Report on Activities for the year 2007

Introduction

South Asia Foundation (SAF) is a secular, non-profit and non-political organization to promote regional cooperation among eight countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Founded by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, the cardinal objective of SAF is to uphold its core values of  Regional Cooperation and Peace through education, cultural interaction, sustainable development as well as to promote  mutual understanding and creative friendship among people of South Asia.

SAF has been recognized as an Apex Body of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Kathmandu, Nepal, and its aims and objectives are in conformity with the spirit and purpose and principles of the SAARC Charter.

SAF has been admitted into official relationship with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Paris, France.

SAF Governance

The eight autonomous chapters of SAF in the eight countries  have entered into an agreement setting out their relationship and modalities of Cooperation with South Asia Foundation (SAF).

The members of the SAF  Governing Council are the eight chairpersons of SAF chapters. The eight chapters are located in South Asia; they are registered entities in their respective countries.  Each chapter is chaired by an eminent person and is advised by its respective Advisory Board. The eight Chairpersons formulate SAF policies, projects and activities for approval of the Board of Advisors; their implementation is the responsibility of the Chairpersons and their Advisory Boards in their respective countries.
SAF funding is based on the general principle that the costs shall be equally shared between SAF and the project implementing agencies, either in funds or in kind.

Chairpersons

Afghanistan: Hon. Dr. Sayed M. Raheen, former Minister of Culture and Information, Kabul;
Bangladesh: Dr. Kamal Hossain, former Minister of Law, Foreign Affairs, Dhaka;
Bhutan: Hon. Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup, former Minister of Agriculture, Thimphu;
India: Hon. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister, Panchayati Raj, Youth, Sports, New Delhi;
Maldives: Hon. Ahmed Shaheed, Foreign Minister, Malé;
Nepal: Dr. Rita Thapa, Senior Advisor to the Nepal Ministry of Health, Kathmandu;
Pakistan: Prof. Salima Hashmi, Dean, School of Visual Arts, BNU, Lahore;
Sri Lanka: Hon. Chandrika B. Kumaratunga, former President of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

Board of Advisors

Madanjeet Singh, Dr. Kamal Hossain, France Marquet, Mohini Kent Noon and Narasimha Ram.

Major events and activities of SAF during the year 2007

- International Forum of Civil Societies meeting at the 34^th session of the UNESCO general Conference on October 25, 2007.

Ambassador Madanjeet Singh and Mme. France Marquet attended the meeting of the programme commission (i-V), during the 34^th session of the UNESCO General Conference on October 25, 2007. The objective of SAF’s participation in the meeting was to formalize UNESCO’s Assistance to the following eight SAF institutions of excellence:

UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Institute for Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage, Kabul.
The South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, India.
The Institute of Kashmir Studies, Kashmir University, Srinagar, India.
The South Asia Institute of Vocational Training, Kathmandu, Nepal.
The Institute of South Asian Studies, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan.   
The School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan.
The SAARC Forestry Institute, Thimphu, Bhutan.

In his address to the delegates at the meeting, Ambassador Madanjeet Singh described the rapid progress made by establishing eight SAF institutions of excellence since the tripartite agreement was signed on March 22, 2004, between UNESCO, the Government of Afghanistan and SAF for the establishment of  UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage.

The proposal was unanimously accepted and Mr. Marcio Nogueira Barbosa.
Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, very kindly agreed that his office would process the formalities by contacting each of the UNESCO sectors dealing with the concerned institutional disciplines.


- The 22^nd Asia-Pacific Region (APR) Scout Conference, held from 18- 23 October 2007 in Tokyo, Japan.

At the 22^nd Asia-Pacific Region (APR) Scout Conference, held from 18-23 October 2007 in Tokyo, Japan, South Asia Foundation was awarded a plaque of recognition for its support to young scouts of South Asia to promote regional cooperation. The theme of this conference “Advancing towards the new Scouting Century” and the meeting was attended by more than 500 key Scout leaders from 24 member countries of the Asia-Pacific Region.

Mr Khoo Heng Pheng, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Region Scout Committee, presented the award to Mme France Marquet, an Advisor of South Asia Foundation, as the SAF founder Ambassador Madanjeet Singh could not attend the meeting.

Mme France Marquet informed the conference that SAF is funding US$ 40,000/- annually to the Asia-Pacific Region of the World Organization of the Scouts Movement. Since  2002, the South Asia Foundation has supported five SAF-Scouts Friendship Camps which are aimed at creating a “youth movement” to encourage person to person contact for peace, progress and  regional development and cooperation.

The first SAF-Scout Friendship Camp was held in Bhutan, attended by 550 girls and boys. In the second camp in Maldives, 180 young people participated. The third camp in Nepal was attended by 422 boys and girls. In the fourth camp in Sri Lanka, 161 scouts participated. The fifth SAF-Scout Friendship Camp was held for seven days from 4th to10th June 2007, in Ghora Gali, Muree Pakistan, with a theme of “Sharing Youth Potential for Development”; it was attended by 244 participants, including 147 overseas scouts from the countries of South Asia – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,  India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Thanks to the South Asia Foundation, there are now more than 1,500 young people who are working for peace and regional cooperation in South Asia. The APR Scout Conference is the general assembly and the highest decision-making body of Scouting in the Asia-Pacific Region. The conference meets every three years and this time it is hosted by the Scout Association of Japan.
 

- Memorandum of Understanding between the South Asia Foundation and the Chief Commissioners of National Scout Organizations in South Asia.

South Asia Foundation (SAF) is a voluntary, secular, non-profit and non-political youth movement. Founded by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, its cardinal objective is to promote regional cooperation through education and sustainable development across all levels of society in South Asia. SAF’s eight Chapters — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — are registered in each country as national entities and their decentralized activities are guided  by eminent Chairpersons assisted by members of their respective Advisory Board.

During a visit to Bhutan in January 2000, Ambassador Madanjeet Singh was greatly impressed by a Scout camp in Thimphu.  He proposed to the Scout Chief Commissioner that as the aims, objectives and activities of SAF are in tune with the spirit, purpose and principles of the National Scout Organizations of South Asia, similar SAF-Scout Friendship Camps be organized jointly so that boys and girls from all the South Asian countries may have an opportunity to meet and fostered mutual understanding and creative friendships.

Consequently, the First SAF-Scout Friendship Camp was held in Bhutan (21-26 February 2002), a country nestled in the spectacular beauty of the Himalayas. “Regional Cooperation” was the theme of the camp in which a total of 550 girls and boys from the seven SAARC countries participated. An equally successful Second SAF-Scout Friendship Camp with “Protection of the Environment” as its theme was held in Maldives on 15-22 February 2003.  It provided 180 youngsters the rare treat of camping in Feydhoo Finolhu.  Both the camps were almost entirely funded by South Asia Foundation.

Worldwide, the experience has been that organizations such as SAF could hardly sustain themselves and function effectively unless all the participants share equally the costs and responsibilities of joint ventures. Hence, at a meeting held on 9-11 April 2002, at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, SAF Chairpersons unanimously decided that SAF shall not undertake any project without a matching contribution by the participating South Asian country.

This view was also endorsed by Mr. Abdullah Rasheed, Regional Director of the Asia-Pacific Regional ( APR ) Office of the World Scout Bureau, Manila. He suggested that the ad-hoc practice of negotiating a budget with the host country be discontinued and the SAF-Scout Friendship camps be held in accordance with the MOU signed between SAF and the Chief Commissioners of National Scout Organizations in South Asia, the terms of which are as follows:

SAF shall provide an annual grant of US $ 40,000.00 to APR, towards part of the travel cost of hosting the event, which shall manage the account in ensuring that a fair representation of girls and boys from all SAARC countries to enable them to attend the event, accompanied by one adult male and one female Scout leader. Upon completion of the event, APR will submit within a month, a financial statement for the use of the funds made available by SAF.

Regional Cooperation being SAF’s principal objective, the SAF Chapter in the host country shall, as part of the camp’s programme, arrange and pay for the expenses for a youth seminar on the subject, in consultation with the Scout Chief Commissioner. SAF shall also pay for the internal travel and hotel accommodation of the resource persons invited to create awareness of the Scouts on the merits of regional cooperation in South Asia and on topics of common interest to the youth of the region.

In addition, the SAF Chapter in the host country shall arrange and pay for a documentary film (DVD) about the camp, as was done in Bhutan and Maldives.

All other expenditures involved, including international and internal travel, board and lodging of the participating Scouts, entertainments, handicraft exhibitions, and the costs of other Scout related activities, shall be borne entirely by the Scout organization of the host country. The Chief Commissioner of the host country shall prepare the budget and if necessary, shall seek sponsorship or part funding from the host Government, international and national NGO's, well wishers and from the business sector or from participating countries.

All official announcements and decisions related to the holding of the SAF Scout Friendship Camp in any given respective country shall come from the host association and that all major decisions should also be made by the host organization, in consultation with South Asia Foundation and the World Scout Bureau, Asia Pacific Regional Office and no unilateral decisions be made by any one party.

All members of the national scout associations taking part in the SAF Scout Friendship Camp shall complete the SAF membership form prior to the camp and shall be submitted to the SAF national Chapter.

The venue and the date of holding the SAF Scout Friendship Camp shall be recommended by the joint meeting of all the Chief Commissioners of the SAARC region and endorsed by SAF and APR jointly.

This Memorandum of Understanding is signed on November 22, 2003.

Abdullah Rasheed
Regional Director
World Organization of the Scout Movement
Asia-Pacific Region on behalf of all the National Scout Associations of South Asia

Madanjeet Singh
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Founder, South Asia Foundation ( SAF )


- Presentation of books to the SAARC secretariat library on  March 21, 2007

250 books donated by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh on behalf of the South Asia Foundation (SAF) were handed over by Dr. Rita Thapa, chairperson of SAF-Nepal chapter to Ambassador Chenkyab Dorji , secretary general of  SAARC at a function held at the SAARC  Secretariat, Kathmandu. All Directors representing each of the SAARC member states were present.

The books are on South Asian affairs, SAARC, regional cooperation, economy, politics, security, education and culture, and relevant to each of the themes of the various technical committed disciplines under the SAARC.

In keeping with the desire of the Secretary-General, there are also country-specific books on Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan. The 1942 edition of the "Discovery of India" by Jawaharlal Nehru has also been given to the library.

Dr. Rita Thapa highlighted the work done by SAF to promote regional cooperation and peace through education, mutual understanding, spread of knowledge and creative friendship.

Ambassador Dorji thanked Dr. Rita Thapa for his generous contribution by Ambassador Singh to enrich the library and hoped that researchers, scholars and students would immensely benefit from this rich collection.

Secretary of the SAF-Nepal chapter, Nishchal N. Pandey, gave detailed information on the various titles, including encyclopedia sets, memoirs, and other volumes that were handed over to the library.

The SAF was recognized as a regional apex body of the SAARC at the Dhaka summit last year. The SAF has instituted a large number of scholarships for talented young students across South Asia under a group scholarship scheme.

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New Delhi Resolutions of the SAF Governing Council
Operative for the year  2007

Prof. Hashmi SAF Pakistan Chairperson summarized the proceedings of the annual meeting of SAF Governing Council Ion November 27, 2006, and the resolutions adopted.

(I) It was decided to phase out the individual scholarships funded by SAF and instead fund Group Scholarships in view of the fact that they have been most effective in promoting Regional Cooperation.

