new delhi office e-newsletter - unesdoc...

e-NewsletterVolume 4, Issue 3, July - Sept. 2013

Dear Colleagues and Friends,I am pleased to share with you the third Issue of the 2013 UNESCO New Delhi quarterly e-Newsletter. The third quarter was an eventful period with numerous activities taking place and emerging new partnerships. It is with great pride that I inform you about the signing of a landmark MoU and Funds-in-Trust Agreement worth 95 million Indian Rupees with Mr Rajiva Sinha, Principal Secretary, Department of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises and Textile, Government of West Bengal towards the development of ten Rural Craft Hubs. The collaboration intends to explore the potential of traditional handicraft skills to provide a much needed boost to rural employment and livelihood improvement, in West Bengal. On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October 2013, the Office organized a media launch of its latest publication titled Social Inclusion of Internal Migrants in India by the Honble Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Rural Development, Government of India. The event generated huge media interest and coverage. Recognizing the Bhutan Media and Communications Institutes (BMCI) potential for developing skilled human resources for the Bhutanese media industry, in early 2013 UNESCO awarded the BMCI an IPDC grant for strengthening its own capacity, and designing and offering four training courses; senior executives and managers of print media outlets; media trainers; educating journalists about good governance and media ethics; and photojournalists. In July, a three-day workshop on media management was organized for the CEOs and senior managers of Bhutans print media houses. In August, UNESCO New Delhi in association with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India (GOI) organized a two-day Regional Conference on Conservation and Management of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites: Sharing experiences and best practices from South Asia in New Delhi. I wish you all an enjoyable read. Should you require additional information on any of our activities please visit our website at www.unesco.org/en/newdelhi

Shigeru AoyagiDirector and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Feature Articles 2 Education 6

Natural Sciences 8 In August, UNESCO New Delhi in association with the Ministry of In August, UNESCO New Delhi in association with the Ministry of

Social and Human 10Sciences

Culture 11

Communication and Information 12

Calendar of Events 15

Publications and 17Resources

New Delhi OfficeCluster Office for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri LankaUnited Nations

Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization

IN/2013/PI/55

http://

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UNESCO New DelhiVolume-4, Issue-3

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FEATURE ARTICLE

On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October 2013, UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Sector organized a media launch of its latest publication at the UN Conference Hall, Lodi Estate, New Delhi. Honble Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Rural Development, Government of India, released the publication titled Social Inclusion of Internal Migrants in India. In his keynote address the Honble Minister said, Internal migration is a force for good for the migrant family, a force for good for the local economy, and a force for good for the country. An expert panel comprising of government officials, researchers, social activists and partners, shared their experiences on social inclusion of internal migrants and interacted with the media.

The publication, supported by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and UNICEF, provides an overview of existing innovative practices that help to increase the inclusion of internal migrants in society and dispels current myths and misconceptions about internal migrants. It displays ten key areas that are essential to the social inclusion of internal migrants: registration and identity; political and civic inclusion; labour market inclusion; legal aid and dispute resolution; inclusion of women migrants; inclusion through access to food;

inclusion through housing; educational inclusion; public health inclusion and financial inclusion.

Internal migrants account for nearly 30 per cent of the total Indian population - 309 million as per Census of India 2001, and by more recent estimates, 326 million (NSSO 2007-2008). The many positive aspects of internal migration remain unrecognized. Mr Shigeru Aoyagi, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka said There is an urgent need to raise awareness of internal migrants positive benefits to society. This will in turn lay the foundations for a more inclusive and integrated society, and balance economic prosperity and social diversity. Internal migration is an integral part of the development and urbanization of cities; Internal migrants are vital, yet invisible, key actors of socially dynamic, culturally innovative and economically prosperous cities.

