SDF team visited India, Maldives and Sri Lanka to explore possibility of collaboration with various stakeholders in the Member States

A Delegation of Six Members (AD-Credit Risk & Investment, AD- Legal, AD- E&I Windows, AD- SEDP, AD- Admin & Finance and Sr. Manager – Accounts) from SAARC Development Fund visited India, Maldives and Sri Lanka from 13-15th December 2017 in order to brief the relevant stakeholders on -

During these three days, the Delegation gave the presentation to the stakeholders on -

• Soliciting the Cross-Border Project Co-Financing under the Economic & Infrastructure Windows of SDF in the SAARC Member States.
• Collaboration under the Social Enterprise Development Program.
• Fund Mobilization and Investment opportunities in the SAARC Member States.

28^th Meeting of SDF Board of Directors

28^th Board Meeting of SDF Board was held on - December 20-22^nd, 2017 at Thimphu, Bhutan. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Amir Mohyuddin, Board Director from Pakistan on SDF Board. During this Board Meeting, the Board of Directors has approved the Credit Policy & Policy Guidelines for the Economic & Infrastructure (E&I) Windows of SDF among other important issues that were discussed during the Board Meeting.

Meeting of Counterpart Agencies of SDF

The Counterpart Agencies of SDF from all the Member States met from December 26-28,2017 in Colombo, Sri Lanka in order to discuss important issues pertaining to SDF as well as SDF funded projects. .

Activation of Economic & Infrastructure Windows of SDF

28^th Board Meeting of SDF Board was held on - December 20-22^nd, 2017 at Thimphu, Bhutan.
During this Board Meeting, the Board of Directors has approved the Credit Policy & Policy Guidelines for the Economic & Infrastructure (E&I) Windows of SDF. The Economic & Infrastructure Windows thus can be activated now through funding the various Cross-Border projects under the Co-Financing mode.

Inception meeting for the project "Networking and Capacity Building of Women Entrepreneurs from SAARC Countries"

The inception meeting for the project "Networking and Capacity Building of Women Entrepreneurs from SAARC Countries" was conducted on December 18, 2017 via video conference with all the participating countries. The meeting briefed the IAs on SDF's Policies and procedures and oriented on reporting requirements, disbursement and procurement procedure.

It also stressed the importance of a sustainability plan for the project and revenue generation model. The meeting also agreed on the future course of action for effective implementation of the project and sharing of best practices.

SDF Conducted Combined Project Meeting for the Implementing Agencies of the Project Strengthening the Livelihood Initiatives for Homebased Workers in the SAARC Region

28 December, 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka: A team of SDF led by the CEO and Implementing Agencies of the SAARC Development Fund funded project, Strengthening the Livelihood Initiatives for Homebased Workers in the SAARC Region met in Colombo, Sri Lanka for their Combined Project

Meeting on 26 December, 2017. Counterpart Agencies i.e. focal points of SDF in SAARC Member States also participated in the meeting. During the meeting, the Implementing Agencies were briefed on SDF's policies and procedures and reporting requirements, and proposed changes to the project documents since its approval.

SDF Conducted Combined Project Meeting for the Implementing Agencies of the Project Strengthening of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in selected areas of SAARC Member States

27 December, 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka: A team of SDF led by the CEO and Implementing Agencies of the SAARC Development Fund funded project, Strengthening of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in selected areas of SAARC Countries met in Colombo, Sri Lanka for

their Combined Project Meeting on 27 December, 2017. Counterpart Agencies i.e. focal points of SDF in SAARC Member States also participated in the meeting. During the meeting, the Implementing Agencies were briefed on SDF's policies and procedures and reporting requirements, and proposed changes to the project documents since its approval.

Participation in disability study and placement tour by M.Sc. in Rehabilitation Science students from SAARC Member States

4^th batch (session 2017-2018) M.Sc. in Rehabilitation Science students along with their faculties are going to participate in a disability study and placement tour from January 08, 2018 to January 13, 2018 at Social Assistance and Rehabilitation for the Physically Vulnerable

(SARPV) at Cox's Bazar and the Saint Martin Island, Bangladesh. Please receive attached photographs in this connection.

Post Harvest Management and Value Addition participated in Agriculture Fair (Mandarin Orange)

Postharvest Management Directorate, in coordination with Regional Agricultural Directorate, Western Development Region, Kaski organized Orange Fair in Pokhara starting 28^th December 2017 to 1st of January 2018. This was observed as Mini-Fair under the framework of five days "Nineteenth Street Festival" of Pokhara, Kaski, with the objective of inviting larger audience during the period.

SDF Counterpart Agencies visited the field site of SDF funded Project "Post Harvest Management and Value Addition, Sri Lanka" in Kandy, Sri Lanka

The Counterpart Agencies of SDF visited the field site of SDF funded project Post Harvest management and Value Addition in kandy, Sri Lanka to review the progress made so far and the challenges faced by the Implementing Agency in implementing the project. The Counterpart Agency from Sri Lanka assured full support and cooperation to the IA for successful implementation.

SDF to fund "Livelihood Enhancement of Small Farmers in SAARC Region through Small Scale Agro-business focusing on value chain development"

SDF Board has approved the project "Livelihood Enhancement of Small Farmers in SAARC Region through Small Scale Agro-business focusing on value chain development" in the 28th meeting of SDF Board of Directors. This project will be implemented by SAARC Agriculture Centre with a budget of USD 2,249,694.00.

The project aims at working with smallholder farm families who are already operating as group (self help, production and marketing group, cooperatives). One of the focuses of the project will also be women folks who can make decisive decisions in production and utilization of specific crops for consumption and value addition. As the project aims at improving the value chain, it will also work with traders of processed foods both in production areas and urban centres.