(II) In the future, Group Scholarships would be increased and strengthened on the model of the scholarships allocated to the Asian college of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai and to the School of Visual Arts at Beaconhouse National University (BNU), Lahore.

(III) Group Scholarships shall be integrated with SAF Institutions of Excellence in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and shall be paid for by the long term SAF grants allocated to these projects.

(IV) It was stipulated that the SAF shall discontinue funding Institutions of Excellence in case they would fail to fully comply with the SAF’s cardinal objective of promoting Regional Cooperation.

(V) The SAF shall not fund any building to house the institutions of excellence nor invest in any other real estate project.

(VI) The present SOS individual scholarships would be phased out and instead Group Scholarships will be offered for vocational training in the SOS Institute in India.

(VII) SAF-SOS Environmental camps for 15-16 year olds shall be continued, in addition, another series of ‘thematic’ camps will be launched for young graduates from SAARC countries; the first such camp would be held at ACJ, Chennai, in December 2007.

(VIII) In view of Bhutan’s need for trained journalists, it was agreed that ACJ, Chennai, shall increase the number of Group Scholarships for Bhutan to four (two boys and two girls).

(IX) It was reiterated that the SAF shall not fund any project without at least a matching contribution in cash or kind against SAF’s financial assistance, as decided in 2002 by the SAF Governing Council at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France.

SAF Madanjeet Singh Individual Scholarships programme has been suspended because it did not promote the expected regional cooperation. Hence this programme was replaced by Group Scholarships offered through  a number of SAF institutions of excellence . 

Under the SAF Madanjeet Singh Scholarship Scheme, scholarships were instituted for economically and socially disadvantaged students who wish to pursue Post Graduate or Vocational courses through Distance Learning.  Valued at maximum US $.300 per scholarship,. The Scheme which was initiated trough Open Universities in SAARC countries in the year 2004-05 for a three year period, ended in 2006-2007.   The total number of scholarships  were more than 10,000  allotted for India Open Universities and the Open University of Sri Lanka.  The scholarships were awarded to deserving   students  through  the Open Universities, with whom the SAF had entered into an agreement.  The process of selection was done in a transparent manner using the software developed by SAF which processes the applications on 16 different parameters including gender equity as one of the principles  of selection.

The total number of individual scholarships that  were awarded under this  programme numbered 9915 scholarships.

In 2004 The Open University of Sri Lanka also benefited under this programme  as scholarships were offered to 120 students that later increased to 197 in the following years.


Cooperation between the Open Universities in SAARC countries to jointly develop courses for students in different disciplines

At a meeting of all the Vice Chancellors of Open Universities in SAARC countries, held in September 2002, at Villa Surya in Bealieu-sur-Mer, France, it was decided to jointly develop courses for students and a Post Graduate Diploma course in South Asian studies. A fixed time schedule was also recommended to launch the programme  in January 2004. A Steering Committee of the SAF Learning Initiative (SAFLI) was constituted, comprising the vice-chancellors of open universities attending the Villa Surya meeting.

The programme was named the Post Graduate Diploma in South Asian Studies and each collaborating institution was asked to form a local committee to work out the structure of the programme. This activity was coordinated by a Convenor from each institution and required  to be completed by 15^th November 2002.

It was also decided that the initial one-time course design and development costs, including secretarial and administrative costs, as well as costs of the final product (inclusive of all media, such as print, cd/dvd-rom, audio/video-tapes, etc.) will be borne by the SAF.

Activities of  SAF chapters during the year 2007

- AFGHANISTAN-

- SAF Group Scholarships during the year 2007

SAF-Afghanistan chapter has continued sending students, both boys and girls, to the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, India, and to the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. During the year 2007, two students (both males) were sent to ACJ, Chennai, and two students (one male and one female) went to study at BNU, Lahore.


- SAF Scout Friendship Camp at Murree, Pakistan.

45 boy scouts from Afghanistan participated in the 5th SAF Scout Friendship Camp in Pakistan from 4 to 10 June 2007. In all there were 244 scouts from all the South Asian countries. The theme of the camp was “Sharing Youth Potential for development..”


- UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institution for Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage

Hon. Dr. S. M. Raheen, Minister of Information and Culture, Government of Afghanistan and Chairman of the SAF chapter in Afghanistan, inaugurated the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage  on July 13, 2007, in Kabul. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 22^nd March, 2004, between the UNESCO, the Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan and SAF Founder, Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, for the establishment of Madanjeet Singh Institute for Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage in Kabul.  The SAF has released the first installment of US$.200,000 for the rehabilitation of the building as stipulated in the MoU.

At the end of March 2007, Dr Robert Knox of the British Museum and Dr Tej Singh of the Lucknow Institute for Restoration were sent to Kabul by UNESCO on a mission paid by SAF, to discuss with the Minister of Culture  and asses on the spot the staff required and other administrative matters  of the Institute.


- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet SIngh, The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and The Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan concerning the Madanjeet Singh Institute for Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage.

Considering the urgent need for capacity-building in the field of cultural heritage preservation in Afghanistan through training activities for Afghan specialists, in particular from the Ministry of Information and Culture as well as from the provincial authorities,

Considering the great interest of Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh in the safeguarding of Afghanistan's cultural heritage and his offer made to the Afghan Minister of Information and Culture, as well as to UNESCO, in June 2003 to provide one million US dollars for a training institution in the field of cultural heritage,

Considering the results of the discussions between Goodwill Ambassador Singh, His Majesty King Zaher Shah, President Hamid Karzai, the Ministers of Education, Higher Education, Foreign Affairs and Information and Culture, during his mission to Afghanistan in October 2003,

Considering that a building was identified in October 2003 in Kabul by the Afghan Government and Goodwill Ambassador Singh to house the Madanjeet Singh Institute for Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage,

Considering the desire of Goodwill Ambassador Singh to benefit from UNESCO expertise in the field of capacity-building in cultural heritage.

The parties agree as follows:

Article 1

As a first phase, Goodwill Ambassador Singh will at his earliest convenience transfer the necessary funds to the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture to restore, adapt, rehabilitate, furnish and  equip the above-mentioned building, in order to enable it to be used as the Madanjeet Singh Institute for Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage. The first payment for this first phase will consist of US$ 100,000. For this purpose and as agreed between H. E. Dr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen, Minister of Information and Culture; and Goodwill Ambassador Singh, an external current bank account under the name SAF-Afghanistan will be opened at the Afghanistan Bank, Kabul, to be operated by the Minister of Information and Culture.

Article 2

The second phase will consist in the establishment of a suitable training programme for Afghan specialists in cultural heritage conservation. UNESCO will cooperate through its Office in Kabul to provide necessary expertise when needed, subject to the conclusion of an appropriate agreement between UNESCO and the Afghan Government. UNESCO, jointly with the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, ICCROM, the Indian National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property, NRLC, and other institutions specialized in this field, will provide its expertise in the following domains

- Evaluation of equipment needs,
- Identification of manufacturers of the required equipment,
- Identification of a training curriculum adapted to the needs of Afghanistan in different fields, such as musicology, the conservation of museum objects, museum management, mural painting conservation,  architectural restoration and site management,
- Identification of suitable candidates,
- Identification of highly qualified teachers in the areas concerned.

Article 3

UNESCO, jointly with ICCROM, NRLC, and other institutions, will assist in the implementation of the training courses.

Article 4

Goodwill Ambassador Singh will transfer the necessary funds for the implementation of the second phase. The Minister of Information and Culture will be responsible for the implementation of the second phase in cooperation with UNESCO, ICCROM and the other institutions. The Minister will provide them with the necessary funds from the amounts transferred to the SAF-Afghanistan account by Ambassador Madanjeet Singh for any expenses related to the above-mentioned activities.

Article 5

The Parties agree to meet at regular intervals for the purposes of mutual consultation in order to determine the activities to be undertaken within this framework and to share relevant information in this regard.

Article 6

UNESCO's collaboration with above-mentioned organizations and entities is subject to their consent and to the signing of an appropriate agreement between them and UNESCO.

Article 7

UNESCO's name and logo shall be used only with the prior written agreement of UNESCO.

Done in Paris, this 22 of March 2004, in three originals, in the English language.

Madanjeet Singh
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

Koïchiro Matsuura
Director-General of UNESCO

Sayed Makhdoom Raheen
Minister of Information and Culture
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan

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- BANGLADESH -

- SAF Group Scholarships during the year 2007

SAF-Bangladesh chapter has continued sending students, both boys and girls, to the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, India, and to the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. During the year 2007, two students (one male and one female) were sent to ACJ, Chennai, and two students (two females) went to study at BNU, Lahore.


- SAF Scout Friendship Camp at Murree, Pakistan.

9 boy scouts and 9 guides from Bangladesh participated in the 5th SAF Scout Friendship Camp in Pakistan from 4 to 10 June 2007. In all there were 244 scouts from all the South Asian countries. The theme of the camp was “Sharing Youth Potential for development.”.


- SAF- Madanjeet Singh Individual Scholarships to SOS villages.

79 SAF- Madanjeet Singh Individual Scholarships were given to the deprived and marginalized orphans, both boys and girls, residing in the SOS villages in Bangladesh.


- The South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 26^th December, 2006,  between  the SAF Founder, Ambassador Madanjeet Singh and the South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (in the process of formation). The Institute will be involved in post-graduate legal education and will offer, in conjunction with BU, post-graduate degrees within its area of expertise. To start with, an LL.M. in South Asian Law and an M.A. in Human Rights and Development may be offered.
The Institute will actively promote research on themes within its area of expertise, which will include legal mechanisms for regional and South Asian integration, comparative studies of South Asian law, unification and harmonization of the laws of the region, and human rights and development..

To further strengthen its research - and also teaching - base, every year the Institute will offer fully funded Fellowships for a year. Two or three of these may be offered to academics or professionals from SAARC countries the rest for students from the region.


- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the South Asia Foundation (“SAF”) and the South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (in the process of formation) (“The Institute”)

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated 12 December 2006 between the South Asia Foundation (“SAF”) and the South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (in the process of formation) (“the Institute”) sets forth the agreements reached between the parties relating to the implementation and establishment of the Institute. This MOU is drawn up further to the submission to SAF Governing Council in March 2006 a Proposal (“the Proposal”) for the establishment of the Institute and in October 2006 a draft five year budget for the Institute (“the budget”) and various meetings, discussions and correspondence between the Founder of SAF, Mr. Madanjeet Singh, and the Chairman, SAF-Bangladesh, Dr. Kamal Hossain.

The decisions and other agreements reached between the parties to date are set forth below:

Establishment of the Institute

1. The Institute will be established in Bangladesh as a centre of excellence for research and education in South Asian law and human rights. There will be established within the Institute a centre for research on South Asian law to be known as the Madanjeet Singh Centre for Research on South Asian Law. The Institute will be established as an independent legal entity registered under Bangladesh law. Once established, the Institute will enter into an agreement with BRAC University (BU) for purposes of conferral of degrees as well as for cooperation on other related matters. It is understood that BU will be willing to enter into such an agreement with the Institute, subject to appropriate institutional and financial arrangements.

Objectives of the Institute

2. In conformity with the cardinal SAF objectives of promoting regional cooperation, the Institute will establish itself as a centre of excellence for research and education in South Asian law and human rights. As the leading institution of its kind, it will undertake teaching and research in its chosen area.

