News

Please join us for an evening of exploring the concept of a Brisbane Development Circle.
The Development Circle concept has proven successful in Sydney, and a variation of in Melbourne, so we are investigating launching a similar group here in Brisbane/South East Queensland.
All interested people are welcome to come along for the inaugural meeting, to discuss the concept, plan Development Circle events and establish a calendar for the year ahead.
A mission statement for the initiative has been proposed and is presented below. However, we would like founding organisations to contribute to this statement, which will be discussed at the meeting.
Mission:
“The Brisbane Development Circle (BDC) believes that via innovation and collaborative effort, the development sector can continue to increase its impact as a positive change agent within communities in Australia and abroad.
The aim of BDC is to create a platform for the Brisbane based development community to share ideas, explore potential collaboration, and discuss topical development issues. Membership of the group is open to anyone, across all fields within the development sector, as well as those who have a general interest in development issues.
We do this by creating a monthly opportunity for those working in the international aid and community development sector to come together for discussion and networking in a relaxed environment.”
We encourage you to circulate this invitation to all those who you feel would be interested. Google Sydney Development Circle (SDC) for more information on the concept or email nick@thinkactlive.com with your ideas.
To RSVP, please go to: http://bdc.eventbrite.com/ or email nick@thinkactlive.com
WHERE: Keays Room, Engineering House, 447 Upper Edward Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000 Australia
DATE/TIME: 6:30pm Monday 27 September 2010

After exemplary performance since opening the FDC Pacific office two years ago, Ms Luse Kinivuwai is completing her service as FDC Pacific Regional Representative at the end of November, 2010. Applications for the position of FDC Pacific Regional Representative are invited by 20 September. Please see attached.

Preparations for the BWTP Asia Microfinance Forum 2010 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 12 to 15 October 2010 are in full swing. To register and for more details go to asiamicrofinanceforum.org.

FDC is pleased to release its consolidated FY09 annual report. It is accessible (here). FDC Singapore and Pacific annual reports are also available here.

FDC recently held a training session for women market vendors in Suva, Fiji as part of the UNIFEM funded Partner’s Improving Marketplaces Project. FDC project manager Carly Stephan, and Pacific Regional Representative Luse Kinivuwai trained women from Suva, Nausori and Sigatoka markets in team building and how to form associations. It is hoped that as a result of this training, the participants will go on to form their own women market vendors associations and that women’s issues in these respective marketplaces will gain a higher profile and lead to improvements. Here are some photos from the training. More photos from the training session can be found here.