need to hear more from women, we need to learn from their past successes and focus on impact by accelerating investment. This should create space for development partners, including rural women and their communities, to share experiences and join forces to create a realistic chance of achieving the 2030 agenda, where gender equality is essential.
While addressing visible gender gaps is crucial, efforts to promote the voice and leadership of women, and tackle the root causes of gender-based inequalities, are equally important for ensuring long-term results.
FAO takes action to ‘walk the talk’
To ‘walk the talk’, at FAO headquarters in Rome, the Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu recently announced establishment of an Office for Youth and Women. Building on the work of the Women’s Committee, the Office will continue, among other things, to provide a “safe space” to discuss topics affecting women in the Organization, such as gender parity, sexual harassment, and parental leave provisions. The Office will also promote advocacy, communication, innovation and outreach through regular dialogue forums to better connect female colleagues around the globe, exchange experiences on specific themes of common interest, and learn from successes from FAO and other organizations in empowering women in the workplace and beyond. And it will further strengthen visible leadership and accountability of managers for gender mainstreaming through its “She Matters” initiative geared at fostering transformational leadership for women’s empowerment and the welfare of female staff at all levels of the Organization.
Worldwide, we see that discriminatory norms often expect women to take on most of the unpaid care work, exacerbating gender disparities in labour markets – both rural and urban. Globally, women dedicate 3.2 times as many hours to unpaid care work as men do. But in the Asia and Pacific region, the ratio is four-to-one. There is a need for acknowledgement, alleviation, and equitable distribution of unpaid care labour, as well as better and more accessible care systems. This will help to foster transformative changes to support families, urban as well as rural, in enhancing their livelihoods and wellbeing.
But we need to take that critical step beyond fostering and supporting. We need to invest in the technical and leadership skills of women to support their entrepreneurship and income generation, including the creation of, and strengthening of, existing networking and learning platforms.
FAO's Regional Gender Strategy and Action Plan for Asia and the Pacific has identified the need to mobilize the participation of both men and women to transform our agrifood systems through an equitable distribution of responsibilities. Creating inclusive spaces for dialogue and reflection is vital for empowering women and reshaping power dynamics across different levels. Farmer Field Schools and relevant actions targeted at women are supported by FAO in field projects as an inclusive approach to engage both men and women.
FAO is committed to closely collaborating with its Member Nations and development partners in Asia and the Pacific to achieve gender equality in a sustainable agrifood systems transformation. Gender equality is indeed a collective endeavor, and we all have a part to play in advancing towards achieving gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls – one of the SDGs (SDG5). As we reflect on this International Women's Day, let us not only recognize the challenges but also reaffirm our commitment to action. Let us unite our efforts, amplify our voices, champion change, and “Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress” towards a more equitable and sustainable agrifood systems transformation.
Jong-Jin Kim is the Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Changing mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all!
Each year, on March 03, we observe World Hearing Day to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss, and to promote ear and hearing care across the world. This year, we observe the occasion with a call to focus on "Changing Mindsets: Let's make ear and hearing care a reality for all!”
We know that challenges remain due to societal misperceptions and mindsets marked by stigma, and on this day we renew our focus to overcome these by raising awareness and through information-sharing, targeted at the public and healthcare providers.
It is estimated that over 1.5 billion people globally are affected by hearing loss, nearly 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries of the world. In our region itself, an estimated 400 million people currently have ear and hearing problems.
Unfortunately, these numbers are rising. At the current rate, it is likely that by 2050 there could be over 660 million people with ear and hearing problems in our region alone.
Despite its prevalence, and the fact that effective interventions are available and cost-effective, globally, over 80% of ear and hearing care needs remain unmet. It is evident that this must be addressed with urgency.
Hearing loss has severe implications for language development, psychological well-being, quality of life, educational attainment, and economic independence.
The fact is that many of the common causes of hearing loss, such as birth-related problems or ear diseases can be prevented; and nearly everyone with an ear or hearing problem can benefit through available effective and cost-effective medical, surgical and rehabilitative interventions.