3. The Institute will be involved in post-graduate legal education and will offer, in conjunction with BU, post-graduate degrees within its area of expertise. To start with, an LL.M. in South Asian Law and an M.A. in Human Rights and Development may be offered.
   
4. The Institute will design and undertake research projects and provide financial support to research programmes approved by it. It will offer fellowships to academics and professionals to undertake research on topics relating to human rights and South Asian law. It will also engage in publication of books, journals, working papers, bulletins and newsletters containing original research works and articles, reports and information about matters of interest to researchers and other concerned in the field. The Institute will organise national and international conferences, seminars, symposiums, workshops and lectures on various subjects for interested persons.

5. The faculty, fellows, researchers and students of the Institute will be drawn from all SAARC countries, so that it acquires a truly South Asian character and can acquire a central position in South Asian cooperation in the fields of law, human rights and development.

Association of the Institute with BRAC University (BU)

6. The Institute will be responsible for entering into necessary agreements and arrangements with BU for purposes of offering the aforementioned LL.M. and M.A. degrees and for the use of support services and facilities of BU, including library and ICT, personnel and any other services or facilities that may be made available to the Institute by BU. These agreements and arrangements would contain details regarding the nature and manner of association and cooperation between the Institute and BU and whether – and, if so, what – fees or charges will be payable by the Institute to BU.

Organizational structure and management

7. Institute will have its own independent legal status. It will be established as an independent non-profit legal entity registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

8. Although the Institute will be associated with BU, the organizational and management structure of the Institute will allow academic autonomy to encourage creativity and full contribution of its faculty, fellows, researchers and students in fulfilling its mission. It will have its own management and staff. At the same time, the Institute’s existence as a part of BU will be recognized.

9. The Institute will have financial autonomy. It will not be financially dependent on BU and will raise and spend funds in its own name.

10. As a society, the Institute will have a Governing Body to which the management of its affairs will be entrusted. The work of the Institute will be guided by an International Advisory Board. There may also be an Academic Committee to oversee the academic affairs. The Institute will have a Director responsible for its day-to-day management and academic affairs.

11. The first Governing Body, International Advisory Board, Academic Committee and the Director must be approved by SAF Bangladesh Chapter. Subsequent appointments will be made in pursuance of appropriate procedures drawn up by agreement between the Institute and Chairman of the SAF Bangladesh Chapter.

12. To start with, the size of the faculty of the Institute may be small but would be supported by outside resource persons. Commensurate with the objective of regional exchange and collaboration, both the permanent and the part-time faculty of the Institute will be drawn from SAARC countries and, where appropriate, internationally.

Post-graduate courses

13. The Institute will be involved in post-graduate legal education, and to start with, an LL.M. in South Asian Law and an M.A. in Human Rights and Development may be offered. About 50 students from SAARC countries as well as from outside SAARC may be enrolled for each of these courses. However, during the first one or two years lesser number of students may be enrolled. The courses will be of one year duration (September to August).

14. The LL.M. in South Asian Law programme will cover laws relating to regional integration in the widest possible sense, as well as comparative studies of core areas of South Asian law. The M.A. in Human Rights and Development will be a multi-disciplinary course where students will be drawn from a wide range of disciplines, including, law, economics, development studies, sociology and politics. The curriculum of both the LL.M. and the M.A. programmes will be developed by expert groups. International workshops will be held to prepare and finalize the curriculum.

Research and Fellowships

15. The Institute will actively promote research on themes within its area of expertise, which will include legal mechanisms for regional and South Asian integration, comparative studies of South Asian law, unification and harmonization of the laws of the region, and human rights and development. The faculty of the Institute will be expected to have research interests in these areas and actively engage in research. The Institute will also design and undertake collaborative research projects, and will encourage outside resource persons to become involved in the research initiatives of the Institute. Sufficient funds will be earmarked for research activities of the Institute.

16. To further strengthen its research – and also teaching – base, every year the Institute will offer three to five fully funded Fellowships for a year. Two or three of these may be offered to academics or professionals from SAARC countries and the rest to academics from non-SAARC countries. The latter will make it possible for scholars from leading universities of the world to spend a year at the Institute as Visiting Professors or Scholars. While at the Institute, the Visiting Professors or Scholars will engage in research work and will undertake some teaching responsibilities in selected modules in the area of their expertise. The Institute may also offer Fellowships to younger scholars who have completed, or are about to complete, advanced post-graduate research degrees and are keen to pursue a career in research and teaching. The Fellowships will be properly advertised, including advertisement in international media, so that they become adequately competitive.

Partnership with institutions of excellence

17. The Institute will endeavour to establish partnership with world-reputed academic institutions for specific inputs in the form of faculty and curriculum content. Which institutions are to be approached for partnership and the nature of association with them will be decided in due course by the governing and advisory bodies of the Institute. The careful selection of prestigious partners who have high quality competence, programmes or facilities to share and who wish to learn from South Asia and Bangladesh will be an important strategic aspect of the Institute’s development.

Financial contribution of SAF

18. SAF undertakes to contribute US $ 1,000,000/- (one million United States dollars) towards the establishment and operation of the Institute (“the contribution”) over a period of five years.

19. The first installment of the aforesaid contribution should not be less than US $ 200,000/- (two thousand United States dollars). It will be paid by SAF into a bank account of the SAF Bangladesh Chapter (“the account”) upon formation and registration of the Institute as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The account will be operated under the joint signature of the Chairman of the SAF Bangladesh Chapter and the Director of the Institute.

20. In conformity with the SAF Governing Council resolution adopted in 2002 at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, SAF shall not fund any project without at least a matching contribution in cash or kind against SAF’s financial assistance.

21. SIALS shall submit an annual Audit to SAF Governing Council and a progress report on the Institute.

22. The Institute and SAF will enter into necessary arrangements for payment by SAF the remainder of the contribution as and when required.

23. It is stipulated that SAF shall discontinue funding SIALS in case the Institute fails to fully comply with SAF’s cardinal objective of promoting regional cooperation

Additional financial support

24. The Institute will be responsible for raising additional funds that may be necessary for the establishment and operation of the Institute. The Institute undertakes to inform SAF from time to time of additional support that may be forthcoming for the Institute.

Appointment of the first Director

25. Immediately after the first installment of the contribution is paid, SAF Bangladesh Chapter and the Institute will jointly undertake all necessary steps to appoint the first Director of the Institute, bearing in mind that commensurate with the aim of the Institute to establish itself as a centre of excellence she/he should be a scholar of international repute and capable of implementing this MOU and the Proposal. She/he will be a SAARC national.

Signed:

Dr. Kamal Hossain
On behalf of the South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies and the Madanjeet Singh Centre for Research on South Asian Law

Ambassador Madanjeet Singh
On behalf of the South Asia Foundation

- BHUTAN -

- SAF Group Scholarships during the year 2007

SAF-Bhutan chapter has continued sending students, both boys and girls, to the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, India, and to the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. During the year 2007, two students (both females) were sent to ACJ, Chennai, and three students (two females and one male) went to study at BNU, Lahore.


- SAF Scout Friendship Camp at Murree, Pakistan.

5 boy scouts and 4 guides from Bhutan participated in the 5th SAF Scout Friendship Camp in Pakistan from 4 to 10 June 2007. In all there were 244 scouts from all the South Asian countries. The theme of the camp was “Sharing Youth Potential for development.”


- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation (“SAF”) And SAARC Forestry Institute of Excellence ( in the process of establishment).

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated 2007 between the South Asia Foundation (“SAF”) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Forestry Institute of Excellence, Thimphu, Bhutan (in the process of establishment) set forth the agreement, between the parties relating to the implementation and establishment of the Institute  This MoU is drawn up further to the submission to SAF Governing Council a Proposal (“the Proposal”) for the establishment of the Institute in 2007 and a draft five year budget for the Institute (“budget”) and various meetings, discussions and correspondence between the SAF Founder, Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, and the Hon’able Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup, Chairman of the Bhutan chapter of South Asia Foundation.

The decision to establish SAARC Forestry Institute of Excellence in Bhutan was taken by the Twenty-fifth Session of the Council of Ministers, SAARC held in Islamabad, Pakistan in July 2004 at the recommendation of the Sixth South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Ministerial Meeting on Environment held in Thimphu, Bhutan from 12-13 June 2004.

The decisions and other agreements reached between the parties to date are set forth below:

Establishment of the Institute

1. The Institute will be established in Bhutan as a Institute of excellence for research and education in sustainable forest management, and mountain ecology, catering to the urgent needs of the SAARC countries. The Institute will be established as an autonomous legal entity within the framework of the Royal Civil Service Commission and applicable SAARC and SAF Guidelines.

Objectives of the Institute

2. In conformity with the cardinal SAF objectives of promoting regional cooperation, the Institute will establish itself as a Institute of excellence in mountain ecology and sustainable forest management. As the leading Institute of its kind, it will act as a lynchpin for coordinating and bringing together all practicing mountain ecologists, foresters, conservation biologists and researchers of the region for sharing knowledge and experiences.

3. The Institute will design and undertake projects and provide financial support to field and research programmes approved by it. It will offer fellowships to students, academics and professionals from SAARC countries to undertake research on topics relating to mountain ecology, biodiversity conservation and forest resources in the region.

4. The Institute will establish itself as repository for research data and literature on mountain ecology, biodiversity and sustainable forests management. The Institute will also undertake publication of books, journals, working papers, and information relating to mountain ecology, biodiversity and forest resources.

5. The field programme team members will be drawn from all SAARC countries to ensure that it acquires a truly South Asian character and can position itself as a central authority in the field of mountain ecology and sustainable forest management in South Asia.

Organizational Structure and Management

6. The Institute will have its own independent legal status. It will be established as an autonomous entity within the framework of Royal Civil Service Commission and applicable SAARC and SAF guidelines.

7. The Institute will have financial autonomy. It will not be completely dependent on the Royal Government of Bhutan for supporting staff and field programmes of the Institute.

Appointment of the Director.

8. The Institute will have a Director responsible for day-to-day management of the Institute and field programmes. Bearing in mind that commensurate with the aim of the Institute to establish itself as a Institute of excellence she/he should be a scholar of international repute and capable of implementing this MOU and the Proposal. She/he will be a SAARC national.

9. The SAF Bhutan Chairman  will approve the members of the Governing Board of the Institute. The appointment of the Director must be approved by the SAF Bhutan Chapter. The Director will be guided by the Governing Board, and applicable SAARC  and SAF guidelines.

10. Initially, the size of the staff members of the Institute may be small and may be supported by outside resource persons. Commensurate with the objective of regional exchange and collaboration, both the permanent and part-time staff members of the Institute will be drawn from SAARC countries and, where appropriate, internationally.

Programmes

11. The Institute will focus on the following five core programmes:

However, Institute will also respond to the needs of SAARC member countries, and expand the themes of the programmes within the framework of applicable guidelines of SAARC Institutes of Excellence.

Partnerships with other  institutions of excellence

12. The Institute will endeavour to establish partnerships with world-reputed institutes such as the Indian Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. The criteria for establishing partnerships and the nature of association with such institutes and Institutes will be developed and approved by the Governing Board  and implemented within the framework of applicable SAARC and SAF guidelines.

Financial contribution of SAF

13. SAF undertakes to contribute US 1,000,000/- (one million United States dollars) towards the establishment and operation of the Institute (“the contributor”) over a period of five years.