Download publication at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002237/223702e.pdf

Contact: Marina Faetanini ([email protected]) and Rekha Beri ([email protected])

Further details are also available at www.unesco.org/en/newdelhi

Internal Migrants: The Social Inclusion Chapter

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002237/223702e.pdfhttp://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002237/223702e.pdfhttp://http://mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

UNESCO New Delhi Volume-4, Issue-3

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FEATURE ARTICLE

On 16 September 2013, Mr Shigeru Aoyagi, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, signed a MoU and Funds-in-Trust Agreement worth 95 million Indian Rupees with Mr Rajiva Sinha, Principal Secretary, Department of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises and Textile, Government of West Bengal towards the development of ten Rural Craft Hubs. The exchange took place in the presence of the Honble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms Mamata Banerjee, on the occasion of the MSME Business Conclave. West Bengal is known as one of the hot spots of traditional Indian craft. Bengali handicrafts not only embody the rich heritage of aesthetics and creativity, but also serve as the economic lifeline of the more vulnerable sections of society, especially women, who account for 50% of the artisan population, as well as scheduled castes, tribes and religious minorities.In keeping with the UNESCO mandate on Culture for Development, the collaboration intends to explore the potential of traditional handicraft skills to

provide a much needed boost to rural employment and livelihood improvement. Some 2500 artisans of West Bengal will benefit from capacity building training and direct market exposures over a thirty-month period as well as from the creation of ten rural craft hubs. Through this project in West Bengal, UNESCO hopes to provide a model case for culture-based rural development. The craft forms being targeted include Sitalpati (natural fibre mat), wooden masks, Kantha embroidery, clay and wooden dolls, Dokra (metal casting), terracotta figures, Chau masks, Patachitra (scroll painting) and Madurkhati (grass weed weaving).UNESCO commends the Government of West Bengal for taking a major step in integrating culture and artistic skills into an entrepreneurship development strategy and is honoured to be involved in the implementation of this important venture.

Government of West Bengal and UNESCO Join Hands Towards Culture-Based Rural Development

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Contact: [email protected])

mailto:[email protected]

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FEATURE ARTICLE

The 2010 UNESCO-supported evaluation of Bhutans media landscape had noted that there is an acute shortage of trained journalists and media professionals in the country, partly due to a lack of media training institutes. In order to address the urgent need for quality media training, the Bhutan Media and Communications Institute (BMCI) was set up in 2011 and began operations in early 2012. Its objective was to provide intensive

short-term professional courses on different facets of journalism and media management, and gradually build its capacity to offer longer courses on more complex media-related course.

Recognizing the BMCIs potential for developing skilled human resources for the Bhutanese media industry, in early 2013 UNESCO awarded the BMCI an IPDC grant for strengthening its own capacity, and designing and offering four training courses for (a) senior executives and managers of print media outlets; (b) media trainers; (c) educating journalists about good governance and media ethics; and (d) photojournalists. The first two training workshops have been completed thus far.

The three-day workshop on media management was attended by CEOs and senior managers of Bhutans print media houses. It sought to train participants to identify operational issues that needed improvement, to develop relevant solutions or strategies, and to help set the vision and direction for their respective organizations. Besides, it also dealt with issues such as brand-building; marketing, promotion and sales; investment opportunities; and the training and retention of employees.

The workshop for media trainers targeted both existing trainers and experienced content specialists in the field of broadcasting who aspire to become trainers. It educated participants about the application of principles of adult learning to the development of core competencies; trained them to plan, organize, conduct and monitor structured training programmes and practical projects; and also trained them to contribute to their organizations by designing and managing effective in-service training programmes.

With another two workshops slated for the months ahead, the Director of the BMCI, Pushpa Chhetri is convinced that the training programme is making a positive impact. As she commented, Some of the major constraints faced by the Bhutanese media are related to training, sustainability and operations. Training on each of these elements has been carefully integrated into our courses. Chhetri added, The workshops have contributed significantly to our understanding of the needs of media practitioners by giving us an opportunity to network and interact with industry professionals, media trainers and experts.

Training Media Managers and Trainers in Bhutan

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Contact: [email protected]


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FEATURE ARTICLE

UNESCO in association with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India (GOI) organized a two-day Regional Conference on Conservation and Management of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites: Sharing experiences and best practices from South Asia at the India Habitat