The economic impact of unaddressed hearing loss is staggering. The global annual cost is nearly US$1 trillion, and the cost for our Region alone is $110 billion.
However, investing just US$1.33 per capita annually for ear and hearing care in health systems can yield a remarkable return of nearly US$16 for every dollar invested over a 10-year period. This investment, if sustained, promises substantial returns and a significant reduction in unaddressed hearing loss costs.
I am pleased that many Member States in our region have prioritized ear and hearing care.
Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal have already conducted situational assessment using WHO tools, and are progressing towards strategic development for strengthening ear and hearing care services.
Myanmar aims to provide integrated services in combination with Eye Care, Elderly, Mental Health Care service in a people-centered approach at community level. Free hearing aids were provided in Myanmar when the situational assessment was conducted last year.
Bhutan has started screening all children for ear and hearing and provided services including hearing aids at free of cost for children.
Currently, our teams are collaborating with and providing technical support to the Government of India to redesign the National Program for Prevention and Control of Deafness.
Indonesia's Ministry of Health intends to develop a roadmap for ear and hearing disorder prevention and control, and this will also be supported by our teams as a part of the current biennium workplan.
Moving forward, our Regional priorities include accelerating the implementation of people-centered ear and hearing care services, promoting safe listening practices, advocating for research and data generation, and strengthening human resources.
Let us unite in our commitment to change mindsets related to ear and hearing care, recognizing the impact it has on lives and livelihoods. By addressing misperceptions, promoting awareness, and advocating for increased investment and integration in primary healthcare, we can and will pave the way for a healthier, more inclusive future.
Saima Wazed is the WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia
Agents of Change – Making all countries in Asia and the Pacific more dynamic, healthier, wealthier, and better
We all know that we live in a changing world. In the vast area of Asia and the Pacific that change is most evident. Over the past 20 years, the economies of many nations in the region have been moving out of the category of ‘least developed’ and graduating into a ‘middle income’ status.
However, the positive changes that help to make our lives better, healthier, and more prosperous, are not happening at the same time equally across all countries, or even equitably within them.
On the one hand, Asia and the Pacific is now home to three of the world’s five largest economies. These and other countries in the region help to feed much of the rest of the world – the majority of aquaculture, rice production and the rapidly growing protein sector is found here.
On the other hand, hunger is still widespread in some parts of the region – indeed more than 371 million are undernourished in Asia and the Pacific – or half the world’s total. Nearly two billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. Despite considerable progress, poverty remains a problem for many families. Meantime, inequalities persist among and within countries, between men and women and for youth, and indigenous peoples, and between cities and rural areas.
To address these challenges, FAO is increasingly striving to leverage science and innovation, including new technologies – especially digital solutions – developed in both the public and private sectors, particularly through four regional priorities designed to deliver the Four Betters (Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life, leaving no one behind).FAO’s Regional Priorities for Asia and the Pacific.
The first FAO Asia-Pacific regional priority is to transform the region’s agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient, and more sustainable, with more affordable healthy diets. Increasing agricultural production is paramount for food and nutrient security, but it needs to happen in a climate-friendly process. To that end, we are supporting countries to bolster climate-adaptation and resilience, low-carbon agriculture, modernize seed systems, implement integrated farming management, control trans-boundary pests and diseases, disseminate good agriculture practices (GAP) and transfer technologies to smallholders and family farmers.
We are also promoting increasing digitalization and mechanization among local communities.The second regional priority is to accelerate sustainable natural resources management for biodiversity conservation and climate action. FAO is leading the development of a new generation of analysis and tools to support the design and improved targeting of investments in agrifood systems. In Asia and the Pacific, we are supporting countries to strategize and develop proposals to access climate finance and to achieve their climate ambitions in agrifood systems and rural development.