14. The first installment of the aforesaid contribution shall not be less than US $ 200,000/- (two hundred thousand United States dollars). It will be paid by SAF into a bank account of the SAF Bhutan Chapter (“the account”) upon the formation and registration of the Institute by the Royal Civil Service Commission of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The account will be operated under the joint signatures of the Chairman of the SAF Bhutan Chapter and the Director of the Institute.

15. The Institute and SAF will enter into necessary arrangements for payments by SAF the remainder of the contribution as and when required.

SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships

16. The annual SAF group scholarships given by the Institute   will not be less than 16 (sixteen students from SAARC countries ) based on gender equality. Additional scholarships will be offered subject to the availability of funds. The cost of all group scholarships will be fully covered by the Institute including travel, boarding and lodging, tuition fees, expenditure incurred on increasing cost of living and extra curricula activities, which will be funded and adjusted within the annual SAF grant.

17. The institute will have the option of sending Group Scholarship students for studies at the Forest Research Institute, Derha Dun, India considering the relevancy and reputation of the Institute on high quality research on forest.

18. Any funds not utilized during the year will be carried over and adjusted against the cost of group scholarships for the next year.

19. The Institute shall submit an annual audit report on the SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships to SAF Governing Council. Annual installments will be paid on the receipt of auditor’s report of the previous year, giving detailed expenditure incurred on Group Scholarships.

20. It is stipulated that SAF shall discontinue the funding in case the Institute  fails to fully comply with the provisions of this agreement and SAF’s cardinal objective of promoting regional cooperation.

21. In conformity with the SAF Governing Council resolution adopted in 2002 at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, SAF shall not fund any project without at least a matching contribution in cash or kind against SAF's financial assistance.

Additional financial support

22. The Institute will be responsible for raising additional funds that may be necessary for the establishment and operation of the Institute. The Institute undertakes to inform SAF from time to time of additional support that may be forthcoming for the Institute.

23. The Institute shall install a metal placard, prominently displaying the following text:

‘The SAARC Forestry Institute of Excellence in Bhutan is funded by South Asia Foundation (SAF) which is a secular, non-profit and non-political organization, founded in 2000 by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh. The cardinal objective of the organization is to sustain a movement, in particular involving youth, to promote regional cooperation and peace through education, cultural interaction and mutual understanding among the people of South Asia’.

‘SAF has been admitted into official relationship with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and recognized as an Apex Body of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The aims, objectives and activities of SAF are in conformity with the spirit, purpose and principles of the two international organizations’.

Signed:

H.E. Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup
On behalf of SAARC Forestry Institute of Excellence, Thimphu, Bhutan  

Ambassador Madanjeet Singh
On behalf of the South Asia Foundation

- INDIA -

SAF-India chapter has continued sending students, both boys and girls, to the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, India, and to the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. During the year 2007, two students (one male and one female) were sent to ACJ, Chennai, and two students (one male and one female) went to study at BNU, Lahore.


- SAF Scout Friendship Camp at Murree, Pakistan.

9 boy scouts and 8 guides from India participated in the 5th SAF Scout Friendship Camp in Pakistan from 4 to 10 June 2007. In all there were 244 scouts from all the South Asian countries. The theme of the camp was “Sharing Youth Potential for development.”


- SAF Individual Scholarships

In India, the SAF-Madanjeet Singh Scholarship Scheme enables meritorious students from poor and remote areas, scheduled castes/tribes, or/and students who are physically handicapped to pursue higher studies and vocational diplomas through distance learning.
The scholarships are offered through State Open Universities in several states throughout India, which have agreed to partner with the SAF-Madanjeet  Singh Scholarship Scheme by entering into an Agreement with the Foundation. It has been SAF's endeavor to keep the SAF Madanjeet Singh Scholarship open and transparent.
Merit and means were the important criteria in the selection of candidates. The founder of the SAF wants the scheme to aim to maintain gender equity.
The Memorandum of Understanding had a duration of three years.


- Distribution of scholarship cheques have so far been held at the following universities:

- Aligarh Muslim University, U.P.: 28
- Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat: 480
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad, A.P.: 1215
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab: 186
- Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU): 1169
- Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi: 83
- Karnatka State Open University, Mysore: 2390
- Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University, Bhopal: 160
- Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, A.P.: 455
- Netaji Subhas Open University, Kolkata, West Bengal: 416
- Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad, U.P.: 239
- Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai.T.N.: 520
- Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University, Kota, Rajasthan: 285
- Yashwant Rao Chavan Open University, Nashik, Maharashtra: 1980

The total number of scholarships awarded: 9915 scholarships.


- SAF-Madanjeet Singh Individual Scholarships to SOS villages.

197 SAF- Madanjeet Singh Individual Scholarships were given to the deprived and marginalized orphans, both boys and girls, residing in the SOS villages in India.  During the year 2007 a total of SAF 323 scholarships  were given to the SOS villages in the South Asian region at the cost of US$ 96,900/-.


- The 2004 agreement between South Asia Foundation ("SAF") and SOS-Kinderdorf International to grant Individual Scholarships.

The SOS has member organizations in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Apart from Children's Villages, they also run various other projects like SOS Kindergartens, SOS Schools, SOS Vocational Training Centres, for Youth from within the SOS Villages as well as from weaker sections of the society in South Asia.During the year 2005, SAF Madanjeet Singh Scholarships for Postgraduate programmes and Vocational Training program for the marginalized South Asian students with social and economic disadvantages were granted to the youths of all the SAARC countries who are SAF members. These scholarships were granted in the year 2004 for the first time SAF & SOS decided to cooperate with each other in various fields and also to jointly strengthen the peace and co-operation among the SAARC countries. As a result an agreement was signed between Ambassador Madanjeet Singh Chairman of South Asia Foundation (SAF) and Siddhartha Kaul Deputy Secretary General for Asia SOS-Kinderdorf International on 1st August. In this agreement it was agreed that out of the total scholarships allotted by Ambassador Madanjeet Singh to SAARC Countries 750 will be exclusively granted to SOS Children's Villages in SAARC countries.

SAF-SOS Environment Camps

The  holding of environment camps is the outcome of an agreement between SOS-Kinderdorf International (SOS-KDI) and the South Asia Foundation. Taking a leaf out of SOS Farm Project Malpotha in Sri Lanka, both SAF and SOS-KDI  have agreed to get the youths from the South Asian countries together to experience the significance of the environment in rural atmosphere and learn organic farming techniques together.   Subsequent to the 1^st camp at Malpotha, Sri Lanka, two more camps were held; the 2nd in Bagerhat, Bangladesh and the third at Khajuri Kalan (near Bhopal), MP, India. The 4^th SAF-SOS Environment Camp, scheduled to be held at Abbottabad, Pakistan, was postponed and the date is not yet finalized.


- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation (“SAF”) and the Media Development Foundation (“MDF”), Chennai.

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated May 7, 2007  between the South Asia Foundation (“SAF”) and the Media Development Foundation (MDF) sets forth the agreements reached between the parties relating to the setting up of the Madanjeet Singh Resource Centre for Journalism Studies at the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) administered by the MDF in Chennai, India. This MoU is drawn up further to various meetings, discussions, and correspondence between the Founder of SAF, Mr. Madanjeet Singh, on the one hand, and the Chairman MDF, Mr. Sashi Kumar, and Trustee MDF, Mr. N. Ram, on the other.

The decisions and other agreements reached between the parties to date are set forth below:

1. MDF was set up in 1999 as a not-for-profit public Trust with the main objectives of (a) promoting journalism education, research, and training; (b) mapping and monitoring the media in India and South Asia; and (c) raising quality standards and promoting best practices in the journalistic profession in India and the region.

2. In furtherance of these objectives, MDF established (1) the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai (ACJ) in 1999, which conducts, for students from all over India and the seven other SAARC countries, a one-year postgraduate diploma programme in journalism education with specialisations in Print, TV, Radio and New Media (www.asianmedia.org); and (2) the Asian Media Institute (AMI) to undertake research related to the news media, and mapping and monitoring the news media, in India and South Asia.

3. Since the first batch graduated in 2001, the ACJ has acquired the status of the leading institution of journalism education in the South Asian region, making it the journalism school of choice for aspiring journalists across India and from the other SAARC countries. Hundreds of ACJ graduates, preponderantly women, are in vantage positions in all the news media streams in India and, to an extent, in other SAARC countries, and are making a significant difference in terms of benchmarking serious, ethical, socially sensitive, and quality journalism.

4. SAF has, over the years, made a valuable contribution to broadening access to the ACJ’s programme by endowing substantial annual group scholarships covering tuition, living, and travel expenses for students from each of the eight SAARC countries. SAF, which stipulates the gender equity principle in the award of scholarships, and MDF concur on the imperative need to provide equal opportunity to women and men, and to promote social diversity, in enrolment.

5. SAF has enabled MDF to promote regional cooperation among youth in the field of journalism education and among journalists of the South Asian region. MDF, in association with SAF Founder Mr. Madanjeet Singh, has achieved a breakthrough by securing visas for students from Pakistan to study at the ACJ.

6. In pursuance of the objective of promoting regional exchange and cooperation, MDF organized, in association with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the first ever Conference of Editors from SAARC countries in New Delhi in February 2007, just ahead of the 14th SAARC Summit. The conference unanimously adopted a visionary and far-reaching Resolution on the News Media in SAARC Countries (Appendix I). The conference of editors has been instituted as an annual event to be hosted in different SAARC countries to address issues relevant to the news media of the region.

7. SAF group scholarships for study at the ACJ have benefited several students from the SAARC countries and enabled them to become good practitioners in the profession. The value of their education and training at the ACJ has been acknowledged and commended by the organizations they work with and by senior editors and journalists in the SAARC region.

8. In recognition of the work being done by ACJ in the promotion of excellence in journalism, SAF has accorded it the status of an institute of excellence in the region and proposes to continue to fund the group scholarship scheme and, in addition to the handsome support already extended, provide funding for programme development and institution building.

9. The annual SAF group scholarships given by ACJ will not be less than 16 based on gender equality. Any additional scholarships will be funded and adjusted within the total SAF grant.

10. The proposed Madanjeet Singh Resource Centre for Journalism Studies at the ACJ, Chennai will, in addition to the institutional involvement of SAF in the ACJ through the annual group scholarships programme, become the research and advocacy arm of the MDF by incorporating the AMI; implementing research programmes on the news media, and mapping and monitoring the news media, in India and South Asia; and developing new perspectives on news media coverage of deprivation and the challenge of peace-building in the region.

11. At the ACJ Institute of excellence called Madanjeet Singh Resource Centre for Journalism Studies, a building will be constructed after the name of Madanjeet Singh.

Financial contribution of SAF

12. Undertakes to contribute US $ 1,000,000/- (one million United States dollars) towards group scholarships and the development of the Madanjeet Singh Resource Centre for Journalism Studies at the ACJ over a period of five years.

13. The first instalment of the aforesaid contribution should not be less than US $ 200,000/- (two thousand United States dollars). It will be paid by SAF-India chapter into a designated bank account of MDF by July 2007, when the academic year of the ACJ commences.

14. Subsequent four equal installments of the contribution of US$ 200,000/- (two thousand United States dollars) each will be paid by July in each successive year.

15. MDF shall submit an annual audit to SAF Governing Council and a progress report on the ACJ scholarships and the Madanjeet Singh Resource Centre for Journalism Studies.