Centre, New Delhi, 17 - 18 September, 2013. The conference aimed at sharing the experiences of the World Heritage Biodiversity Programme - India (WHBPI), a flagship UNESCO initiative being implemented since 2008 in four WNHS of the country namely Kaziranga, Manas, Keoladeo and Nanda Devi National Parks. This conference was attended by around 60 participants including senior officials of GOI and State Governments, civil society representatives, eminent conservationists as well as WNHS managers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. Conference was inaugurated by Mr Hem Pande, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, GOI who lauded the UNESCO initiative for the conservation of biodiversity through the world natural heritage sites and biosphere reserves. Mr Shigeru Aoyagi Director and UNESCO Representative in his welcome address emphasized on the creation of the UNESCO-Government of India Trust Fund to improve the management of the 11 World Heritage Sites in the South Asian region and the attempts to establish global and regional resources to build capacities in the region to manage these sites. He stated that the conference would enable an exchange of experience and views to come up with a set of recommendations and a way forward for the World Heritage Biodiversity Programme. Prof. P S Ramakrishnan from the Jawaharlal Nehru University delivered the keynote address highlighting the role of traditional knowledge systems in biodiversity conservation. Mr Marc Patry, Programme Specialist of the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Paris presented the examples of the conservation of WNHS from across the globe. Dr S S Garbyal, Additional Director General (Wildlife) Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India, spoke about the Indian efforts towards the conservation of biodiversity. Besides keynote and thematic presentations, the conference had sessions devoted to case study presentations from WNHS of India and the region. There were also specific presentations to the WHBPI by partners. The conference had two panel discussions on Strategy for building partnerships and Resource Mobilisation and Way forward for biodiversity conservation in the changing scenario.

Conservation and Management of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites

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EDUCATION

A three- day International Conference on Achieving Literacy for All with a focus on effective, innovative approaches to scale up literacy, reduce gender disparities and create a literate world was organized by National Literacy Mission Authority (NLMA), India along with UNESCO and UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi from 18-20 July 2013.

Around 100 delegates from India and other countries; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Timor Leste participated in the conference.

Among the delegates, present on the occasion were the UN Resident Coordinator Ms Lise Grande, Mr Shigeru Aoyagi, Director UNESCO New Delhi, Mr Abhimanyu Singh, Director, UNESCO Beijing, Mr Subbarao Ilapavuluti, Chief of Literacy and Non-formal Education,

UNESCO, Paris, Ms Arne Carlson, Director UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning(UIL) Hamburg, Mr Ulrike Hanemann, UIL and Mr Alisher Umarov, Chief of Education, UNESCO New Delhi.

India is to achieve 80% literacy rate in the next two years said the HRD Minister Dr M. M. Pallam Raju while inaugurating an International Conference. The literacy rate of India is 73 per cent at present as per the 2011 Census. He said that more than 20 crore people have become literates since the last Census of 2001 out of which more than half of them are females. To achieve the goal of 80 per cent literacy by 2015, the HRM said that the HRD Ministry is restructuring the entire adult education system in the country with a paradigm shift to lifelong education. He announced that an appropriate administrative and if required legislative process will be initiated to integrate formal, non-formal and informal learning and to formally recognize forms of education other than formal. Speaking on the occasion, the UN Resident Coordinator Ms Lise Grande complimented India for fighting illiteracy and making achievements in the field of education sector. However, she said that India should continue with its struggle against illiteracy. More than seventy crore people globally do not know reading, writing and arithmetic and most of them are in India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

International Conference on Achieving Literacy for All

International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day celebrations jointly organized by UNESCO New Delhi and National Literacy Mission, Government of India (GOI) were held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 8 September 2013 with a specific focus on Literacies for the 21st century. The occasion, which followed the International Conference of the Alliance for Literacy, Peace, and Development in South Asia, was graced by Shri Pranab Mukerjee, Honble President of India, Shri Dr Pallam Raju, Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Human Resource Develop-ment and Mr Jitin Prasada, and the Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, Mr Shigeru Aoyagi.

Addressing the delegates and other eminent personalities, the Honble President said it was gratifying to note the progress that had been made, but Indias literacy rate still remained below the world average, and this called for concerted efforts with special attention to the literacy of the girl child and women. Mr Aoyagi reaffirmed the importance of the Education For All, and the Millennium Development Gaols, calling for the global, regional, and national ownership of these objec-tives. Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr Pallam Raju, launched a Basic Education programme for Adults on the occasion. Learning material for the programme was formally released, and the first copy was presented to the President.

Amongst the participants, the other dignitaries present during the celebrations were Minster for Education of Afghanistan, Mr Ghulam Farooq Wardak; Member of Parliament of Sri Lanka, Mr Mohan Lal Grero; Head of Delegation of Bhu-tan, Major General Namgyel; High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr Salman Bashir; and Ministers of Education of States within India.




