August 06, 2015 – Global Communication Center (GCC) has been conducting a joint research project with Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) (Scotland, UK) titled “Comprehensive Diagnosis of Gender Relations in Key Wheat Target Regions of South Asia and Development of Guidelines for Gender Responsive Agriculture Innovations Wheat Based Systems” during March 2015 to October 2015. As a part of this research, the “CIMMYT-GCU & Grameen Social Business Scoping Meeting for Gender Norms & Agency in Wheat Research” has been held today at Yunus Centre Conference Hall, Dhaka hosted by Global Communication Center (GCC).
The program commenced with the welcome and introductory speech of Ms. Nazneen Sultana, Managing Director of Grameen Communications (GC). The session continued with a brief presentation on “An Introduction on Social Business” by Md. Rifat Hossain from Yunus Center (YC). After that, Prof. Jafry Tahseen (Professor, GCU) presented an overview of the CIMMYT Gender Norms and Agency Project. The participants then took part in the introductory discussion on identifying opportunities for translating gender wheat research into practice based on Grameen Social Business model. The session was enlightened with the ideas and experience form social business experts from Grameen Family, namely, Ms. Parveen Mahmud (Managing Director, Grameen Telecom Trust), Ms. Lamiya Morshed (Executive Director, Yunus Centre), Mr. Jayanta Kumar Basu (Leader, Grameen Telecom Trust), Mr. Sultan Ahmad Bhuiyan (CFO, Grameen Telecom Trust) and Mr. Abu Muhammad Munayeem (Manager, Grameen Telecom Trust). Mr. Bill Collins (CIMMYT/CISA) and Dr. T P Tiwari (CIMMYT-BD) also shared their views from their long experience of working in the wheat sector. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus (Chairman, Yunus Centre) joined the program from lunch break onwards. The participants enjoyed the opportunity to socialize and discuss issues of interest with Dr. Yunus over lunch. Afterwards, Prof. Jafry discussed an overview of ideas, challenges and opportunities of the project. Prof. Dr. Yunus shared his valuable comments and suggestions on scoping of gender and social business in wheat production in Bangladesh. The day-long program concluded with vote of thanks from Prof. Jafry Tahseen.

GCC, GCU and all the relevant parties look forward to carry the outcomes and knowledge gained from the meeting further and transform it into a social business in near future.