The third priority is to support inclusive rural transformation for equitable rural societies through economic growth, job creation and assistance for the vulnerable populations to reduce inequality, leaving no country and no person behind. FAO’s The 1000 Digital Villages Initiative, the Hand-in-Hand Initiative and the One Country One Priority Product Initiative promote sustainable livelihoods and decent incomes in the Asia-Pacific region, while encouraging the wide participation of women and youth in agrifood systems transformation.
The fourth priority aims to achieve the above in the unique context of the region’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS). At FAO, we are working with the SIDS to implement anticipatory actions against multiple hazards and risks, while initiating a process leading to the formulation of the Pacific Action Plan on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors (2024–2030). This Plan is critical for bringing sustainability and resilience to agriculture and natural resources such as soil and water.
In working on these priorities, we are speeding up and scaling up tangible and accountable results on the ground through the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and relevant strategies.
Tailored investment plans and partnerships
In Asia and the Pacific, we are also assisting countries to promote tailored investment plans for poverty reduction including social protection; fighting food loss and waste and conserving water; and building adaptive capacities in response to country and regional needs.
Meantime, we continue to scale up South-South and Triangular Cooperation and expand partnerships and strategic alliances with a wide range of players, including International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the private sector, regional institutions bodies, civil society, and others. Through these partnerships, we aim to bridge investment and financing gaps to ensure that financing reaches those who need it most, especially smallholder and family farmers.
These advances and more will form the basis of much of the discussion at the upcoming 37th Session of the FAO Regional Ministerial Conference for Asia and the Pacific (19-22 February), which is gathering Government Ministers from FAO’s Members from the region in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The changes we still need are many. But, together, with strong political will and commitment, and with enabling policies, sufficient investment and innovative business models, this region can be an agent of the changes needed - and continue to inspire the world.
Dr QU Dongyu is the Director-General of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey’s rejoinder to a UNB report
“I am compelled to address and correct the inaccuracies and misleading assertions made by UNB in their recent report concerning my professional conduct and history. As a former political reporter for UNB, it is disappointing to see my professional integrity questioned based on erroneous information and omissions that compromise the journalistic values UNB professes to uphold.
Contrary to the report's opening claim that labels me merely as "a former press officer of Begum Khaleda Zia," I wish to clarify my role was that of an assistant press secretary to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia, during her tenure from 2001 to 2006. Post my contract with the government, I joined the UNB as a Political Reporter, a fact conspicuously absents from your narrative.
The allegation suggesting I misrepresented a quote from the foreign minister during a US State Department briefing is categorically false. On January 15, 2024, the BSS, the government’s own news agency; published the report titled ‘Hasan Mahmud appreciates India’s stance beside Bangladesh’.
The report reads, “Mahmud said there were conspiracies to tamper with the 2014 elections and efforts were made to make the 2018 elections controversial and questionable and during both the events “India was on our side". Not required yet I would respectfully point out that on December 2nd, 2023; India Today published a piece titled ‘Why India and China are in same camp in Bangladesh’s 'Battle of Begums’’ that reads “The January election in Bangladesh is crucial not just for the country but for several others. While India and China are in one camp, backing PM Sheikh Hasina”. Putting the question in context is practiced by journalists universally. Therefore, the question was posed in a professional manner, aimed at eliciting responses to contribute to an informed dialogue. And I am forced to believe that the baseless allegations of ‘misquoting and misrepresenting officials’ not only attempt to tarnish my reputation but also threaten to erode public trust in media institutions, a cornerstone of any democracy.
Additionally, the report's unfounded criticism of Just News BD as a disseminator of misinformation neglects the existence of a news outlet that is not loyal to the regime’s parroting, essential for a healthy democratic discourse.
In light of the diminishing press freedom in Bangladesh, as highlighted in the World Press Freedom Index, it is imperative for UNB to introspect its role in fostering an environment where journalism can thrive without fear or favor.