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EDUCATION

South Asian Symposium on Gender, ICT, and Education

Colloquium on Teacher-Student Relationship in Education

An International Colloquium on Teacher-Student relationship in Education took place from 12 - 14 August 2013, at Sri Atmananda Memorial School, Malakkara, Kerala.

The colloquium brought together a diverse group of participants including alumni and teachers, for discussions. Other distinguished guests included Dr Debashis Chatterjee, Director, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode; Sri G. Vijayaraghavan, Kerala State Planning Board and former CEO, Technopark; and Dr Cheng-Chang Pan of the Department of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, University of Texas at Brownsville (USA).

The colloquium focused on practical experiences. On the basis of their close relationship over years, the teacher-student pairs described the progress made by the students and the life skills developed which helped them during higher studies and finally at workplace. The major findings resonated that the relationship between teacher and student is paramount to quality of education, but somehow largely ignored in various discussion foras.

In her Welcome Speech, Mrs. Tarla Nanavati, Principal of the School quoted the Founder of the School, Sri Adwayananda (Sri K. Padmanabha Menon), There is a latent push in any man which is only a search for perfection. Rightly pursued, one finds this in ones awakening experience to ones real nature through the atmosphere between the real teacher and the taught. Education is only an attempt toward this. In her keynote address, Ms Huma Masood from UNESCO New Delhi, stressed UNESCOs commitment towards Achieving Education for All. Drawing upon her own experiences as a teacher, she said, The biggest challenge to the teacher-student relationship comes from a strictly economic view of what is going on in the classroom. This relationship fails, when we think of education as a commercial transaction.


A three-day South Asian Sym-posium on Gender, ICT, and Education that took place in New Delhi from 24 to 26 September, 2013 was jointly organized by UNESCO and Intel Education. Inaugurating the Symposium, Mr Shigeru Aoyagi summarized the importance of the deliberations in these words, UNESCO Prior-ity Gender Equality Action Plan for 2014-2021 talks about gender equality in education,.. within education,.. and equality through education. ICT impacts education

and its female and male participants in the same way. It has the potential to improve access, to improve and diversify con-tent, and to build capacity, catalyze empowerment, and create gender-equal societies, economies, and communities.

The keynote address at its opening session was delivered by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Honble Minister of State for HRD, GOI. Other distinguished policy leaders and experts during the proceedings included, Ms Kumud Srinivasan, President Intel India; Prof. Parvin Sinclair, Director, NCERT; Ms Vandana K. Jena, Principal Advisor, Women and Child Development, Planning Commission, GOI; and delegations from different South Asian countries, including representatives of the min-istries of education and UNESCO National Commissions - Ms Jamyang Choeden (Bhutan), Ms Sameera Ali, and Ms Fathimath Sausan Hussain (Maldives), Mr. R. K. Mapala Gamage, and Mr. M. Jayawardene (Sri Lanka). The deliberations focused on gender and ICT in the developmental process, the gender gap in access to ICTs, and the potential of ICTs in Education to empower both women and men in the South Asian region.


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NATURAL SCIENCES

Workshop for Teaching and Learning in Science in Maldives

A training workshop was organized for the master trainers and teachers of secondary schools of Maldives under the UNESCO JFIT project on Joyful and effective teaching leaning of science in Maldives. The project is being implemented in association with the Maldives National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Education (National Institute of Education-NIE). The workshop was facilitated by Mr Ram Boojh along with a 3-member team from CEE India, and was attended by 18 participants representing teachers of science and environment, Teacher Resource Centre (TRC) Coordinators, officials from the Education Quality Improvement Department etc. The 5-day workshop was organized at the National Institute of Education, Ghazee Building, Male with the objective of developing a group of Master Trainers for effective Science teaching learning in Maldives. Participants were exposed to explore various teaching learning methods for effective science education and to understand role of a Master Trainer, adult learning principles and processes, key aspects and qualities for being and effective trainer.

The workshop started with a brief welcome and introduction by Ms Gulfishan of the National Institute of Education. Ms Shefali from CEE spoke about the programme and workshop. Ms Sameera Ali, Secretary General, Maldives National Commission for UNESCO was also present during the opening session.