16. It is stipulated that SAF shall discontinue funding MDF in case MDF fails to fully comply with SAF’s cardinal objective of promoting regional cooperation.

17. In conformity with the SAF Governing Council resolution adopted in 2002 at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, SAF shall not fund any project without at least a matching contribution in cash or kind against SAF's financial assistance.

Additional financial support

18. MDF will be responsible for raising additional funds that may be necessary for additional scholarships from the SAARC region and/or for programme development and institution building at the ACJ and the Madanjeet Singh Centre for Journalism Studies. MDF undertakes to inform SAF from time to time of additional support that may be forthcoming for the Institute.

Signed:

Sashi Kumar
Chairman, Media Development Foundation
On behalf of Media Development Foundation

Mani Shankar Aiyar
On behalf of South Asia Foundation-India

Madanjeet Singh
On behalf of the South Asia Foundation (SAF)

- Entrepreneurship SAF Development Programme for Rural Women in Jammu and Kashmir University

This program trains women on how to manage their own enterprises and makes available to them a wide variety of training courses. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in New Delhi between the SAF Founder and Vice Chancellor of Jammu University in December 2002 for a rural women entrepreneurship development program

The scholarship scheme was organized by the Centre for Adult Continuing Education, University of Jammu, under the direction of Dr Poonam Dhawan to provide learning opportunities to women from humble backgrounds in order to enhance their economic and social well being.

The selection is made by the University and is open to women 20 - 40 years old.
They should be educated but not graduates, from different villages in the region and willing to reside at the University for nine months training.

For each group there are compulsory subjects: general English, Computer Skills, Junior Foundation Management Courses and entrepreneurial skills.

The elective subjects are: Textile printing and designing, Art and Craft, Bakery and Confectionery, Agro-based skills, Maintenance and Repair of household gadgets and equipment, Food Preservation.

Started In 2003, twenty-eight girls enrolled in the vocational training program, they formed groups on the basis of their interests and specialization and after graduation set up their own enterprises.

In 2005 among the 33 candidates, 9 were selected for the Pre-Primary Education Program in addition to the previously offered vocational training courses. Up to 2006-07, 197 women returned to their communities with their Certificates and started their own enterprises, either alone, or in partnership with other girls from the program.
As a number of graduates have started, and self-financed their own Vocational Training Centres in their respective villages, the committee has agreed to provide students of these centres with Certificates of affiliation with Jammu University.

 
Pre-Primary Education Programme at Kashmir University (PPERA)

Professors of the University had designed a unique one-year diploma course which would extensively train educated girls in pre-primary education, childcare and entrepreneurship skills to run a school.

The scholarship amount per awardee, as in the case of Jammu University, provides for free accommodation, laboratory expenses and field training, teaching material, remuneration to faculty and miscellaneous expenses at the discretion of the course Director.
One of the intentions of this educational initiative is to generate individuals who were both educators and entrepreneurs, and would introduce high grade self-sustaining education into rural Kashmir. A Memorandum of Understanding between the South Asia Foundation and the University was signed in 2003.

The pilot project started in 2003 and 30 girls were trained. The girls (grade 10) were selected from rural areas, it was a rigorous process involving the local village Panchayat and University experts. The final list was formally approved by a Committee consisting of the Chancellor of the University (Governor), a representative of the University and SAF India.

Three years later 86 girls from different regions (Ladakh, Uri,Gurez, Qazigund, Banifal, Karnah, Doda) were trained and started their own 'Phoolban Schools' with school equipment, toys and teaching aids provided by the SAF. So far 112 women have been trained. This project completely transformed the shy village girls into bold personalities, ready to take the challenge and become women entrepreneurs in education.

Both these programmes are running successfully. In order to encourage interaction among girls, it is proposed that out of the 30 scholarships awarded for each programme, henceforth 15 girls from Jammu will study in Srinagar and 15 girls from Kashmir will go to Jammu.

 
- Memorandum of Underestanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation ('SAF') and the Institute for Kashmir Studies ('The Institute') established under University of Kashmir, (KU) Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation ('SAF') and the Institute for Kashmir Studies ('The Institute') sets forth the agreements reached between the parties through Kashmir University Srinagar J&K - India relating to the collaboration in the regulation and funding of the Institute. This MoU is drawn up further to the submission of SAF Governing Council for the said purpose.

Establishment of the Institute

1. The Institute is established in Kashmir University Srinagar as an Institute of excellence for research and education in Kashmir studies. The Institute is established as an autonomous legal entity associated / affiliated with the Kashmir University, Srinagar.

Objectives of the Institute

2. In conformity with the cardinal SAF objectives of promoting regional corporation the Institute will establish itself as a Institute of excellence for research and education in Kashmir Studies. Apart from offering group scholarships and vocational training for teachers, Kashmir studies including Jammu and Ladakh, will also study the valley’s traditional commercial and cultural links with China, Tibet, Central Asia, Persia in addition to the important regions of SAARC countries. Thus the scope of Kashmir Studies will be considered in a much broader historical and geographical context. As the leading institution of its kind it will undertake teaching and research in its chosen areas.

3. From the allocated SAF funds, the Institute shall annually offer not less than 10 SAF group scholarships based on gender equality (one male and one female scholar from each SAARC country). The full scholarships will cover the cost of travel, tuition, board and lodging, and any other expenditure. The group must necessarily include one male and one female student from Pakistan.

4. The Institute will manage the PPERA project in which 30 girls from Kashmir and 30 girls from the remote areas of Jammu are being annually trained as teachers of pre-primary education. In order to encourage interaction among girls professing different religions, it is proposed that henceforth 15 girls from Jammu will study in Srinagar and 15 girls from Kashmir will go to Jammu. The cost of funding this project covering the cost of travel, tuition, board and lodging and any other related expenditure shall be paid by SAF in addition to the funds provided to the Institute.

5. The Institute will design and undertake research projects and provide financial support to research programmes approved by it. It will offer fellowship to academics and professionals from the SAARC countries to undertake research on topics relating to Kashmir Studies. It will also engage in publication of books, journals, working papers, bulletins and newsletters containing original research works and articles, reports and information about matters of interest to researches and other concerned in the field. The Institution will organize national and international conferences, seminars, symposiums, workshops and lectures on subjects relating to Kashmir Studies.

6. The Institute will actively promote research on themes within its areas of expertise. The Institute will also design and undertake collaborative research projects, and will encourage outside resource persons from SAARC countries to become involved in the research initiatives of the Institute. Sufficient funds will be earmarked for research activities of the Institute.

7. The faculty, fellows, researchers and students of the Institution will be drawn from all SAARC countries, so that it acquires a truly South Asian character in the field of research, education, human rights and development in cooperation with the other SAF institutions of excellence.

Association of the Institute with University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K

8. The Institute will be responsible for entering into necessary agreements and arrangement with University of Kashmir, Sriangar, J&K, for purposes of offering Degrees, diplomas and for the use of support services and facilities of University of Kashmir, including a library.

9. The Institute will be established as an autonomous organization under the direct supervision of the Chancellor of Kahmir University, the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar J&K, who will act as the ex-officio Chairman of the Governing Body of the Institute.

10. The Institute will have a Governing Body comprising the Chancellor, Vice-chancellor of Kashmir University, Vice-chancellor of Jammu University and other academics from the region to which the management of the Institute’ affairs will be entrusted. There will be an Academic Committee to oversee the academic affairs. The Institute will have a full-time Director responsible for its day-to-day management and academic affairs.

11. The organizational and management structure of the Institute will allow academic autonomy to encourage creativity and full contribution of its faculty, fellows, researchers and students in fulfilling its mission. It will have its own management and staff. At the same time, the institution’s existence as a part of University of Kashmir Srinagar J&K will be recognized.

12. The Institute will have financial autonomy. It will not be financially dependent on University of Kashmir, Srinagar J&K and will raise and spend funds in its own name with the approval of the Governing body and the Academic Committee

13. The first Governing Body, Academic committee and appointment of the Institute’s Director will be subject to the approved by the chairperson of SAF India Chapter. Subsequent appointments will be made in pursuance of appropriate procedures drawn up by the Governing Body and the Academic Committee of the Institute.

14. To start with, the size of the faculty of the Institute would be small and may be supported by outside resource persons chosen from SAARC countries. Both the permanent and the part-time faculty of the Institute will be drawn from SAARC countries, commensurate with the objective of regional exchange and collaboration.

Financial contribution of SAF

15. SAF undertakes to contribute a total amount of US$1,000,000/- (one million United States dollars) towards the establishment and operation of the Institute over a period of five years.

16. The first installment of the aforesaid contribution shall not be less than US$ 200,000/- (two hundred thousand United State dollars). This amount will be paid by SAF into a bank account (‘the account’) to be opened by the Kashmir University in Srinagar (with the permission of FCRA) and operated under the joint signatures of the Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University and the Director of the Institute.

17. The subsequent annual payments of US$ 200,000/- (two hundred thousand United State dollars) will be made on receipt of the auditor’s report that the previous funds allocated by SAF have been effectively utilized..

18. The Institute shall submit an annual Audit report to SAF Governing Council and a progress report on the Institute.

19. In conformity with the SAF Governing Council resolution adopted in 2002 at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, SAF shall not fund any project without at least a matching contribution in cash or kind against SAF’s financial assistance.

20. It is stipulated that SAF shall discontinue funding the Institute in case the Institute fails to fully comply with SAF”s cardinal objective of promoting regional cooperation.

Additional financial support

21. The Institute will be responsible for raising additional funds that may be necessary for the operation of the Institute. The Institute undertakes to inform SAF from time to time of additional support that may be forthcoming for the Institute.

22. The Institute shall install a metal placard, prominently displaying the following text:

‘The Institute for Kashmir Studies is funded by South Asia Foundation (SAF) which is a secular, non-profit and non-political organization, founded in 2000 by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh. The Cardinal objective of the organization is to sustain a movement, in particular involving youth, to promote regional cooperation and peace through education, cultural interaction and mutual understanding among the people of South Asia.’

‘SAF has been admitted into official relationship with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and recognized as an Apex Body of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The aims, objectives and activities of SAF are in conformity with the spirit, purpose and principles of two international organizations’.

Signed:

Lt. Gen. S. K. Sinha, PVSM
Chancellor, Kashmir University, Srinagar

Prof. Abdul Wahid Qureshi
Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir, Srinagar

Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar
Chairperson, South Asia Foundation chapter in India, New Delhi.

Shri Madanjeet Singh
Founder, South Asia Foundation (SAF), Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France.

 
 
South Asia Foundation Documentation and Information Centre (SAFDIC)

The SAFDIC, located at SAF-India’s premises in New Delhi, houses over 7,000 volumes, primarily on South Asia. SAFDIC was inaugurated on August 31, 2001, by Dr. Manmohan Singh, (who was to become Prime Minister of India in 2004). He was keenly interested in how the journals available at the centre were gradually being digitalized to make information more easily accessible. A reading room with internet and photocopying facilities provides scholars with a valuable resource centre. The areas covered are: social and natural sciences, international relations, security, literature, culture, human rights, environment, gender education, health, science, technology and peace studies. The SAFDIC also subscribes to several journals and magazines. In the year 2007 SAFDIC added over 300 books. The Library facility is used by research scholars of the neighboring universities. SAFDIC is a member of the DELNET library network.

