BNNRC Fund Negotiation Meetings 14 September – 3 October 2015

BNNRC Fund Negotiation Meetings Free Press Unlimited organized Fund Negotiation Meetings from 14 September- 3 October 2015. Please find the details as below: Meeting at UNESCO Head Office: i.

A Meeting was held with Division for Freedom of Expression and Media development at UNESCO Headquarter on 14 September 2015.Mr. Guy Berger, Director of the Division welcomed us (me and Albena from FPU).The community radio situation of Bangladesh and the role of BNNRC were discussed in the meeting. Result of the Meeting In the meeting, Mr. Guy Berger described the future programs and upcoming activities in line with South Asian Program for local radio and ICT. He has informed that UNESCO will initiate a South Asian project including Bangladesh, India and Nepal. From Bangladesh BNNRC and Ministry of Information will be selected as partners.

ii.

The 2nd Meeting was held with Division of Freedom of Expression and Media Support at UNESCO Headquarter on 16 September 2015.Mr.Mehdi Benchelah,Senior Project Officer welcomed us. He briefed us regarding the journalists’ security and safety program. From BNNRC side we briefed issues on community media and journalism. Result of the Meeting He assured us UNESCO will take capacity building program for community journalists for South Asia including Bangladesh from 2016

iii.

The 3rd Meeting was held with Division of Media Development and Society at UNESCO Headquarter on 17 September 2015.Mr.Leandro Pereira Franca, Project Officer for special projects of UNESCO welcomed us. Result of the Meeting He has informed us he is going to develop: ”Empowering Radio with ICTs in South Asia” Program in line with role of Media and SDG which includes India, Bangladesh and Nepal.. This is one kind of UN-Flagship project. They will involve BNNRC as a implementing partner from Bangladesh.

2.

Meeting with Free Press Unlimited: A meeting was held with Division of Operation, FPU at FPU Head Office on 21 September 2015.Ruth Kronenburg welcomed me.She thanked and recognized as a potential partner of FPU and she explained strategic partnership for 2016 -2020. She told that “The BNNRC has done excellent work in promoting the cause of community media in Bangladesh and South Asia and in the rest of the world for the past 15 years. FPU is proud to acknowledge the BNNRC’s achievements, which have enabled to diversify and strengthen its array of activities related to community media in the region and have been recognized worldwide.” Under this partnership FPU will work with BNNRC for the next 5 years. But the activity will be implemented mostly on policy advocacy, instead of service delivery. Result of the Meeting She has told that by December 2015, they will be able to declare yearly budget amount so that BNNRC will prepare new Project proposal for the next year by year basis through consultation and support from Program Manager of South Asia of Free Press. Primarily, she assumed 01 lac Euro as budget allocation per year.

3.

Meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asia & Oceania Department: A meeting was held with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asia & Oceania Department on 24 September 2015.Arnold Van der Zanden, Senior Policy Officer lauded and recognized BNNRC’s achievement in successful implementation of the last 5-year program (2011-2015) by BNNRC. Result of the Meeting She has assured Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ continued support in the next phase through Free Press Unlimited.

4.

Meeting with DW Academy: A meeting was held with DW Academy on 28 September 2015.Head of Research and Evaluation, department of strategy and consulting service Dr.Jn Lublinski welcomed us at the Academy. He has briefed on the department of strategy and consulting services in line with developing policy brief for Media situation. Result of the Meeting They are in position to start South-Asian focused activities in line with SDG.

5.

Another meeting was held with Fiedrich Ebert STIFTUNG (FES) on 30 September 2015. Mr. Henning Effner, Desk Officer, Division for International Cooperation welcomed us and briefed South Asian activities in line with Media. Result of the Meeting He has informed us FES has already set up Bangladesh office in Dhaka. They will invite us very soon for engaging community media of Bangladesh in their future programs.

6.

Meeting with Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and development, Germany .Astrid Kaiser, Head, Division of governance, democracy and rule of law welcomed us and briefed the activities of the division. She has informed us that Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and development, Result of the Meeting Germany has already changed its strategy towards promoting the human rights to freedom of expression and access to information in development cooperation. They will start South Asian project in line with SDG in which Bangladesh will be included. GIZ Bangladesh will invite us very soon for engaging community media of Bangladesh in their future programs.

Conclusion: I would like to thank FPU authority and BNNRC Board of Trust that allowed me to join to BNNRC Fund Negotiation Meetings. I hope these meetings will help BNNRC to run its projects and work more effectively in future growth of community media.