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South Asia Economic Policy Network

CONFERENCE

Green Growth in South Asia

The Office of the Chief Economist for the South Asia Region, in collaboration with the Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice of the World Bank and the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) hosted the 12th South Asia Economic Policy Network conference on Green Growth in South Asia. Watch the replays and access materials by visiting our event webpage.

Conference

Social Progress in South Asia

The Office of the Chief Economist for the South Asia Region of the World Bank, in collaboration with the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) hosted the "11th South Asia Economic Policy Network conference on Social Progress in South Asia". Watch the replays and access materials by visiting our event webpage.

Event

The Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal invites you to join the "18th edition of the South Asian Economics Student¡¯s Meet" on March 12- 17, 2023 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

EVENT

The South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), in collaboration with the World Bank Group, invites you to the ¡°Fourth SANEM-World Bank North America Discussion Forum 2023 on Shocks and Development Strategies: Toward a Resilient South Asia¡å on May 5, 2023, in Washington, D.C.


  • The South Asia Economic Policy Network (the Network in what follows) was established in 2017. It serves as a platform for collaboration with South Asian think tanks, academics, researchers, policy advisors, policy influencers, and development partners. 

    The objective is to support an ongoing and more structured dialogue on issues affecting the development prospects of South Asia. The development challenges in the region are manifold and addressing them often means overcoming micro, macro, and political economy challenges. The Network advances the achievement of regional development priorities by, first, nurturing and enhancing the regional dialogue and, second, by deepening two-way knowledge sharing between the region and the World Bank. By doing so the Network also addresses the trust deficit between countries in South Asia and strengthens people-to-people relations. 

    The Network cofinances regional encounters, leverages South Asian expertise, shares knowledge with counterparts in the region and helps to navigate the political economy in South Asia. It strives for neutrality and contributes to the World Bank¡¯s role as a source of unbiased expertise, as a receptive listener, and as a trusted broker in the exchange of ideas. The Network has had a tremendous start. A databank with over 400 economists has been assembled and there is a frequent interaction with the members of the Network. For example, a survey is sent out every six months and the results feed prominently into the biannual report South Asia Economic Focus.

    In addition, the Network is supporting different series of regional workshops and conferences, among others the South Asia Economic Summit, the South Asia Economic Students Meet, the Delhi Macroeconomics Workshop and the Sustainable Development Conference, Islamabad. For most events the Network mobilizes both funding and World Bank expertise. Moreover, the Network organizes and stages new joint activities with regional think tanks, academics and policy advisors, including the South Asia Economic Policy Network Conference series. Among others, it organized a workshop on ¡®Jobless Growth¡¯ with the India Statistical Institute with presenters from four South Asian countries (some of the discussed papers will be published in a special issue in the Indian Growth and Development Review).

    Similarly, in Fall 2018 the Network organized a workshop on ¡®Fiscal Policy in South Asia¡¯ with the Nepal Economic Forum in Kathmandu, Nepal. The event featured a keynote speech by the Finance Minister of Nepal and a wide audience of think tanks, academics, NGO¡¯s and the media. In Spring 2019, the Network co-organized a conference on External Vulnerabilities in South Asia with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, University of Colombo and the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In Fall 2019 a conference on ¡®Subnational Finances and Local Service Delivery in South Asia¡¯ with the South Asia Network for Economic Modelling (SANEM) was organized in Dhaka, featuring a keynote speech by the Planning Minister of Bangladesh, as well as distinguished speakers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. In Spring 2020 the Network organized a workshop on ¡®State intervention in the Financial Sector in South Asia¡¯ with the Centre for Financial Research and Learning (CAFRAL) in Mumbai that also featured an industry panel and a wide audience of think tanks, academics, NGO¡¯s and the media.

  • Partner Organizations

    (BIGD): A Bangladesh-based social science research and academic institute, dedicated to generating and sharing knowledge through education, research, and public and policy engagement in equitable partnerships with national and global actors. BIGD leads the research on the socioeconomic empowerment programs of BRAC¡ªthe global leader among NGOs focusing on poor and marginal people. Their affiliation with the Independent Evaluation and Research Cell (IERC) of BRAC International helps them reach countries in South Asia and Africa.

    (CPD): A think-tank based in Bangladesh which seeks to be the leading institution for in-depth research and dialogue to promote inclusive policymaking, and strengthen regional and global economic integration. It aims to enhance national capacity for economy-wide policy analysis; foster regional cooperation in key areas such as poverty alleviation, trade, investment and connectivity; facilitate Bangladesh¡¯s effective integration into the process of globalisation.

    : An institute with vision to promoting and facilitating studies and research in various fields of higher education. Fatima Jinnah Women University aims to provide quality education to the women of Pakistan. It aims to advance learning to the highest level attainable through research, teaching and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of women in particular and society in general. The women are trained to become mainstream citizens with confidence about their position and status in society.

     (IIDS): A Nepalese non-governmental, non-profit research institute, which aims to seek greater development impact through research, advocacy and incubation of innovation. It seeks to be one of the region¡¯s leading institutes that contributes to evidence-based policymaking; trains professionals; and broadens public understanding of sustainable development challenges and solutions in the 21st century. Over the past 40 years, the impact of IIDS has been extensive through dozens of projects and hundreds of knowledge products shared across society to influence reasoned policymaking and make development effective. 

     (SAESM): A unique and pioneering initiative that provides a platform to undergraduate students of the region. The goal is similar to that of other grass-roots initiatives such as the SAARC Chambers of Commerce, viz. to create an understanding of the value of regional cooperation that transcends narrow, short-term domestic political gains that has until now been the stumbling block for greater regional cooperation.

     (SANEM): A non-profit research organization which aims to promote objective and high quality research in the areas of international trade, macroeconomy, poverty, labour market, environment, political economy and economic modeling in Bangladesh. SANEM contributes to governments¡¯ policy-making by providing research supports both at individual and organizational capacities. SANEM has maintained strong research collaboration with global, regional and local think-tanks, research and development organizations, universities, and individual researchers. 

     (SDPI): An independent non-profit organization to serve as a source of expertise for policy analysis and development, policy intervention, and policy and program advisory services. SDPI provides the global sustainable development community with representation from Pakistan as well as South Asia as a whole. The SDPI¡¯s mission is to catalyse the transition towards sustainable development, defined as the enhancement of peace, social justice and well-being, within and across generations. 

     

  • Membership Request

    If you would like to become a member of the network, please send your personal details to South Asia Chief Economist Office at sarchiefeconomistoffice@worldbank.org.

    The personal details should include the following: name, address, institution, professional title, research interests, and resume attached.

    Membership to the Network: Based in South Asia and affiliated with university, think tank, research institute or similar.


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