COUNTRY REPORT 2004-05
Dhaka ICA which is a newly recognized ICA in Bangladesh, has been learning by doing since its inception in October 2002 through undertaking a group facilitation skills training attended by the then ICAI Vice President for Asia and the Pacific Mr. Tatwa P. Timsina. This training was possible only for ICA Nepal’s support and it made 20 NGO professionals aware of ICA tools and techniques. Since then ICA Nepal has been serving as mentor ICA for ICA in Bangladesh.
Under the close cooperation and guidance of ICA Nepal, Dhaka ICA team led by Mr. Mohammad Azizur Rahman has been making efforts to establish ICA ToP (Technology of Participation) system in Bangladesh. Mr. Rahman graduated with honors and masters in sociology from Bangladesh and later international master’s in regional development planning and management from Germany, became very interested to work with ICA as his interest and academic background corresponds to ICA’s focal point - participation. Aziz is the person first learned how to start an ICA and has shown his tremendous potentialities for ICA work as recognized by Mr. Timsina (ICA Nepal), Mr. Shankar (ICA India) and Mr. John (ICA Australia) and Ms Judith (USA) and so on. Dhaka ICA team comprising faculties and graduates of universities from relevant fields including sociology, planning, social work, economics, public administration, accounting and arts, dedicated and committed to ICA work, could continue its move and drive for future considering the varied scope and potentialities for ICA methods and approaches focusing human factor in development.
Dhaka ICA members got enormous TOP experience during Pune’s The Art of Facilitation Training Program held in March, 2004 hosted by ICA India - Pune. The meeting was facilitated by experienced and learned facilitators including John, Judith, Tatwa, Shankar and Bhimrao. This training gave inputs like ToP training, sub continental ICA meeting and strategic planning, inspired and motivated the team for more.
In September 2004, Mr. Azizur Rahman along and Mr. ASM Saifullah from ICA Bangladesh visited ICA Nepal to get opportunity to grasp leadership development and strategic planning training as scheduled for ICA Japanese participants, through sharing and exchange of views and experience. The team though their participation in training program for local NGOs, visit to ICA Nepal’s projects and training centers, got impetus and hunger for community development projects involving local people and trainings on practical methods that work for the local people.
In April 2004, as planned in the Pune regional meeting, Dhaka ICA carried out first Workshop on Fundraising. All ICA Bangladesh members participated the workshop.
In December 2004, Dhaka ICA through its Action Planning Session in a meeting came up with a Action Plan 2004-2005. In the plan, for effective ICA activities, several component projects and activities including Board Meeting, Annual General Meeting, ICA Newsletter, ToP training System, Team Building Workshop, Workshop on Fundraising, Research and demonstrated community development projects were planned.
December 24, 2004, Dhaka ICA inaugurated an Integrated Community Development Project in Chandpur District. The community for which the project is targeted is landless comprising 200 households with more than 1000 population. The project components include training on skills development, leadership development, facilitation for community leaders, Financial Service Association (FSA), income generation, and water, sanitation and environmental support.
December 2004 is the remarkable year as the official newsletter of ICA in Bangladesh is being published. It will be published twice in a financial year. Next issue is coming in June 2005. The newsletter is in the press and the copies are to be sent to national ICAs and partners in February 2005.
On 4th February 2005, Workshop on Teambuilding for ICA members is scheduled to hold. The focus question is possibly being: How Dhaka ICA team can be more effective in the 2004-2005 Year. An teambuilding expertise will be present in the workshop.
On 4th March 2005, Workshop on Fundraising II as planned in the Pune (India) event for ICA members is scheduled to hold. It is expected that an ICA fundraising expert will be facilitator for the workshop.
Dhaka ICA has applied to Social Science Research Council, Ministry of Planning and is applying to potential organizations for research grants. The research field for Planning Ministry grant is on AIDS.
Dhaka ICA has already confirmed the participation in the Sub-continental Meeting in April 2005 and is ready to send 6-8 members for Regional Meeting and ToP Training, Fundraising and Proposal Writing skills training in Nepal. Mr. Azizur Rahman will join the meeting as one faculty from Bangladesh.
Dhaka ICA has planned a ToP training program in June 2005 as planned in Pune meeting. We hope ICA Australia colleagues will send 1/2facilitators when we will arrange a 5-day training program in Dhaka. We wished to do it in coming April, but as the event is scheduled in Nepal, it is to be planed later. With a view to establish ToP training System in Bangladesh, Aziz is expected to join the IToPToT 2005 scheduled to be in April-May 2005 in Phoenix, USA.
In May 2005, five members of ICA Bangladesh took part in an international Social Artistry Leadership Training Program in Nepal conducted by International Institute of Social Artistry (IISA), Canada and ICA Nepal.
Bangladesh, (a country, regarded as one of the most impoverished, 140 million people) is a potential country for ICA work and Dhaka ICA team is motivated and dedicated to implement ICA mission through facilitation, training, research and community empowerment based on principles like lifelong learning, sustainable development and culture of participation. I am very happy to share Dhaka ICA’s activities and future plan and hope potential donors and partners come forward to extend their cooperation in the establishment of ToP training system in Bangladesh and regional partnership and network assistance for demonstrated community empowerment, culture of participation and civil engagement.
With thanks.
Signed by
Mohammad Azizur Rahman
Executive Director