I stand by my commitment to uphold the principles of ethical journalism and urge UNB to reassess its report in light of the facts and in the spirit of fairness and accuracy.”
Editor's note: We are publishing the rejoinder as part of our policy of upholding fairness and a person's right to respond. However, we stand by our report as it was factual and based on interviews of academics.
The rejoinder did not contradict or contest any of the facts that we wrote in our report. Besides, Mr Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, an assistant press secretary to the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, never worked as a political reporter at UNB, though he was appointed temporarily as a staff correspondent for a short period of time.
The IMEC as a Catalyst for Global Prosperity
Economic corridors have the potential to bring about various benefits, including increased trade, foreign investment, and improved living conditions for citizens in the participating countries. Additionally, they can contribute to the development of rural areas, address regional imbalances, and enhance the overall socio-economic progress of the regions they traverse. The establishment of such corridors can also lead to the creation of new routes for the flow of goods, thereby increasing economic and geopolitical interdependence between regions.
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is poised to revolutionize economic interactions among India, the Middle East, and Europe. Primarily, it aims to establish a multi-modal transport network integrating sea and rail routes, along with innovative infrastructural elements like hydrogen pipelines and high-tech IT connections. A significant aspect of IMEC is its potential to dramatically enhance trade opportunities. By offering a more efficient transit route compared to the Suez Canal, IMEC is projected to reduce transit times for goods by about 40%. This would not only expedite trade between India, the Middle East, and Europe but also render it more cost-effective, fostering an environment conducive to economic growth and trade expansion.
The IMEC initiative elevates the existing partnership to a new echelon, firmly establishing economic connections that promise to redefine the landscape of global commerce. U.S. President Joe Biden's characterization of the IMEC as a "game-changing investment" and a "real big deal" highlights its potential to significantly influence not just the regions it directly touches, but also the international community at large. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) delineates that the railroad and transportation networks envisioned under the IMEC aim to establish a "reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network." This development is anticipated to have far-reaching implications on global supply chains and the dynamics of international trade. The European Union President Ursula von der Leyen has underscored the corridor's ability to decrease travel time by 40%, branding it the "quickest link between India, the Middle East, and Europe," and consequently, a major catalyst in reducing logistical costs.
The corridor's influence extends beyond mere trade facilitation. It is expected to be a catalyst for industrial growth and employment in the participating regions. By providing a more efficient mechanism for transporting raw materials and finished goods, IMEC stands to boost industrial activity. This increased industrial productivity is anticipated to generate a plethora of job opportunities, addressing the employment challenges prevalent in these regions. The correlation between enhanced transportation infrastructure and economic growth is well-established in empirical literature, suggesting that IMEC's impact on job creation and industrial development could be substantial.
IMEC also holds strategic importance in terms of energy security and environmental sustainability. The Middle East's rich energy resources will be more accessible, thereby enhancing the energy security of the involved nations. Concurrently, the focus on clean energy transportation, like hydrogen pipelines, aligns with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The strategic development of ports and other infrastructures under IMEC is expected to attract foreign investment and strengthen political and diplomatic relations among the participating countries. Additionally, by offering an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), IMEC holds potential to reshape global trade dynamics and reduce dependency on traditional maritime routes. Moreover, the cultural integration aspect of IMEC, fostering connections among diverse cultures and civilizations, coupled with its potential to enhance regional connectivity and peace, positions it as a transformative initiative with far-reaching implications.
IMEC is also an evidence of India's strategic realignment towards the Middle East, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCCs), which has gained momentum under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. This relationship transcends a simplistic framework of oil trade and market access, encompassing a complex tapestry of security cooperation, cultural ties, and technological exchanges.
IMEC illustrates the transition from a unipolar or bipolar world to a more multipolar global landscape, where multiple centers of power coexist and cooperate. In this context, IMEC acts as a vital link in knitting together these poles, each representing diverse economic, cultural, and political strengths. By facilitating deeper economic ties and fostering mutual reliance among India, the Middle East, and Europe, the corridor is contributing to a more balanced and resilient global system.