 
- SAF-India sponsored Conferences/Events

Education Summit 2007, New Delhi

SAF was the principal sponsor for the Education Summit 2007 organized by the Tehelka Foundation at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on April 27, 2007. The theme of the Summit was: Equality, Quality and Quantity: The elusive Triangle of Indian Education. The Summit had some of the best minds in the field of education talking to those it concerns most – around 300 children of different schools from across the schooling spectrum. SAF had put up a stall at the venue of the conference where publications of SAF were on display. Also, the student community and other distinguished panelists enjoyed watching the SAF produced DVD, “The Oral and Intangible Heritage of South Asia”, a performance of songs and dance by 40 artists from South Asian countries.

Hind-Pak Dosti Manch

Every year, for the past 5 years, the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, Amritsar, has organized cultural events at the Wagah Border in the month of August. The Manch, whose Chairman is Mr Kuldip Nayar, strives to building up of public opinion for peace in South Asia – particularly, India and Pakistan. This year’s event, which was organized at Wagah Border on 13-14 August, 2007, was supported and funded with Rs 100,000/- by SAF. Forty-two Pakistani dignitaries, including 12 Members of Parliament from Pakistan and officials of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and several dignitaries from Indian side participated.

- MALDIVES -

- SAF Group Scholarships during the year 2007

SAF-Maldives chapter has continued sending students, both boys and girls, to the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, India, and to the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. During the year 2007, two students (one male and one female) were sent to ACJ, Chennai, but they dropped out without finishing their course of study. The two students (one male and one female) went to study at BNU, Lahore.

 
- SAF Scout Friendship Camp at Murree, Pakistan.

9 boy scouts and 2 guides from Maldives participated in the 5th SAF Scout Friendship Camp in Pakistan from 4 to 10 June 2007. In all there were 244 scouts from all the South Asian countries. The theme of the camp was “Sharing Youth Potential for development.”

- NEPAL -

- Presentation of books to the Dean of the Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.

A large number of books on South Asia were presented by Mr. Nishchal N. Pandey, Secretary of South Asia Foundation (Nepal) to Prof. Dr. Ramesh Raj Kunwar, Dean of Tribhuvan University's Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at a function held on September 4. 2007. These books were donated by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh on behalf of the South Asia Foundation (SAF). Assistant Dean of the Department Prof. Dr. Shishir Subba and other members of the faculty were also present on the occasion. He hoped that the books would be useful to the students aspiring to go to the South Asian University (SAU) soon to be established by SAARC.

Dean Prof. Dr. Kunwar thanked SAF and Ambassador Singh for the generous contribution of books which he said would be of great help to the Department, members of the faculty, researchers and to the students. Since the faculty for South Asian Studies has not yet been established, he informed that the books would be useful also to the department of peace and developmental studies which was just about to begin in the university. The Dean said that students of all faculties under the Humanities department would gain from these books

Titles on regional cooperation and SAARC, peace-building and governance, country-specific books on individual South Asian countries including a copy of the "SASIA Story" authored by Ambassador Madanjeet Singh are included in the collection. Speaking at the function, Mr. Pandey briefly outlined the activities of the SAF and the desire of Ambassador Madanjeet Singh to assist individual universities in SAARC countries so that they are able to erect a solid course structure on South Asian studies.

 
- SAF Group Scholarships during the year 2007

SAF-Nepal chapter has continued sending students, both boys and girls, to the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, India, and to the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. During the year 2007, two students (both females) were sent to ACJ, Chennai, and two students (one boy and one girl) went to study at BNU, Lahore.

 
 
- SAF Scout Friendship Camp at Murree, Pakistan.

7 boy scouts and 7 guides from Bangladesh participated in the 5^th SAF Scout Friendship Camp in Pakistan from 4 to 10 June 2007. In all there were 244 scouts from all the South Asian countries. The theme of the camp was “Sharing Youth Potential for development.”.

 
- SAF- Madanjeet Singh Individual Scholarships to SOS villages.

45 SAF- Madanjeet Singh Individual Scholarships were given to the deprived and marginalized orphans, both boys and girls, residing in the SOS villages in Nepal.

 
 
- SAF-Madanjeet Singh Scholarships: Training Programme for Assistant Nurse Midwifes (ANM) Nepal

A total of 50 Madanjeet Scholarships donated by the South Asia Foundation have been implemented through a committed partnership among the South Asia Foundation, Nepal chapter, Poverty Alleviation Fund of Nepal, the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) and the Thapathali Maternity Hospital.Selection of the candidates were done according to the existing criteria set by the Health Ministry and CTEVT, but also by superimposing SAF affirmative criteria for ethnic groups like Dalit and Janajati. A total of 50 qualified women from Siraba, Rameshap, Kapilvastu, Mugu, Piyuthan, and Darchula were recruited and placed at the Jiri Technical School. Currently, they are undergoing midwifery training at the Thapathali Maternity Hospital, Kathmandu. 80% of these ANM students are from the Dalit and Janajati ethnic groups. Soon they will complete their ANM training and return to their respective communities. And set up maternal and child health services as a self-employment venture.

 
 
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation and the South Asia Madanjeet Institute of Assistant Nurse Midwife, Jiri Technical School, Council of Technical Education and Vocational Training, Nepal, Poverty Alleviation Fund and Dhulikhel Hospital.

 
Background

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated March 26^th 2007 between the South Asia Foundation (SAF) and the South Asia Madanjeet Institute of Training Assistant Nurse Midwife (the Institute), Jiri Technical School, CTEVT, Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) and the Dhulikhel Hospital-Nepal sets forth the agreements reached between the parties relating to establishment and implementation of the Institute. This MoU is drawn up further to the approval by the SAF Governing Council Meeting of 27^th November, 2006, Delhi, of a proposal submitted by Dr. Rita Thapa, SAF Chairperson-Nepal.

Establishment, Organizational Structure and Management

The Institute will be established as a non-profit, functional entity under the overall umbrella of Jiri Technical School, CTEVT. This is to ensure accreditation and conferral of certificates as well as for cooperation on other related matters. It is understood that CTEVT will be willing to enter into such an agreement with the Institute, subject to appropriate institutional and financial arrangements.

Although the Institute will be associated with Jiri Technical School, CTEVT, the organizational and management structure of the Institute will be steered by a governing committee. Such arrangement would allow academic autonomy to encourage creativity and maximum contribution of its partners including faculty, fellows, trainers and students in fulfilling the core objectives of the Institute and that of the concerned partners.

To start with, the existing faculty of the Jiri Technical School will be strengthened and supported by the resource persons from Dhulikhel hospital and Perinatal Society of Nepal for which appropriate remuneration will be made available by the Institute. Commensurate with the objective of regional exchange and collaboration, both the permanent and the part-time faculty of the Institute will be drawn from SAARC countries, where appropriate.

Contributing to SAF overriding goal

The institute will feed into the cardinal SAF objective of promoting regional cooperation and peace through education and mutual understanding among the young people of South Asia. As the leading regional institution of its kind, it will undertake teaching and imparting skills on the subject and also invite students from other South Asian countries in coordination with the various chapters of the SAF.

Saving the lives of women and their babies

The technical basis of this proposal comes from the fact that a large majority of women in South-East Asia risk death while giving life. The Maternal mortality ratio in South-East Asia is among the highest in the world, that includes Nepal.

Evidence shows that skilled health worker during childbirth can save lives of mother and her newborn baby. The World Health Report of 2005 has highlighted the evidence that higher the unattended births by skilled birth attendant (Community Midwife), higher are the maternal and neonatal deaths. In that, South-East Asia tops the list-it is almost at par with the Africa region. Implicit in such high maternal mortality is the silent death of huge number newborns, mainly due to maternal health problems and lack of skilled care at birth. Of the total annual infant deaths in Nepal, over 66 % occur among babies within the first 28 days after their birth. A similar situation prevails in all South Asian countries as well.

Improving Density of Skilled Birth Attendant & Attaining the MDG

The density of skilled health workers per 1000 population in South-East Asia is only 4.3 compared to 18.9 in Europe (WHO Report 2006). The 2006 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey showed that the proportion of births attended by skilled health workers in Nepal is only 19%, which is far behind the government and Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of 60% by 2015. A similar situation exists in rural and remote areas of other South Asian countries. Skilled birth attendant/ Community Midwife SBA/CMW is the cutting edge for reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality.

SBA/CMW connotes an accredited health professional such as midwife, nurse, health assistant and doctor who is proficient in skills required for managing normal pregnancy, child birth, the immediate post natal period and identification, management and referral of complications in mother and her baby.

Objectives

The Institute will establish itself as a centre of excellence for training as well as research and education on SBA/CMW for qualified young women from the remote and disadvantaged communities from within and outside Nepal.

Specifically, the Institute aims to:

- Increase the opportunities of Madanjeet Singh ANM scholarships among the poorest and disadvantaged groups of women.
- Improve ANM density in the poorest communities.
- Improve ANM attended births in the poorest communities.
- To expand & mobilize partnerships.

Strategy

A set of strategies are proposed as key to attaining the above objectives. They are as follows.

Building on what has worked

Since Jiri Technical School, had successfully implemented the training of the first batch of Madanjeet Singh ANM scholarships, it will be main locus of the Institute.
The implementation of the Institute and this MoU will be guided by a few take home messages that emerged during the planning and implementation of the pilot 50 Madanjeet Singh ANM scholarships in assistance of PAF benefiting the qualified women from the six poorest districts of Nepal where PAF is working. These lessons are that:

- Assistant Nurse Midwife (ANM) scholarships can be reached to the poorest communities.
- 80% of qualified women for ANM can be found among the disadvantaged groups – Dalit and Janajati.
- Community participation guarantees success and sustainability.
- A win-win partnerships works.
- SAF goal of inclusiveness can be realized.

Project Coordinating Committee

The governance of the Institute will be done through a « win-win » Partnerships: A governing body consisting of members from the partnering organizations, SAF Nepal, PAF, CTEVT, Jiri Technical School, Dhulikhel and Thapathali Maternity Hospitals, and Chief of National Health Training Center, MOH will be formed under the chair of CTEVT. This body will steer the entire planning, implementation and monitoring of the said project as outlined in this MoU. This committee will allow academic autonomy to encourage creativity and maximum contribution of its partners including faculty trainers and students in fulfilling the core objectives of the Institute and concerned partners.

The committee will be as follows:

 
Terms of Reference of the Committee

- The committee will meet at least once a year.
- Review the implementation of the project
- Make any adjustment necessary to strengthening of the Jiri Technical School and Jiri Hospital including the nearby health posts and sub-health posts with special focus to ANM training.
- Review the existing operational & technical policies made by the Jiri Technical School Management Committee in the line with the SBA skills for ANM.
- Review and Approve annual plan of action and budget forwarded by Jiri Technical School Management Committee.
- The PCC will formulate its working procedures as necessary according to the prevailing rules and regulations.

Updating the Curriculum and Syllabus

The existing ANM curriculum and syllabus of ANM under the CTEVT will be reviewed and updated according to the government's policy on SBA. The Institute will prepare / procure necessary training materials as required, train the faculties and conduct training accordingly.

Selection Criteria: Affirmative for Dalit & Janajati

The criteria used in the implantation of the first lot of 50 MS ANM scholarships had succeeded to bring 80% women from the disadvantaged groups (Dalit and Janajati). These criteria included academic, social, geographical and poverty factors. In addition, affirmative points were accorded to qualified candidates from Dalit and Janajati groups. These very criteria will be used in selecting further candidates from the poorest districts with preference on PAF working districts and VDCs.

