The Research for Sustainable Development in association with Look Ahead Center DRC is calling early and mid career professional and researcher engaged in cross cutting research in agriculture, water and broadly community development to send their nomination for upcoming "Research Drive" aim to engage them with leading researchers and provide international platform to showcase their research work. This event particularly encourage early career researchers in social sciences to know how they can write research papers on their programs being involved. Send your nominations by sending abstract of your research/EOI with detailed CV to [email protected]
On the occasion of 2nd Asia-Europe Young Leader Summit held in Seoul, South Korea by Asia-Europe Foundation, Mr. Mohsin Khan (CEO RSD) was invited to moderate a session with Ambassador of Poland to Singapore H.E Zenon KOSINIAK-KAMYSZon "Intergenerational Dialogue on Leadership & Youth Employment" aiming to share key insights on leadership and promoting employbality in Asia and Europe. ASEFYLS2 is as an experiential space and networking hotspot where 150 young minds from 51 ASEM countries meet influential leaders from Asia and Europe. The programme is designed to nourish a constructive exchange of ideas and good practices, hands-on skills development and concludes with a Call for Action addressed to the ASEM Education Ministers. The ASEFYLS2 line-up of speakers, panellists and mentors includes top-tier policy makers, thought-provoking academics, daring entrepreneurs and civil society advocates. As a highlight of the summit, personal interactions between the youth participants and the ASEM Leaders/Delegations are also arranged during the event. The call for action is available at ASEF.
#IMCSP: A Nationwide Program for Youth & Civil Services Reforms Initiated
IM CSP is nation wide initiative of RSD and Youth Advocacy Council Pakistan to revamp the Central Superior Services of Pakistan. It aims to provide online and onsite workshop and advocacy to the Young students interested in joining the Civil Service in Pakistan. The Trainers are leading civil servants in various ministries and provide mentoring to the young students on how to apply for sucess and engage them together for Civil Services Reforms in Pakistan. In the first phase Online interview will be done to shortlist the candidates interested in the year long program by the Public servants in September, 2016. Application can be made via sending cover letter (reason to apply for CSS and accomplishment) to [email protected] and [email protected].
There is a paradigm shift in the diplomacy and international cooperation where countries much focus on soft power and improving their public image. Effective public diplomacy can establish dialogue to improve the understanding between and among actors, and to inform and shape more positive mutual perceptions. Pakistan offer a unique geo-political location with rich cultural and history have an edge to build a positive images if there is a national public diplomacy policies. However, some young professionals including Mr. Mohsin Khan tried to learn and apply contemporary diplomacy using education, IT and culture. He has been selected after an open competition in Asian and European countries for an international training on Public Diplomacy in Asia-Europe Relation designed to help diplomats and other actors better understand the attitudes of foreign and domestic publics towards foreign policy, and to influence and shape their views on these issues. Funded by Asia-Europe Foundation (Singapore) in collaboration with Federal Department Foreign Affairs Switzerland, the e-course was organized by Diplo Foundation in association with Center for Research on Europe New Zealand from April-June, 2016. “Public Diplomacy is everyone’s business. It is an art of winning hearts and minds and a natural way to share and care for a prosperous, peaceful and healthy society. The Diplo-Foundation course by ASEF on Public Diplomacy was a life changing and innovative program for me to learn wining heart and minds, learning and sharing new dynamics in public diplomacy, connecting people across Asia-Europe and building a new network of change agents and public diplomats passionate for a just and peaceful society in the world.” Said Mohsin an emerging social entrepreneur and development aid professional. He proposed to develop a youth based EC-diplomacy (Educational and Cultural) Forum among Korea, Pakistan and other ASEM countries.
Startup Istanbul, happening in Turkey’s economic hub – Istanbul, is a leading startup event in Europe and Asia. It’s a 5-day event that brings together startups, entrepreneurs, and investors from across the region to interact and forge networks. In 2015, more than 100 startups from approx. 40 countries, 200+ investors and around 1500 participant would attend this event. A number of Pakistani startups would also be attending Startup Istanbul this year. And we are delighted to share with our community that among these startups is a our Manger Web and RISE project Mr. Babar Khan Akhuwanzada startup, the Security Wall. Babar's startup offers comprehensive services in fortifying your digital defenses. They do a thorough Vulnerability Assessment for your IT systems and identify all potential loopholes in your digital security in Servers, Softwares, Web Apps, Websites, etc. Penetration Testing and Malware protection are also done by this startup for complete protection of your information and virtual assets.
The KOICA has completed the construction of Pak-Korea Center of Excellence at Construction Technology Training Institute (CTTI) Islamabad. The total cost of the project is $5 million and the center aims to build the capacity of Pakistan ICT human resource and improve the ICT industry. The ICT center will mainly provide employment opportunities to youth particularly in Korean companies who will recruited them after completing their training at the ICT Center. “The Center will train 400 students at a time. We have introduced market orientated and practical courses for our trainees which will be useful for national and international companies,” he added further. On the occasion, Dr. Akram, President KAAP, and Mr. Mohsin Khan (Advisory Member KAAP) briefed about KOICA and KAAP activities in Pakistan. “KOICA’ is playing a vital role in socio-economic development of Pakistan. KOICA’s training program and its ongoing grant aid projects focused on Health, Water & Sanitation, Education, ICT, Technical Textile, Agriculture and Rural development.”