However, the success of IMEC is closely tied to the geopolitical stability of the Middle East. This region, despite its rich cultural heritage and strategic importance, has long been afflicted by political unrest and conflict. Establishing peace in the Middle East is not merely a regional concern but a global necessity. A stable Middle East is crucial for ensuring secure trade routes, reliable energy resources, and the unhindered exchange of knowledge and people. It would create an environment conducive to the economic and technological collaborations envisioned by IMEC. Furthermore, peace in this region would have far-reaching effects, contributing to global economic stability and opening avenues for collaborative solutions to global issues like climate change, poverty, and health crises.
[Bibek Debroy is Chairman and Aditya Sinha is Officer on Special Duty, Research, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.]
Call to boycott polls, intimidation, violence: A repeat of 2013-15 style undemocratic exercise by BNP-Jamaat
In the build-up to Bangladesh’s January 7 national election, the political landscape was fraught with tension. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by its acting chairman Tarique Rahman, mounted a campaign urging voters to boycott the election, in an attempt to disrupt the democratic process. Despite these efforts, the steadfast citizens of Bangladesh, committed to upholding democratic values, boldly participated in the polls, defying the orchestrated climate of fear and intimidation.
The Election Commission’s report paints a clear picture of the nation’s unwavering commitment to democracy. Even in the face of BNP’s attempts to instill fear through blockades, hartals, and even arson attacks, over 40 percent of the electorate bravely stepped forward to cast their votes. This significant voter turnout stands in stark opposition to the planned disruptions, showcasing the resilience and fortitude of Bangladesh’s democratic framework.
Read: Good bye Rezwan old friend
Despite BNP and its ally Jamaat’s concerted efforts to derail the electoral process through tactics designed to foster fear and chaos, the Bangladeshi people’s determination to exercise their democratic rights prevailed. The voter turnout, despite BNP’s call for a boycott, underscores a collective commitment to democracy, and highlights the need for visionary leadership within political parties. BNP’s decline, exacerbated by its prolonged absence from power and lack of effective leadership, serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of a leadership vacuum on a party’s fortunes.
The rejection of the BNP’s anti-election stance by the Bangladeshi populace signifies not only a rejection of disruptive tactics but also a marked advancement in democratic maturity among the electorate. Their resistance to such tactics reflects a deep understanding of the importance of participating in the democratic process to shape the nation’s future.
Awami League’s fourth consecutive election victory is a testament to the people’s rejection of the BNP’s boycott appeal. By actively participating in the electoral process, the citizens have made their voices heard, reinforcing the notion that active democratic engagement is crucial for shaping a nation’s direction.
As Bangladesh transitions into the post-election phase, it is essential to reflect on the significance of this electoral process. This election transcends mere numbers and political affiliations; it stands as a testament to the deeply embedded democratic values in the Bangladeshi ethos. The electorate’s resilience in the face of adversity underscores their unwavering commitment to these principles.
Read: Despite political friction, election festivities underway in Bangladesh
International observers have lauded the electoral process in Bangladesh for its transparency, fairness, and adherence to democratic norms. Their positive assessment validates the Election Commission’s efforts in ensuring a fair and equitable electoral environment and strengthens confidence in the integrity of Bangladesh’s electoral system.
Moving forward, Bangladesh must capitalize on this democratic momentum. The pre-election disturbances should serve as impetus for reinforcing democratic institutions, enhancing election integrity, and fostering an inclusive political environment. The nation can draw valuable lessons from its citizens’ response to challenges, using it as an opportunity to fortify its democratic foundation.
In summary, the Bangladeshi population’s defiance of the election boycott call is a victory for their steadfast commitment to democracy. Despite attempts to sow fear and chaos, they have demonstrated an enduring allegiance to democratic values.
The writer is a professor of the Department of Public Administration at the University of Rajshahi. Views expressed are the writer’s own.