Weather-Climate and Wetlands

UNESCO New Delhi participated in the national seminar on Weather Climate and Wetlands organized by the Indian Environment Society at Bhubaneswar, Odisha from September 5-7, 2013. Mr Ram Boojh, represented UNESCO and shared his experience of working ith wetlands specially the Kaziranga and Keoladeo world natural heritage sites where the world heritage biodiversity programme is being implemented. The workshop was organized to provide an opportunity for a dialogue among governments, international organizations, and civil society on issues related to climate change and weather uncertainties and the wetlands.


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Meeting to Support the Aichi Biodiversity Targets within the UN Decade on Biodiversity

A meeting was organized by CEE South in Bangalore on 23-24 September 2013 to discuss the draft Framework for an educational strategic plan towards addressing biodiversity integrating ESD as part of the UNESCOs project with CEE. The meeting was an intensive in house review of the Draft Framework mainly with CEE team and the agenda was to finalize the educational strategy and to discuss the way forward.

Mr Ram Boojh participated in the meeting and informed that the initiative is part of UNESCOs effort to guide and support the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), with the development and implementation of educational strategy and plans of action that are supportive of the objectives of the CBD, the Strategic Plan and the UN Decade on Biodiversity and of the objectives of education for sustainable development.

NATURAL SCIENCES

The Regional Centre of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, organized a 2-day workshop in Port Blair on The Value of Biodiversity in the New Biosphere Reserve of Great Nicobar Island on 13-14 September 2013, in conjunction with the recognition of Great Nicobar under UNESCOs World Network of Biosphere Reserves in May 2013. The target group of the workshop was school students and teachers

of Port Blair. Dr Balakrishna Pishupati, Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority of India speaking as chief guest of the workshop stressed the importance of preserving the rich biodiversity of Great Nicobar and important role of children as future decision makers. Moderating the workshop, Dr Raghunathan , Officer in charge of The Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre of ZSI in Port Blair, highlighted the faunal diversity of the slands, contributing about more than 8 per cent of total India fauna diversity.

UNESCO was represented by Ms Veronica Albuja, who delivered the special address at the inaugural and made two presentations, the first one on The Man and Biosphere Programme of UNESCO: The Global Perspective of the World Network Biosphere Reserves and second on The Roll of School-Students and Teachers on Conservation and Sustainable Development of a Biosphere Reserve. The workshop included four technical sessions namely Biodiversity, Biosphere Reserves, Environment and Health and Conservation & Management; and 19 lectures by eminent speakers. The recommendations of the workshop will be submitted to the Government of India.

Workshop on Value of Biodiversity in the New Biosphere Reserve of Great Nicobar Island



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SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES

GYM: Gender, Youth and Migration

In continuation of our work on internal migration, UNESCO is supporting the establishment of a knowledge management tool on Gender, Youth and Migration (GYM), as a sub-community of practice of the Gender Community of UN Solution Exchange, supported by UNICEF and UN Women. While substantial work is being undertaken on international migration worldwide, there is no dedicated resource hub yet that promotes or brings together researchers and practitioners working on issues of internal migra-tion, learn from each other and stay connected.

The GYM sub-community will operate as a web portal linked to the UN Solution Exchange Gender Commu-nity webpage and will function as a dedicated resource hub to provide access to resources and discussions on internal migration, gender and the youth. The GYM web portal (www.solutionexchange.un.in/communi-ties/gender_gym) will bring together experts, research-ers, NGOs and officials who share a common concern on the topic of internal migration, gender and youth, allowing them to deepen their knowledge and exper-tise in this area.

Resources on priority areas including books, reports/manuals, papers/articles, newspaper reports, statistics, national and international laws, upcoming events, directory of experts and organizations, discussions and important web links will be available via keyword search on the GYM portal. Members can sign up for the mailing list via a membership form available on the web portal. All members will be merged under a com-mon mailing list to create an effective and inexpensive way to collect, disseminate, and create new knowledge and enhance individual and organizational learning/ca-pacity. The webpage of the sub-community is expected to be online by October 2013 after which online queries and discussions would be initiated on themes of gender, youth and internal migration in India. For membership and further queries, please contact us on [email protected]

Contact: Ms Marina Faetanini, Programme Special-ist ([email protected]); Malika Basu, Resource Person & Moderator, Gender Community, UN Solution Exchange ([email protected]) and Neha Wadhawan, UNESCO Consultant for GYM ([email protected]).