The Institute will accredit the Madanjeet Singh ANM scholarship-training program with the CTEVT

 
The Partner Organizations Of The Institute: Role & Responsibilities

South Asia Foundation

South Asla Foundation (SAF) is a voluntary, secular and no-profit and non-political youth movement founded by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh. Its cardinal objective is to promote regional cooperation and peace through education, mutual understanding and creative friendship among the youth of South Asia.

In keeping with its objective of promoting regional cooperation through education, South Asia Foundation has instituted a large number of scholarships for talented young students across South Asia. Realizing the presence of a vast, untapped pool of talent in South Asia and the growing but unmet need for quality training and education in the region, SAF is offering group scholarships or gender-paired scholarships to two students each from eight South Asian countries.

The SAF-Madanjeet Singh group scholarships will give students across South Asia an opportunity to train in a center of excellence in the region. This endeavor is directed at ensuring that in the matter of higher education students from non-privileged backgrounds are dictated by choice and not by economic and social necessity.

Role and Responsibilities

SAF undertakes to contribute US $ 100,000/- (one hundred thousand United States dollars) annually towards the establishment and operation of the Institute (the contribution) over a period of 5 years. It will be paid by SAF to the concerned institutions as per the cost of the services.

Jiri Technical School, CTEVT

Established in 1982, as a joint project between the government of Nepal and the government of Switzerland, Jiri Technical School is a rural technical school run under the CTEVT. The main objectives of the JTS is to improve the living conditions of the rural communities by imparting the appropriate and qualitative skill in health, construction and agriculture trade for immediate application and self-employment.

This Institute is part of the on-going program of the initial 50 Madanjeet Singh ANM scholarships. The Institute will be responsible for strengthening the existing training and clinical facilities within the Jiri Technical School. These activities will be coordinated by South Asia Madanjeet Institute of ANM which will be under the umbrella of the Jiri Technical School.

The physical facilities, library and ICT, Jiri teaching hospitals and nearby health and sub-health posts, personnel will be made available to the Institute by the Jiri Technical School, CTEVT. In addition the Dhulikhel hospital will also provide as much as possible their satellite clinics for the training of ANM in maternal and neo-natal care.

Role and Responsibilities

- To recruit candidates from the poorest districts of Nepal currently Pyuthan, Mugu, Darchula, Kapilwastu, Siraha, Ramechap including Dolakha (where the Jiri Technical School is located) according to the agreed criteria as mentioned above.
- To liase with PAF portfolio managers including the PAF local networks existing in these districts.
- To provide 18 months assistant nurse mid-wifery (ANM) training to 40-50 eligible applicants from the said districts in accordance to the SBA syllabus.
- To work in good relationship with local community and relevant accrediting and regulatory agencies and partners so as to ensure full enrolment and full employment of its graduates, both within government and the private sector.
- To establish and maintain an open and transparent system of training program during training and recruitment so as to enhance equal opportunity to qualified candidates and uphold the reputation of the school.

Poverty Alleviation of Nepal (PAF)

PAF is an initiative to support the third pillar i.e. targeted programme of the Tenth Plan/PRSP. The target beneficiaries of PAF are marginalized communities-the poor women, Dalit, Janjatis and vulnerable groups living below the poverty line. It provides resources directly to the poor, and thereby expects to bring efficiency and transparency of the work, and ensure community ownership over the development activities. PAF is guided by the principle that the poor themselves are the best source of information and the best to manage their own needs and resources.

The purpose and an overriding mission of PAF is to reduce extreme forms of poverty from programme districts. PAF aims to enable poor women, Dalit, Janjati and vulnerable groups to gain access to resources for their productive self-employment, to encourage them to undertake income-generating activities for poverty alleviation. PAF also emphasizes on social development to improve the quality of life. PAF seeks to address spatial exclusion through its focus on most deprived districts and reaching out to other poverty stricken areas through innovative programmes. PAF has also adopted a demand-led community based approach to poverty alleviation.

The Poverty Alleviation Fund Act 2006 has recognized PAF as an autonomous organization with inalienable authority. PAF Board is chaired by the Prime Minister that reflects the conviction, support and commitment of the highest echelon of Government of Nepal to the programmes and objectives of the Fund.

Role and Responsibility

PAF will help CTEVT to select ANM trainees from the six PAF pilot districts (i. e. Darchula, Mugu, Pyuthan, Kapilvastu, Ramechap and Siraha) and other PAF working districts based on set criterion agreed upon. PAF is to mobilize its networks including Portfolio Managers, Partner Organizers and Community Organizations to select appropriate marginalized women who are poor and socially excluded due to reason of caste, ethnicity and gender. PAF could support required fund particularly for advertisement, selection of students, regular monitoring and supervision and job counseling regarding the same.

PAF will help to link services of ANM trained under this MoU to the PAF supported Communities linking with Community Organizations (COs), encourage for self-employment with seed capital on their acquired ANM skills in order to render services to the communities in their respective villages.

Dhulikhel Hospital

Dhulikhel hospital is an independent, community owned hospital which provides cost effective compassionate and quality health care services. The hospital is guided by the notion of social equity, sustainable development and harmony with nature. Dhulikhel hospital established as a community hospital has always realized importance of community development in offering health care Community development has been accepted as the integral component in health care delivery endeavour. The health care services need to go together with development of human resource for health as well. Realizing this fact, Dhulikhel hospital has joined in hand with Kathmandu University to produce different categories of manpower.

Role and Responsabilities

Dhulikhel Hospital is willing to provide technical support to strengthen the existing health facilities, Jiri Hospital and nearby health posts/ sub-health posts which are being used by Jiri Technical School for training purposes.

In addition, Dhulikhel Hospital will provide as much as possible its community based satellite clinics to be used as the training sites for ANM training. Dhulikhel hospital is willing to provide necessary training to the faculty of the Jiri Technical School with special reference to government approved SBA syllabus. Dhulikhel hospital will be supported financially for the said technical services.

Dhulikhel Hospital/ Dhulikhel Medical Institute will expand its infrastructure facilities, library and ICT, human resource development to enhance the further purpose of the aforementioned agreements and arrangements. The Institute will endeavour to establish partnerships with other reputed institutions for special inputs in the form of faculty and curriculum content.

Preparatory Phase Of The Institute: Activities and Outputs

The implementation of the MoU will begin in two parallel tracks. First track would proceed to implement the second lot of 50 Madanjeet Singh ANM scholarships already received. The second track would include a few preparatory activities, which are prerequisite to implement the MoU as well as to improve the quality of the on-going ANM training under the MS scholarships. The main preparatory phase activities include

- Updating ANM curriculum & syllabus as approved by Nepal Nursing Council.
- Preparing and procuring training materials as required.
- Selecting and training 5 master trainers in core midwifery competency.

The expected outputs of this phase will include the ANM curriculum and syllabus updated, appropriate training materials prepared/availed and 5 master trainers are trained in core midwifery competency teaching skills. The preparatory phase would consist of 5 months.

Preparatory Phase Budget

An estimate for carrying out the activities during the readiness phase for 5 months is as follows.

The Institute will endeavour to establish partnership with reputed training institutions for specific inputs in the form of faculty and curriculum content. Which institutions are to be approached for partnership and the nature of association with them will be decided in due course by the governing committee of the Institute. The careful selection of prestigious partners who have high quality competence, programmes or facilities in the areas of ANM training will be an important aspect of the Institute's development.

Additional financial support

The Institute will be responsible for raising additional funds that may be necessary for the establishment and operation of the Institute. The Institute undertakes to inform SAF from time to time of additional support that may be forthcoming for the Institute.

Dated 26^th March 2007.

Signed:

H.E. Ambassador Madanjeet Singh
Founding Chairman of South Asia Foundation

Dr. Rita Thapa
Chairperson of SAF Nepal Chapter

Dr. Ram K.M. Shrestha
Medical Director, Dhulikhel Hospital

Dr. Ram Prakash Yadav
VC, Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF)

Mr. Shiva Hari Dhakal
Principal of Jiri Technical School, Jiri

- PAKISTAN -

- SAF Group Scholarships during the year 2007

SAF-Pakistan chapter has continued sending students, both boys and girls, to the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, India, and to the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. During the year 2007, two students (one male and one female) were sent to ACJ, Chennai, and two students (one female and one male) are studying at the BNU, Lahore.

 
- SAF Scout Friendship Camp at Murree, Pakistan.

72 boy scouts and 5 guides from Pakistan participated in the 5th SAF Scout Friendship Camp in Pakistan from 4 to 10 June 2007. In all there were 244 scouts from all the South Asian countries. The theme of the camp was "Sharing Youth Potential for development."

 
- School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University (Pakistan).

The first batch of SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships were offered by the School of Visual Airs in 2003. Since then, students, both girls and boys, were hosted and educated from all the eight SAARC countries. The curriculum not only incorporates traditional areas of fine art and design education but also incorporates emergent technologies available as tools for visual education. The scholarship covers, as in the case of Asian College of Journalism, all expenses which includes travel, boarding and lodging, tuition fees, living expenses.

 
 
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation ("SAF") and the School of Visual Art, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan.

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated July 16, 2007 between the South Asia Foundation ("SAF") and the School of Visual Art, Beaconhouse National University, sets forth the agreements reached between the parties relating to the setting up of the SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships at the School of Visual Arts (BNU). This MoU is drawn up further to various meetings, discussions, and correspondence between the Founder of SAF, Mr. Madanjeet Singh, on the one hand, and Prof. Salima Hashmi. Dean, the School of Visual Arts (BNU), Lahore, Pakistan.

The decisions and other agreements reached between the parties to date are set forth below:

1. The School of Visual Arts at BNU, Lahore was set up in 2003, with a view to promote new thinking in art and design education in the region. The guiding principle is a commitment to academic freedom and diversity, intellectual and artistic inquiry and a fresh pedagogical vision.
The curriculum not only incorporates traditional areas of fine art and design education but also incorporates emergent technologies available as tools for visual education.

2. The first batch of SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships were offered by the School of Visual Arts since in 2003. The students, both girls and boys, were hosted and educated from all the eight SAARC countries. In doing so it has become instrumental in bringing together nascent, creative talent of South Asia and provided it with the most up to date art and design education. The first batch of ten SAF Madanjeet Singh students graduated with professional BFA degrees in June 2007. Of these five were awarded distinctions by the external examiners, a record for any single group of art students in Pakistan.

3. SAF has, over the years, made a valuable contribution to broadening SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships by granting substantial annual funds, to cover tuition, living, and travel expenses for students from each of the eight SAARC countries. SAF stipulates the gender equity principle in the award of scholarships, underlining the need to provide equal opportunity to women and men in order to promote social diversity. SAF has enabled the School of Visual Arts (BNU) to promote regional cooperation among youth in the field of art education and among artists of the South Asian region.

4. In recognition of the excellent work being done at the School of Visual Art (BNU), SAF has decided to accord the status of an institute of excellence and proposes to increase the funding of the group scholarship scheme in line with the other institutions of excellence funded by SAF.

Financial contribution of SAF

5. SAF undertakes to contribute a total of US $ 1,000,000/- (one million United States dollars) towards group scholarships spread over a period of five years and beyond.

6. The first installment of the aforesaid contribution will not be less than US $ 200,000/- (two hundred thousand United States dollars). It will be paid by SAF through SAF-Pakistan chapter account before the academic year of the BNU commences.

