Roundtable on India’s Development Cooperation with Bangladesh

10am – 1pm
March 24, 2017
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

PRIA and Oxfam India are convening a roundtable on India’s Development Cooperation with Bangladesh on March 24, 2017 (Friday) between 10am and 1pm at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The objective of the roundtable is to share and validate the findings of a study conducted by PRIA, with the support of Oxfam India and the guidance of the Forum of Indian Development Cooperation, with a view to analysing the official discourse on development cooperation between the two states (emerging from their respective governments) as well as the general perception prevailing in the Bangladesh civil society sector regarding the same.

This research initiative, combining a comprehensive literature review, the methodological inputs from an Advisory Committee of sector experts, and field research involving government officials and civil society actors of Bangladesh, officials of the High Commission of India, and officials of the implementing agencies, serves as one of the primary documents on the socioeconomic impact of particular projects funded through Indian Line of Credit and adds to the growing volume of literature on India’s development cooperation in the global south. Its relevance derives equally from the deep historical, geographical, and sociocultural links between India and Bangladesh, which have been strengthened as a result of the growing focus on Bangladesh within the framework of India’s Act East and Neighbourhood First policy positions. To illustrate, the $2 billion credit agreement signed by Bangladesh and India in March 2016 represents the largest line of credit extended by India to any country so far and covers projects related to roads, railways, power, shipping, SEZs, healthcare and technical education.

Against this backrop, the study has tried to specifically draw lessons to reinforce the values and principles of south-south cooperation and eventually contribute to the evolution of a robust framework for participatory monitoring, evaluation and learning (PMEL) for India’s development cooperation. This roundtable will bring together multiple perspectives on the implications of future practices and policies related to India’s development cooperation and south-south cooperation. The programme was: