Part II: Country Perspectives from Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nepal, and Vietnam
Date: 29th April 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 12:00–01:30 pm IST (India) / 06:30–08:00 am UTC / 08:30 – 10:00 am (CEST)
Background
The International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) Committee on Cooperative Research, in collaboration with the ICA-AP Committee on Women, continues its engagement under the 17th edition of the Coop Colloquium series with the second session on the theme: “Review of Gender Policies in Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific.”
Building on the discussions from Part I, this session will further explore the findings of the regional study, focusing on additional country experiences and deepening reflections on gender equality within cooperative systems. The colloquium provides a platform for researchers and practitioners to engage in dialogue on policy frameworks, governance mechanisms, and institutional practices that shape gender inclusion in cooperatives.
Cooperatives remain central to advancing inclusive development, offering opportunities for women’s participation, leadership, and economic empowerment. However, as highlighted in the study, disparities persist across countries due to differences in legal provisions, institutional capacity, and implementation mechanisms.
Gender Policies in Cooperatives: Expanding Regional Insights
This second session will present country perspectives from Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nepal, and Vietnam, completing the regional coverage of the ten-country study. These cases illustrate diverse approaches to gender policy—ranging from formal legislative measures to programmatic and voluntary initiatives—highlighting both progress and continuing structural challenges.
The study underscores that while many countries have adopted gender-responsive frameworks, their effectiveness depends on enforcement, accountability systems, and sustained institutional commitment. It also emphasizes the importance of cross-country learning and regional collaboration in strengthening gender equality outcomes within cooperatives.
By bringing together insights from these five additional countries, Part II aims to consolidate learning from across the region, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of policy environments and practical pathways toward gender-responsive cooperative development.
About the Session
As the concluding part of the two-part series, this session will:
- Present findings from the remaining five countries in the study
- Highlight comparative insights across diverse policy and institutional contexts
- Encourage dialogue on strengthening implementation, monitoring, and accountability
- Contribute to shaping future research, policy engagement, and cooperative practice on gender equality
Registration
We invite participants to join this engaging discussion on gender policies in cooperatives across Asia and the Pacific and to reflect on pathways toward more inclusive and gender-responsive cooperative systems. Register here. Registered participants will receive the webinar details one day before the event.
|
Time |
Agenda |
Speaker/Facilitator |
|
5 mins |
Welcome Remarks |
Ms. Nitya Shukla, Secretary, ICA-AP Women’s Committee |
|
10 mins |
Recap of Part I and Overview of Study Objectives |
Ms. Simren Singh, Development Expert, Ex- Gender Lead, ICA-AP |
|
50 mins |
Country Presentations: Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nepal, and Vietnam
(10 mins each) |
1. Ms. Mahima Parthi, Ministry for Trade, Cooperatives, SMEs and Communications, Fiji 2. Dr. Shrija Sinha, Lead – Agriculture & Environment and Education, ICA-AP 3. Ms. Juliana Binti Md Yusop, Cooperative Institute of Malaysia (CIM), Malaysia 4. Dr. Jyoti Regmi Adhikari, Kathmandu University School of Management, Nepal 5. Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Tien, Independent Expert on Rural Development and Governance, Vietnam |
|
10 mins |
Question and Answers |
Open Discussion |
|
5 mins |
Synthesis of Key Insights |
Dr. Rajeshwari C., Assistant Professor, Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources, IIM- Kozhikode, India |
|
5 mins |
Comments and Reflections |
Dr. Sidsel Grimstad, Chair, ICA-AP CCR |
|
5 mins |
Regional Perspectives and Way Forward for ICA-AP |
Mr. Balasubramanian (Balu) Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP |
About the Panellists
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Dr. Rajeshwari C., Assistant Professor, Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources, IIM Kozhikode, India Rajeshwari is a faculty of organizational behaviour at IIM Kozhikode. She did her PhD from IIM Ahmedabad and teaches OB, gender and related topics for MBA students, practitioners, corporate professionals and entrepreneurs from broad backgrounds. Her research interests are broadly in the areas of sociology of work, critical management studies, alternatives to capitalistic organizing and interpretive and ethnographic research methodologies. She engages with communities from rural backgrounds and people who engage with informal work settings and enjoys understanding and contributing towards reducing their vulnerabilities and building solidarity. |
