Global Networking
CFDA is closely associated with several global and national networks as a founder member, as an office bearer or active member. The list of these networks is as follows:
(1) Economists for Full Employment
CFDA is a founder member of the global network, Economists for Full Employment (EFE), which is a group of economists working towards building a global informal network of academics, policy advisors, institutions, advocates and members of government, committed to the realization of the right to a job. We believe that job creation is a strong and contributing factor to a just, equitable and humane economic development path. We also believe that having access to decent work must become the highest economic and social priority; and that constraints of financial resources should not be an a priori justification for not fulfilling this responsibility. Whether lack of employment opportunities is the result of insufficient demand, structural economic problems, or personal misfortune, we find it imperative to speak up about the plight of entire groups of citizens condemned to forced idleness and social exclusion. Furthermore, we consider that the primary responsibility for guaranteeing a job and steering the economy in a socially inclusive direction rests with the state.
EFE is committed to…
Joining forces with all who foster public dialogue and seek to promote employment guarantee around the world. Together, we can provide coherent, viable policy alternatives that lead to inclusive and just outcomes for all. We aim to:
- create an international virtual community of people and institutions
- promote public dialogue fora and build towards a worldwide campaign that places job creation and employment guarantee policies at the top of the policy agenda
- leverage and influence the policies and programs of development agencies and financial institutions for improved employment outcomes
- build communities of learning and foster public awareness on existing country level experiences
- engage in teaching and policy oriented research that explores development, poverty and macroeconomic issues linked to the design and implementation of the right to a job and full employment policies
(2) International Working Group on Gender and Macroeconomics (IWG GEM)
CFDA (Prof Indira Hirway) is a core member of the global network on International Working Group on Gender and Macroeconomics (IWG GEM).
IWG GEM : IWG GEM is an international network of economists that was formed in 1994 for the purpose of promoting research, teaching, policy making and advocacy on gender-equitable approaches to macroeconomics, international economics and globalization. IWG GEM promotes the sharing of knowledge in regions across the globe, organized into five Regional Groups and on nine Thematic Groups. These groups are composed of fellows, instructors, and participants from the Summer Courses and Conferences.
The expansion of the paradigm of macro economies and international economics advocated by IWG GEM calls for expansion of the paradigm of statistical systems to incorporate all activities performed by men and women, including unpaid work into national and international statistical systems. Time use studies is an important tool in this context, as it is the only survey technique known to us today that collects comprehensive information on different human activities.
Time-use studies have always been an important subject in Knowledge Networking Programmes of IWG-GEM. Conceptual and methodological issues in conducting time use surveys as well as multiple uses of time use statistics including macro-modeling, in understanding the different socio-economic problems of economies have received considerable attention in teaching, research and policy advocacy issues at IWG GEM. Prof Indira Hirway (CFDA) is a key resource person for time use studies.
(3) International Association for Time Use Research (IATUR)
Prof Indira Hirway is a member of the Executive Committee of the global network, International Association for Time Use Research.
IATUR, studies how people allocate their time on different activities and analyzes
- how people integrate information technology into their lives;
- how family members distribute the load of domestic and income raising tasks;
- when and how often people move from place to place by various means of transport;
- which groups of people are more and less physically active;
- which people spend the most time exposed to sunlight, to television advertising, to traffic fumes or to cigarette smoke;
- how people maintain their social connections and who spends the most time alone.
Time diaries capture the range of economic production and consumption activities that take place outside the paid economy. By examining daily activities, we can learn how different groups of people juggle work and family responsibilities, and how people have changed their activities over time.
The IATUR initially arose from a 1970 meeting of the Working Group on Time Budgets and Social Activities during the International Sociological Association meeting in Varna, Bulgaria. IATUR now provides a forum for people interested in any aspect of time use to meet each other and to exchange ideas. IATUR attracts members at all stages of their careers from universities, national statistical offices and other government agencies, international organizations, business, the media, and private research organizations. Association members work in over 40 countries.
IATUR maintains the Electronic International Journal of Time Use Research (eIJTUR), and sponsors an annual conference for time use researchers to present their work. IATUR embraces both qualitative and quantitative approaches to the study of how people use their time, and IATUR members have participated in a number of projects to harmonize time use data for cross-time and cross-national research.
IATUR aims :
- to promote high standards for the collection and analysis of time use data;
- to increase access to information on new techniques for time use research;
- to expand the dissemination of the latest time use research results;
- and to promote the continued spirit of co-operation and friendship that has characterised the development of the time use field.
(4) Gender and Macroeconomics, Asia (GEN-MAC)
Prof Indira Hirway is a member of the Advisory Committee of GEN-MAC as well as its core resource person. GEN-MAC organizes annually Asia-Pacific Capacity Development programmes on Gender and Macroeconomics in Asia for Asian countries. It is supported by UNDP, Asia.
In January 2010, UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, with support from the Government of Japan through the UNDP-Japan Partnership Fund, initiated a new capacity development project on gender and macroeconomic issues. The objective of the course was to enhance Asia-Pacific countries’ capacity in gender-responsive policy making, especially on macroeconomic issues such as trade, fiscal and monetary policies, finance, and economic crisis.
The interventions will target strengthening capacities of key stakeholders, including government officials, development practitioners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), research institutes, and academia to analyze, design, implement, and advocate for gender-responsive macroeconomic policies that are consistent with achievement of MDGs.
Two key activities of this project are: 1) regional intensive training course; 2) and provision of support to capacity development projects at national level. The training course is expected to have 30-40 ‘fellows’ each year. After completion of the training course, the fellows would have an opportunity to apply the knowledge for project formulation or implementation at national or community levels. Technical and financial support from the programme will be provided for this. Thus, practitioners involved closely with gender and macroeconomic projects in their countries in Asia and the Pacific region and without formal exposure to gender economics are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility :
The fellows will be required, at a minimum, to have a master’s degree in economics, development studies, or other related areas, or equivalent work experiences. The course will be conducted in English. Up to 40 fellows will be admitted to the course. Full funding will be provided for up to 30 fellows. The funding priority will be given to: a) a citizen of a developing country in Asia and the Pacific listed in footnote below ; and b) those who are currently working for a gender and macroeconomic project in a country listed in footnote 2. Self-funded applicants and applicants with sponsorship from employer or grants from other sources are welcome to apply. Residents in other regions are also welcome to apply in a self-financing basis.
Expected outcomes :
- At the end of the course, the fellows will be equipped with tools and information to analyze, design and implement gender-responsive macroeconomic policies and plans, such as:
- How to design, collect and analyze sex-disaggregated data for national statistics;
- How to design pro-poor tax policies and gender-responsive budget allocation;
- Analysis of the gender differentiated impacts of foreign direct investment and trade liberalization and the policy formulation to mitigate the negative effects; and
- Designing and implementing gender-responsive economic and social policies;
Application due date: April 30, 2010
For all other detailed information (including application form and contact details), please download the following word file