7. The annual SAF group scholarships given by the School of Visual Art (BNU) will not be less than 16 (sixteen students) based on gender equality and additional scholarships will be offered from the available funds. The cost of all group scholarships will be fully covered by School of Visual Art (BNU), including travel, boarding and lodging, tuition fees, expenditure incurred on increasing cost of living and extra curricula activities, which will be funded and adjusted within the annual SAF grant.

8. Any funds not utilized during the year will be carried over and adjusted against the cost of group scholarships for the next year.

9. The BNU shall submit an annual audit report on the SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships to SAF Governing Council. Annual installments will be paid on the receipt of auditor's report of the previous year, giving detailed expenditure incurred on Group Scholarships.

10. It is stipulated that SAF shall discontinue the funding in case the School of Visual Art (BNU), fails to fully comply with the provisions of this agreement and SAF's cardinal objective of promoting regional cooperation.

11. ln conformity with the SAF Governing Council resolution adopted in 2002 at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, SAF shall not fund any project without at least a matching contribution in cash or kind against SAF's financial assistance.

Signed:

Prof. Salima Hashmi
Dean, School of Visual Art, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan.

Prof. Sartaj Aziz
Vice Chancellor, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan.

Ambassador Madanjeet Singh
Founder, South Asia Foundation (SAF), Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France.

 
 
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation ('SAF') and the Institute of South Asian Studies ('The Institute'), established under Government College University (GCU), Lahore.
 

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation ("SAF") and the Institute of South Asian Studies (in the process of formation) ("the Institute") sets forth the agreements reached between the parties through GC University Lahore – Pakistan relating to the implementation and establishment of the Institute. This MoU is drawn up further to the submission to SAF Governing Council for the establishment of the Institute.

Establishment of the Institute

1. The Institute will be established in GC University Lahore as a centre of excellence for research and education in South Asian Studies. The Institute will be established as a legal entity associated / affiliated with the GC University Lahore.

Objectives of the Institute

2. In conformity with the cardinal SAF objectives of promoting regional cooperation, the Institute will establish itself as a centre of excellence for research and education in South Asian Studies. As the leading institution of its kind, it will undertake teaching and research in its chosen areas.

3. The Institute will design and undertake research projects and provide financial support to research programmes approved by it. It will offer fellowships to academics and professionals to undertake research on topics relating to South Asian Studies. It will also engage in publication of books, journals, working papers, bulletins and newsletters containing original research works and articles, reports and information about matters of interest to researchers and other concerned in the field. The Institute will organize national and international conferences, seminars, symposiums, workshops and lectures on subjects relating to South Asian Studies for interested persons.

4. The faculty, fellows, researchers and students of the Institute will be drawn from all SAARC countries, so that it acquires a truly South Asian character and can acquire a central position in South Asian cooperation in the fields of research, education, human rights and development in cooperation with the other SAF institutions and centres of excellence.

Association of the Institute with GC University, Lahore

5. The Institute will be responsible for entering into necessary agreements and arrangements with GCU for purposes of offering the Degrees, diplomas and for the use of support services and facilities of GCU, including a library.

Organizational structure and management

6. The Institute will be established as a semi autonomous organization under the direct supervision of the GC University, Lahore.

7. Although the Institute will work under the direct supervision of the GC University Lahore, the organizational and management structure of the Institute will allow academic autonomy to encourage creativity and full contribution of its faculty, fellows, researchers and students in fulfilling its mission. It will have its own management and staff. At the same time, the Institute's existence as a part of GCU, Lahore will be recognized.The Institute will have financial autonomy. It will not be financially dependent on GCU, Lahore and will raise and spend funds in its own name.

8. The Institute will have financial autonomy. It will not be financially dependent on GCU, Lahore and will raise and spend funds in its own name.

9. The Institute shall have:

a. A Governing Body consisting of the following:

1. Vice Chancellor, GC University, Lahore.
2. Chairperson of SAF-Pakistan chapter ex-officio.
3. Dean of Arts, GC University, Lahore.
4. Two experts with specialization in South Asian Studies.
5. Chairperson of the Political Science Department, GC University, Lahore.
6. Chairperson of the History Department, GC University, Lahore.
7. Treasurer, GC University, Lahore.
8. Director of the Institute will work as Secretary of the body.
   The management of the affairs of the Institute will be entrusted to the Governing Body.

b. An International Advisory Board consisting of the following:

1. Vice Chancellor, GC University, Lahore.
2. Prominent scholars (3-4) of international repute (one of Indian origin) in the field of International Law, Political Science, Anthropology, Economics and other related fields, to be appointed by the Vice Chancellor in consultation with the chairperson of the SAF Pakistan Chapter.
3. Director of the Institute.
   The work of the Institute will be guided by this Board.

c. An Academic Committee consisting of the following:

1. Dean of Arts, GC University, Lahore
2. Controller of Examinations, GC University, Lahore
3. Director of the Institute
4. A staff member of the Institute.
   The academic affairs of the Institute will be supervised by the Committee.
5. A Director to be appointed by the Vice Chancellor GC University, Lahore with the consultation of the chairperson of the SAF Pakistan chapter.
   The Director shall be responsible for day to day management and academic affairs of the Institute.

10. The first Governing Body, International Advisory Board, Academic Committee and the Director shall be approved by the chairperson of SAF Pakistan Chapter. Subsequent appointments shall be made in pursuance of appropriate procedures drawn up by agreement between the Institute and chairperson of the SAF Pakistan Chapter.

11. To start with, the size of the faculty of the Institute would be small and may be supported by outside resource persons. Commensurate with the objective of regional exchange and collaboration, both the permanent and the part-time faculty of the Institute will be drawn from SAARC countries and, where appropriate, internationally.

Research and Fellowships

12. The Institute will actively promote research on themes within its areas of expertise. The faculty of the Institute will be expected to have research interests in these areas and actively engage in research. The Institute will also design and undertake collaborative research projects, and will encourage outside resource persons from SAARC countries to become involved in the research initiatives of the Institute. Sufficient funds will be earmarked for research activities of the Institute.

13. To further strengthen its research - and also teaching - base, every year the Institute shall offer to scholars from SAARC countries at least five fully funded Fellowships/scholarships (including one Indian national) for the period determined by the Institute. The Institute may also invite academics or professionals from the leading universities of the world to spend a year at the Institute as Visiting Professors or Scholars. The Fellowships/Scholarships will be properly advertised, including advertisement in international media, so that they become adequately competitive.

Partnership with institutions of excellence

14. The Institute will endeavour to establish partnership with SAF institutions and centres of excellence and with the world-reputed academic institutions for specific inputs in the form of faculty and curriculum content. Which institutions are to be approached for partnership and the nature of association with them will be decided in due course by the governing and advisory bodies of the Institute. The careful selection of prestigious partners who have high quality competence, programmes or facilities to share and who wish to learn from South Asia and Pakistan will be an important strategic aspect of the Institute's development.

Financial contribution of SAF

15. SAF undertakes to contribute a total of US$ 1,000,000/- (one million United States dollars) towards the establishment and operation of the Institute ("the contribution") over a period of five years.

16. The First installment of the aforesaid contribution should not be less than US$ 200,000/- (two hundred United State dollars). It will be paid by SAF into a bank account of the SAF Pakistan Chapter (“the account”). The account will be operated under the joint signatures of Chairperson of SAF Pakistan chapter and the Director of the Institute.

17. The Institute and SAF will enter into necessary arrangements for payment by SAF the remainder of the contribution as and when required.

18. In conformity with the SAF Governing Council resolution adopted in 2002 at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, SAF shall not fund any project without at least a matching contribution in cash or kind against SAF's financial assistance.

19. The Institute shall submit an annual Audit Report to SAF Governing Council and a progress report on the Institute.

20. It is stipulated that SAF shall discontinue funding the Institute in case the Institute fails to fully comply with SAF's cardinal objective of promoting regional cooperation.

Additional financial support

21. The Institute will be responsible for raising additional funds that may be necessary for the establishment and operation of the Institute. The Institute undertakes to inform SAF from time to time of additional support that may be forthcoming for the Institute.

Appointment of the first Director

22. Immediately after the first installment of the contribution is paid, SAF Pakistan Chapter and the Institute will jointly undertake all necessary steps to appoint the first Director of the Institute, bearing in mind that commensurate with the aim of the Institute to establish itself as a centre of excellence she/he should be a scholar of international repute and capable of implementing this MOU and the Proposal. She/he will be a SAARC national.

23. The Institute shall install a metal placard, prominently displaying the following text:

‘The Institute of South Asian Studies is funded by South Asia Foundation (SAF) which is a secular, non-profit and non-political organization, founded in 2000 by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh — a former alumnus of GCU. The cardinal objective of the organization is to sustain a movement, in particular involving youth, to promote regional cooperation and peace through education, cultural interaction and mutual understanding among the people of South Asia’.

‘SAF has been admitted into official relationship with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and recognized as an Apex Body of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The aims, objectives and activities of SAF are in conformity with the spirit, purpose and principles of the two international organizations’.

Signed on January 17, 2007

Prof. Salima Hashmi
Chairperson, South Asia Foundation chapter in Pakistan, Lahore.

Dr. Khalid Aftab
Vice Chancellor, GC University Lahore on behalf of the Institute of South Asian Studies
GC University Lahore, Pakistan.

Ambassador Madanjeet Singh
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Founder, South Asia Foundation (SAF).

- SRI LANKA -

- SAF Group Scholarships during the year 2007

SAF-Sri Lanka chapter has continued sending students, both boys and girls, to the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, India, and to the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. During the year 2007, one student (female) was sent to ACJ, Chennai, and two students (one boy and one girl) went to study at BNU, Lahore.


- SAF Scout Friendship Camp at Murree, Pakistan.

14 boy scouts from Sri Lanka participated in the 5th SAF Scout Friendship Camp in Pakistan from 4 to 10 June 2007. In all there were 244 scouts from all the South Asian countries. The theme of the camp was "Sharing Youth Potential for development."


- SAF- Madanjeet Singh Individual Scholarships to SOS villages.

10 SAF- Madanjeet Singh Individual Scholarships were given to the deprived and marginalized orphans, both boys and girls, residing in the SOS villages in Sri Lanka.

SAF chapter in Sri Lanka has still not recovered from the dastardly assassination of the eminent foreign minister of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Kadirgamar, who was the SAF-Sri Lanka chairperson. As advisor to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, he was trying to set up a new institutional mechanism for the efficient delivery of the relief following the devastation caused by the tsunami in large areas of the country, for which SAF had also contributed substantial funds.

.A few days before his death, Kadirgamar had recommended the name of Veerasingham Anadasangaree, for the award of the 2006 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence. Anadasangaree, President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), is an indefatigable advocate of democracy and peace, having greatly contributed to raising awareness of the Tamil cause in a spirit of dialogue, while opposing terrorism and seeking to promote non-violent solutions to conflict in Sri Lanka.

Mangala Samarawira who succeeded Lakshman Kadirgamar as foreign minister and chairman of South Asia Foundation’s Sri Lankan chapter, has resigned because of the political differences with President Rajapaksa. His position has been taken over by former President of Sri Lanka,Chandrika Kumaratung. As the newly appointed chairperson of SAF-Sri Lanka chapter she is now trying to pick up the threads and put SAF projects on track.

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