http://www.solutionexchange.un.in/communi-ties/gender_gymhttp://www.solutionexchange.un.in/communi-ties/gender_gymhttp://www.solutionexchange.un.in/communi-ties/gender_gymmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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CULTURE

Post-Disaster Damage Assessment: Uttarakhand Initiative

contact: [email protected]

In response to the devastating flash floods in Uttara-khand, India, which resulted in significant damage to the cultural heritage of the region, ICOMOS India, in partnership with UNESCO New Delhi, initiated a pilot project to assess damage in the area in order to determine priorities for salvage and recovery. On 25 July, fourteen architecture and engineering students underwent training at a workshop designed specifical-ly for the project to develop a tool kit for field work-ers engaged in damage assessment. On a subsequent eight-day mission to the flood-affected region, these heritage volunteers conducted field surveys of movable and immovable cultural heritage, including cultural objects, temples, vernacular residences and sacred landscapes. The field work, completed at thirty dif-ferent sites, involved recording damage and engaging with various stakeholders to identify the challenges for recovery of cultural heritage.

In the debriefing session at UNESCO New Delhi, students shared lessons learned and expressed enthu-

siasm about the mission as well as the opportunity to participate in future field surveys and expand the volunteer base. The team concluded that the greatest issue facing the region is unplanned and uncontrolled development, which has serious implications for the integrity and maintenance of heritage resources in the area. To enable coordination between both govern-mental and non-governmental agencies, the data col-lected on this mission are currently being uploaded to crowd sourcing crisis mapping software that will serve as an online platform for assessing damage, sharing information, and facilitating salvage and recovery. In addition, the information will be disseminated in the form of publications that will serve as a resource bank to document the initiative and initiate a productive dialogue on disaster risk management of heritage at an academic and institutional level.


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COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

UNESCO is in the process of implementing a multi-country project to create a free, accessible and open world map of UNESCOs points of inter-est (POI). A crowdsourcing model is being adopted to develop the map, with citizens and communities par-ticipating actively to implement the project. The pro-ject is being piloted simultaneously at the local level in El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Kenya and Namibia.

Taking into account local needs and priorities, the nature of the POI differ from one target country to another. In Namibia for example, local schools are be-ing mapped and a participatory data collection system is being put in place, as the overarching goal is to ob-tain a clear and transparent picture of and ultimately improve the level of sanitation in schools. In Indone-sia, dams and public dumping sites are the locus of attention for communities involved in developing the map, as the eventual aim is to prevent the outbreak of diseases caused by public dumping, and to strengthen dams to minimize the entry of waste material into the ocean.

In India, the project is being piloted in the talukas of Hunsur and Yadgir in Karnataka by IT for Change, an India-based NGO that uses ICTs to promote so-

cio-economic change. IT for Change has deep and long-standing community linkages in Hunsur and Yadgir, and is currently mapping the public infra-structure points (including health centres, schools, museums, information centres, seats of local govern-ance, and public services) in these talukas. It expects to map a total of around 7000 POI by end 2013.

GPS devices and Android mobile phones are being used to record the latitudes and longitudes of the POI, and the map data is being uploaded to openstreet-maps.org, a public map service (which is similar in principle to Wikipedia). As Gurumurthy Kasinathan, the Founder and Director of IT for Change points out, The project will engage local communities and government departments in creating and using the mapped data for various purposes including develop-mental and disaster support. The map information will be in the public domain, will be publicly main-tained and accessible to all. Kasinathan adds that the Government of Karnataka has decided to commission Human Development Index (HDI) reports for all the districts in the state, and the mapping of public infra-structure and their use will feed into the HDI reports for the districts of Mysore and Yadgir.

Crowdsourcing the World Map of UNESCO Points of Interest




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COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

UNESCO and the Commonwealth Educational Me-dia Centre for Asia (CEMCA), an institute jointly set up by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the Government of India, are implementing a project on developing curricula and self-directed learning tools for open access to scholarly material. The projects goal is to prepare a set of learning resources on open access (OA) for three distinct target groups: library profession-als; researchers at universities; and UNESCO staff. As UNESCO is recognized globally as a leading advocate of OA, it is felt that the organizations staff ought to become conversant with the fundamentals of OA.

A series of background reviews, surveys and consultations by a team of experts in the field of OA culminated in the International Multi-Stakeholder Experts Meeting on the Development of Curricula and Self-Directed Learning Tools for Open Access in New Delhi, on 46 September 2013. The meeting was attended by 25 experts from Argen-tina, Croatia, India, Lithuania, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

The event opened with Dr Sanjaya Mishra, the Director of CEMCA, drawing attention to the need for greater awareness about the benefits of OA among communities of librarians and researchers. Besides educating the tar-get communities, the creation of a set of SDL tools could

contribute towards building a larger group of advocates for OA. Mr Bhanu Neupane, a Programme Specialist from UNESCOs Communication and Information (CI) Sector at head-quarters, outlined UNESCOs strategy to promote OA and located the cur-rent project within the organizations mandate to build inclusive knowledge societies. Mr Anirban Sarma, Pro-gramme Officer for CI at UNESCO New Delhi gave a brief overview of the OA environment in India and South Asia, and remarked on the need to learn from contemporary pro-OA movements elsewhere in the world.

The participants were divided into three groups: one group each for the development of a curriculum for librarians, for researchers, and for UN-ESCO staff respectively. After an initial discussion of the broad strategy for curriculum development, each group worked to design a course (including a blueprint of indi-vidual modules, units, resources and learning outcomes). The draft course outlines were presented on the final day of the experts meeting; and the next steps, including the identification of writers for the course contents, the for-mat for the presentation and use of the courses, and the timeline for the project were finalized.

A number of valuable recommendations were made by participants for the popularization and adoption of the curricula. It was felt that in India UNESCO ought to formally recommend the librarians course to all library and information science (LIS) schools in the country. The course for researchers could be made mandatory for PhD students. Both the librarians and researchers courses could be offered as open electives. The experts also felt that the involvement and cooperation of authori-ties such as the Ministry of Human Resource Develop-ment or the University Grants Commission would be very helpful in promoting the OA curricula and SDL tools.

Developing Curricula and Self-Directed Learning Tools for Open Access



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UN INTERNATIONAL DAYS

5 October - World Teachers Day

17 October - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

20 October -World Statistics Day

10 November - World Science Day for Peace and Development

16 November - International Day for Tolerance

17 November - World Philosophy Day

International Youth Day 12 August 2013

In order to unleash potential of young people, we must consider them to be key partners in the formulation and implementa-tion of youth policies.

Extract from the message by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO

___________________________

International Literacy Day8 September 2013

Literacy is much more than an educational priority it is the ultimate investment in the future and the first step towards all the new forms of literacy required in the twenty-first century. We wish to see a cen-tury where every child is able to read and to use this skill to gain autonomy..

Extract from the message by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO__________________________

International Day of Peace21 September 2013

This message embodies UN-ESCOs founding values: since wars begin in the minds of women and men, it in the minds of women and men that the defences of peace must be constructed. Education is the foundation of any lasting peace. It is the driving force behind

freedom and tolerance.

Extract from the message by Irina Bokova, Director-Gener-al of UNESCO

___________________ International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

17 October 2013

Beyond economic indicators, material resources and dollars per day thresholds, poverty is a question of social inclusion and the ability of individuals to control and give meaning to their lives. lasting peace and sustainable development.

Extract from the message by Irina Bokova, Director-Gener-al of UNESCO


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CALENDER OF EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

International Conference and Workshop titled Filling the Gaps: World Heritage and the 20th Century

Chandigarh, India

3 - 7 October 2013

Contact: Moe Chiba ([email protected])

UNESCO Publication Media Launch: Social Inclusion of Internal Migrants in India

UN Conference Hall, New Delhi, India

17 October 2013

Contact: Marina Faetanini ([email protected])

National Conference on the theme Opening up by Clos-ing the Circle: Strengthening Open Access in India

Jahawarlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

21 October 2013

Contact: Iskra Panevska ([email protected])

UIS South and West Asia Region Training Workshop on Cultural Statistics

New Delhi, India

22-25 October 2013

Contact: Moe Chiba ([email protected]); Shailendra Sigdel ([email protected])

Consultation workshop with Govt. of Punjab for the Punjab Cultural Heritage Policy project

