News

Participatory Project Management Workshop
15 – 17 September (3 full days)
Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre,
Brisbane, Australia

This workshop is for those who are:
• Involved in Community Development (CD) projects.
• NGO and International Development Consultancy Project Officers.
• Government or UN officials, returned volunteer or students who wants to learn more about CD/PM.

In previous years we have had participants from the following organisations: Australian Red Cross, CARE Australia, World Vision Australia, UniQuest Pty Ltd, GRM International Pty Ltd, JTA International, St. Vincent de Paul, Griffith University, QUT, AusAID, Department of Public Works QLD, Indigenous Land Council etc.

Purpose of Workshop
To learn practical and participatory project management skills or to up-skill and refresh your skills. The three main project management methodologies introduced are: 1. Project Cycle Management (PCM); 2. Participatory Learning and Action (PLA); and 3. the Logical Framework Approach (LFA).

Advanced Standing
Participants who complete the workshop, together with follow-up assignments, are eligible to apply to be considered for Advanced Standing in development studies on a number of Australian distance education graduate programs.

Facilitation/TorqAid
This PPM workshop is facilitated by Chris Piper, a qualified teacher and adult educator, he has spent most of his working career in community development and the overseas aid field.

Further Information
For further information on modules, content and registration, please contact:
Chris Piper
TorqAid
Email: pipercm@iprimus.com.au
Mobile: 0412 497 317
Webiste: www.torqaid.com.au
Dr Vladimir Pacheco
The Foundation for Development Cooperation
Email: vladimirpacheco@fdc.org.au
Ph +61 (0)7 3217 2924
Website: www.fdc.org.au

Microfinance Pasifika Network (MFPN) was formed in 2006 as an alliance of institutions committed to supporting sustainable livelihoods for poor people through provision of inclusive and sustainable financial services. Its objective is to strengthen the skill-base of practitioners within the region through a platform for intra-industry dialogue, knowledge and information sharing. The network is exclusively Pacific-based, and seeks to capitalize on the diversity of its representation. Currently the membership comprises 19 financial members comprising of MFIs, commercial banks, support service companies and donor and NGO microfinance support organizations governed by a seven person Executive Committee drawn from its membership. The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC) was appointed by the Executive Committee to act as Secretariat, charged with the day to day management of the Network, under the guidance of the Executive Committee.

FDC, in partnership with UNDP, has agreed to strengthen the sustainability of MFPN and, in doing so, provide quality knowledge management services for the UNDP Pacific Financial Inclusion Project. By the end of the project period, MFPN will have strengthened its reputation as a clearinghouse for information for the Pacific as well as realistic, value-added set of activities for which it has a long-term, identifiable income stream.

The Assistant Coordinator will assist the Secretariat in line with outcomes to support the development of the Microfinance Pasifika Network and will report to the Lead Coordinator and in close collaboration with UNDP Pacific Centre, the incumbent will be responsible for helping to build, manage, and facilitate the Microfinance Pasifika Network, comprised of professionals from finance, NGOs, CSOs, international development partners, and the private sector, etc.

Further information about the position is avaliable from: http://www.fdc.org.au/files/news/2009/june/Assistant_Coordinator_MFPN_June_2009.pdf

FDC Executive Director Mr Craig Wilson will chair a session at the event on Post-Crisis Capacity-Building: Promoting Financial Inclusion and Lending to SMEs. A program for the event is available from: http://www.fdc.org.au/files/news/2009/june/SEACENDialogueProgram.pdf

The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC) (Pacific) Ltd will host a gathering at the The Holiday Inn in Fiji on the 20 July to officially open the Pacific Regional Office. Further details, about the Pacific opening are available from lusekinivuwai@fdc.org.au.

During May, The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC) released the latest version of the FDC Briefing Note, entitled The Way Forward for Microfinance in Fiji. A copy of the eighth issue of the FDC Briefing Note is available from: http://www.fdc.org.au/files/Publications/FDC-Briefing-Note-May-08.pdf

In Brunei on 14 May 2009, FDC’s Executive Director, Craig Wilson, is participating in a meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council’s Advisory Group on Financial Sector Capacity Building. The meeting is anticipated to finalise a major new initiative on financial inclusion in APEC. Further details are available at: https://www.abaconline.org/v4/index.php

During May, FDC’s Project Officer Carly Stephan will attend the UNIFEM Young Women’s Leadership Forum in Sydney, Australia. The UNIFEM Australia Young Women’s Leadership Forum aims to improve the capacity of young women by providing them with opportunities to learn about and become involved in women’s issues on a local, national and global scale. Further information about the event is available from: http://www.unifem.org.au/node/284

On the 28 April, FDC’s Head of Private Sector Engagement, Jack Whelan participated in the World Bank’s monthly roundtable series titled Praxis. This debate focused on the topic of energy and international development. The roundtable is available to watch online at: http://www.the-diplomat.com/article.aspx?aeid=13660

The UK’s DFID has approved funding for the Bangladesh Social Enterprises Project (BSEP) which FDC will implement over the next 12 months in partnership with the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute and Libra Advisory Services. A Kick-Off Workshop for BSEP was recently held in Dhaka, Bangladesh during April. Further information about the event and the BSEP are available from the Social Enterprise Portal at http://www.socialenterpriseportal.org/.