The SID/Asia Pacific Workgroup, in conjunction with Crown Agents USA Inc., presents a panel discussion on:
The Re-emergence of Burma: Challenges and Opportunities
When: Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Where: Crown Agents USA
1129 20th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C.
(near Dupont Circle, Farragut North & Farragut West metro stations)
*Refreshments and breakfast will be available at 9:00 a.m.; program will begin at 9:30 a.m.
With the recent political and economic reforms implemented by the government in Burma, several major donor governments, including the United States, have announced the suspension of sanctions and increased aid to the country. As a result, donors, businesses, and international NGOs are poised to establish new programs and investments in Burma in the near future. Our panel of experts will share their thoughts on the obstacles and opportunities the country will encounter as it seeks to emerge from decades of isolation and reintegrate into the global community.
Panelists:
Nitin Madhav, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Mr. Madhav is currently the Officer-in-Charge for the Burma, China, and Laos Programs at USAID's Bureau for Asia. Before this assignment, he worked on the Pakistan portfolio, first as Officer-in-Charge of Pakistan Programs backstopping, an almost half a billion dollar development and earthquake reconstruction program in Pakistan, and then in a senior role working with reconstruction programs in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the volatile border with Afghanistan. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Madhav served as the Program Development Officer covering the Afghanistan Desk in USAID/Washington. Soon after the fall of the Taliban, he was asked by USAID's Administrator to spearhead the Agency's emergency back-to-school program for Afghan children who had been denied an education under that regime. Mr. Madhav received White House recognition for his efforts in Afghanistan.
Tristan Burton, Crown Agents
Mr. Burton is a member of Crown Agents' Governance and Public Expenditure Management team. He is experienced in institutional development and civil society strengthening and has provided technical support and capacity development to a range of civil society and accountability organizations. Mr. Burton was highly commended in the Young Consultant category of the British Expertise 2011 awards for his work designing and delivering a training and organizational development program to 25 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Burma. He has also provided grant management support for the Global Fund in Central Asia, including institutional assessments on CSO's systems, processes, and capacities for receiving funds.
Keiichiro Nakazawa, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Mr. Nakazawa currently serves as the Chief Representative of JICA's U.S. office. He came to this position in late spring of 2010 after serving for two years as the Director of JICA's Operations Strategy Department, where he led the development of JICA's new operational policies. Prior to this role, Mr. Nakazawa had a 20-year-long career at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan (OECF), where he mainly focused on loan operations in Asia, including the ones in Myanmar.
Moderator:
Brian Joseph, National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
Mr. Joseph is NED's Senior Director for Asia and Global Programs. He served as Director for South and Southeast Asia programs at NED from 2005 to 2009. In this capacity, he oversaw millions of dollars' worth of grants to hundreds of civil society organizations in the region. Mr. Joseph has testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations' Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, provided high-level briefings for State Department officials, and taught at the Foreign Service Institute. He formerly served as a volunteer South Asia regional coordinator for Amnesty International USA and he is a member of the International Human Rights Funders' Group and the Burma Donors' Forum.
Register for this event: RSVP for Asia Pacific Workgroup Event, June 20, 2012
Workgroup Co-Chairs:
Jack Andre, Nathan Associates, Inc.
Bill Hampton, SIL-International