Chandigarh, India

28 October 2013


Drafting of Heritage bills

Bhutan

3-10 November 2013


IHCN Fourth Biennial Conference on Economics of Living Heritage Cities

Pune, India

20-22 November 2013


5th South and Central Asian MAB Network (SACAM) Meeting on Harmonizing Community Livelihood with Biodiversity Conservation

Islamabad, Pakistan

26 - 28 November 2013

Contact: Ram Boojh([email protected])

PAST EVENTS

Launch of campaign titled Shekhawati Virasat Abhiyan of the project Revival and Sustenance of Traditional Building Construction Technology and Ornamentation Techniques of Shekhawati

Jhunjhunu, Rajastan, India

9 - l0 September 2013

Contact: Anand Kanitkar ([email protected])

Workshop on the Value of Biodiversity of Great Nicobar Island -new Biosphere Reserve

Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India

13 - 14 September 2013

Contact: Ram Boojh ([email protected])

Signing of MoU and FIT agreement with Dept. of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textile( MSME&T)

Kolkata, India

16 September 2013


Regional Conference Strengthening Conservation and Management of Natural Heritage Sites: Lessons from the World Heritage Biodiversity Programme India

New Delhi, India


Contact: Ram Boojh ([email protected])

Facilitate and document the Stakeholder-Community consultation workshops organized by Punjab Cultural Heritage Policy team

Malerkotla, Punjab, India


UPCOMING EVENTSUU

PAST EVENTS

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

1616


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CALENDER OF EVENTSContact: Madhura Dutta ([email protected])

International Conference on Interpretation of Built and Natural Heritage

Chandigarh, India

30 September 2013


STAFF NEWS

ARRIVALS

Ms Amy Jones (July 2013) Intern, Social and Human Sciences

Ms Neha Wadhawan (July 2013)Consultant, GYM (Gender Youth and Migration), So-cial and Human Sciences

Mr Alexander Hunt ( July 2013)Intern, Culture

Ms Pooja Dayal (September 2013)Consultant, Social and Human Sciences

Ms Rowena Mathew (September 2013)Intern, Natural Sciences

DEPARTURES

Ms Rukmini Tankha (July 2013) Project Officer, Social and Human Sciences

Ms Anita Dawar (July 2013)Programme Assistant, Social and Human Sciences

Mr Satish Kumar (September 2013)Project Coordinator, WHBP

STAFF NEWS

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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PUBLICATIONS AND RESOUCES

Social Inclusion of Internal Migrants in IndiaUNESCO New Delhi; 2013; 92 p.

The document provides an overview of existing innovative practices that increase the inclusion of internal migrants in society and acts as a living docu-ment that would inspire and assist professionals and governments officials in their attempts to facilitate the social inclusion of migrants in India.

Download at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002237/223702e.pdf

This e-newsletter is published quarterly by UNESCO New Delhi. The document is produced by the Docu-mentation and Public Information unit,and it covers UNESCO news and activities in the New Delhi Cluster countries. All articles are free of copyright restriction, unless otherwise indicated, and may be reproduced subject to an appropriate credit annotation.

Your feedback is much appreciated. To add your name to the distribution list, please send an email to the edito-rial team, Rekha Beri ([email protected]) and Jagrity Rejimon ([email protected])

For more information, contact:

UNESCO New Delhi, B 5/29 Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 110029

Tel:+91-11-26713000 Fax:+91-11-26713001/002; Email: [email protected];

Website: www.unesco.org/new/en/newdelhi

Gender, Youth and Migration (GYM)Supported by: UNESCO, UNICEF, UN Women

The GYM sub-community will operate as a web portal linked to the UN Solution Exchange Gender Com-munity webpage and will function as a dedicated resource hub to provide access to resources and discussions on internal migration, gender and the youth. The GYM web portal (www.solutionexchange.un.in/communi-ties/gender_gym) will bring together experts, researchers, NGOs and officials who share a common concern on the topic of internal migration, gender and youth, allowing them to deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area.

For membership and further queries, please contact us on [email protected]

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002237/223702e.pdf http://www.unesco.org/new/en/newdelhimailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.solutionexchange.un.in/communi-ties/gender_gymhttp://www.solutionexchange.un.in/communi-ties/gender_gymhttp://www.solutionexchange.un.in/communi-ties/gender_gym

Contents

new delhi office e-newsletter - unesdoc...

Documents