The rapid and unprecedented social, economic growth, advancement in science and technology and improved governance in Republic of Korea embarked a new miracle in the history of the world. With an aim to explore and materialize these tremendous development experiences? the current study examine the existing trends, opportunities and potential sectors in Pakistan for sustainable economic development and suggested way forward to strengthen the cooperation between Pakistan and republic of Korea. The present study provide a descriptive analysis of both countries bilateral trade and ongoing cooperation and provide future strategy for utilizing certain developments which can revitalize Pakistan economy. The paper suggested that government and policy makers should consider the evolving nature of both countries and mutual interests through consultative meetings, visits and joint analysis. In sum, Pakistan and Korea can enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship as they enter a new era of friendship and Pakistan certainly will turn into another land of opportunity for Korea.
International Youth Day Celebration
On 17 December 1999, in its resolution 54/120, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. The theme of International Youth Day, 12 August 2015, is “Youth Civic Engagement.” The engagement and participation of youth is essential to achieve sustainable human development. Yet often the opportunities for youth to engage politically, economically and socially are low or non-existent. There has been recent increasing attention and policy and programming focus on youth civic engagement by governments, UN entities, regional and multilateral organizations, CSOs, youth and researchers. As part of its celebrations for International Youth Day, the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, led by the co-chairs, DESA and UNDP, is running an online campaign in the lead up to International Youth Day 12 August 2015.
With vast human and natural resources and a similar industrial structure, Pakistan can replicate South Korea’s New Community Movement model to modernise its rural economy. Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Director General Sung Choon-KI addressed a workshop on “Saemaul Undong: Implication for Socio Economic Development of Pakistan” at the KOICA office on Saturday. He said the Saemaul Undong (SMU), also known as the New Community Movement, can contribute greatly to Pakistan’s social and economic development.Launched in 1970 by then-South Korean president Park Chung Hee to bridge the disparity between South Korean urban centres and rural areas, SMU improved living conditions and infrastructure in villages by mobilising the community in the development process.The workshop discussed ways to ensure sustainability of KOICA-funded programmes in Pakistan through the SMU model. Choon-KI said the SMU model had been a success in poverty alleviation and income generation in Punjab. Workshop coordinator and CEO RSD Mohsin Khan said most development theories and models focus on physical improvement. “But the Korean participatory development model ‘New Village Movement’ encompasses physical, social and cognitive development of the communities to not only change their living standards but also to create resilience via mental changes.”
International Conference on Youth for Diplomacy in S. Korea
Pakistan is one of the largest recipients of KOICA. KOICA executes an annual budget of USD 10 million. KOICA has provided fellowship training to more than 1,000 public officials and experts in Pakistan. Then, what the past year was like for the Pakistan office? The office sat down with Mr. Mohsin Khan, Founder RSD and Program Coordinator working at the Pakistan office and Kim Ah-rom, a youth intern in charge of fellowship training program to hear about Pakistan’s programs in 2014.
Campaign for Global Goals in Pakistan|Sustainable Development
RSD Executive Global Campaign Manager Qasir Rafiq has initiated a Global Campaign for Sustainable Development through Youth advocacy and knowledge sharing on Sustainable Development Goals in Pakistan. He is a renowned social innovator and philanthropist. He has devoted his life to making the world a more peaceful, equitable, and sustainable place to live. He received his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. He has seven years of non-profit experience, specializing in the eradication of poverty and the promotion of young women’s rights. Currently, Qasir is working as a Program Associate at the American Refugee Committee (ARC) and is the country project lead for the Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education (PAGE). He also served as Vice President of the International Youth Congress, an American-based non-profit. Mr. Rafiq was previously named ‘President of the Year’ by the International Youth Congress during their Fourth Annual Youth Summit in Orlando, Florida. He was honored for his management of the International Youth Council of Pakistan and the opening of the Apni Dunya School for impoverished Pakistani children. Qasir’s extensive experience of project management can be seen throughout his career as he worked for: Cesvi Italian, Action Against Hunger, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services, PREPARED Pakistan, and Children First. His long-term goal is to establish the Educate Girls Foundation which will focus on ensuring all children, especially girls, receive a proper primary education.
YOUNG GLOBAL CITIZENS FOR A SUSTAINABLE PLANET
The 9th UNESCO Youth Forum – Young Global Citizens for a Sustainable Planet – will take place in Paris, France on the 26th to the 28th October 2015. The forum will bring together over 500 young women and men from all over the world to focus on issues related to sustainable development and global citizenship and ensure that the voices of future generations remain front and center of the new development agenda. Discussions at this years forum will focus on how young people, committing themselves as global citizens, can contribute to the creation of a sustainable planet. Details...