2009-2010 - BIDS

Networking and Expanding Outreach
The principal aim of networking and
expanding outreach is to encourage
institutional collaboration, engage in
research on themes of relevance, and facilitate
the exchange of knowledge and expertise
between the institutions. The BIDS is also
engaged in intellectual partnerships with leading
international institutions to support quality
research and impact evaluations. The emphasis
is on mutual development of capacity, address
the knowledge gaps, and gather evidence on
what works, when, why, and how much toward
improving the lives of the poor people. Under its
networking and outreach strategy, BIDS is actively
engaged in promoting the exchange of ideas
and cooperation for collaborative research and
facilitating knowledge sharing among researchers
and policymakers.
A major vehicle of expanding outreach is to
organize BIDS dialogues involving policymakers,
researchers, policy analysts, academicians, and
other stakeholders which essentially provide a
platform for stimulating evidence-based policy
debates on issues of interest so as to bring
about greater clarity around the concepts and
the solutions. These platforms are also used to
stimulate discussion and engage in the widest
possible dissemination of BIDS research outcomes
and findings from specific studies.
understand the complexities of the challenges
faced by South Asia to mitigating poverty and
promoting inclusive development.
The SANEI comprises of member institutes based
in the countries of South Asia (Bangladesh, India,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). Recently, initiatives
have been taken to expand the SANEI network to
remaining SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bhutan,
and Maldives). SANEI has a membership of 55
research institutes in the South Asia region. There
are 12 research institutes from Bangladesh, 25 from
India, 3 from Nepal, 10 from Pakistan and 5 from Sri
Lanka. The Network encourages relevant research
institutes of the region to become member of
SANEI.
The principal driving force behind SANEI is its
Steering Committee (SC) which acts as a conduit
for disseminating information about the Network.
The Research Advisory Panel (RAP) comprising
four internationally renowned economists from
South Asia evaluates research proposals submitted
from the network of institutions. The panel reviews
the progress of the projects and provides expert
guidance with the objective to improving the
quality of research.
The South Asia Network of Economic Research
Institutes (SANEI)
Since October 2009, the Secretariat of the South
Asia Network of Economic Research Institutes
(SANEI) has been located at BIDS. The SANEI is a
regional initiative to foster networking amongst
economic research institutions in South Asia. The
aim of the Network is to establish strong research
interlinkages among diverse economic research
institutes in the South Asian region.
The SANEI is the Global Development Network’s
Regional Network Partner for the South Asia region.
As the Network Partner of Global Development
Network (GDN), SANEI works to ensure the
generation of research by those best placed to
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