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Ms. Simren Singh, Development Expert, Former Programme Lead – Gender and Education, ICA-AP Simren Singh is a former Programme Lead – Gender and Education at ICA-AP with over a decade of experience in international development. At ICA-AP, she has led multi-country programmes across several Asia-Pacific countries, focusing on gender equality, youth engagement, and cooperative education. Her work spans research, policy advocacy, capacity building, including managing partnerships with ICA members and institutional partners like IDACA, Japan. Simren has coordinated several regional conferences, trainings, and research initiatives engaging diverse stakeholders. She has also contributed to international publications and knowledge products, strengthening the role of cooperatives in advancing inclusive and sustainable development. Her latest contribution to ICA-AP being the regional study on the review of gender policies in cooperatives, which she designed and coordinated in her role as the Secretary of the ICA-AP Women’s Committee. |
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Ms. Mahima Parthi, Department of Co-operative Business, Fiji Mahima Parthi is a legal professional currently working with the Department of Co-operative Business in Fiji. She was admitted to the High Court of Fiji in 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (2023) and a Professional Diploma in Legal Practice (2024) from the University of the South Pacific, and is presently pursuing postgraduate studies in Governance and Public Policy at the University of Fiji. Prior to her current role, she gained practical experience working at a law firm and with the Ministry of Agriculture, engaging in both legal and public sector work. Her interests lie in governance and policy, particularly in strengthening institutional frameworks that support community development and enhance the role of cooperatives. |
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Dr. Shrija Sinha, Lead – Agriculture & Environment and Education, ICA-AP Dr. Shrija Sinha leads the Agriculture, Environment, and Education vertical at ICA-AP and serves as Secretary of its Agriculture & Environment and Education Committees. She is an agricultural and cooperative development professional with experience in research, training, and policy analysis. Prior to joining ICA-AP, she worked with the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), contributing to research, training, and publications, including developing training modules, coordinating youth programmes, and undertaking policy research on women, youth, and cooperative governance. Dr. Sinha holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension Education from ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour. |
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Ms. Juliana Binti Md Yusop, Senior Training Officer, Cooperative Institute of Malaysia (IKMa) Juliana Binti Md Yusop is a Senior Training Officer at the Cooperative Institute of Malaysia (IKMa) and a Certified Trainer under the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), Malaysia’s national agency for talent development under the Ministry of Human Resources. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in accounting, finance, and cooperative tourism. She recently served as the Country Researcher (Malaysia) for ICA-AP, leading a national study on gender-based policies in cooperatives. The study was published and presented at the NGO CSW70 Forum in March 2026. Her research interests also include indigenous entrepreneurship and sustainable homestay development. In recognition of her leadership, she received the Influential Leader award at the Asia Pacific Sustainability Awards 2025. |
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Dr. Jyoti Regmi Adhikari, Kathmandu University School of Management, Nepal Dr. Jyoti Regmi Adhikary is a Visiting Professor of Human Resource Management at Kathmandu University School of Management. Alongside teaching, she is actively engaged in research, training, and consulting in her areas of expertise. She brings over a decade of industry experience across diverse sectors, complemented by nearly two decades in academia. She has served Kathmandu University as a Senate Member (twice, as both student and faculty representative) and as a member of the Academic Council (2020–21). Her primary research focus is on women’s leadership, with several publications in national and international journals. Dr. Adhikary holds degrees in Architecture, EMBA, MPhil, and a PhD in General Management, and has completed a Faculty Development Program at IIM Ahmedabad, India. |
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Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Tien, Independent Expert on Rural Development and Governance, Vietnam Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Tien holds a Master’s degree in International Development Studies from Geneva, Switzerland, and is a senior expert in agricultural, rural, and cooperative development with over 25 years of experience in Viet Nam and Lao PDR. She has extensive expertise in strengthening cooperatives, promoting inclusive value chains, expanding rural finance, and advancing women’s economic empowerment. She has worked with leading international organizations, including UNDP, IFAD, GIZ, ADB, World Bank, SNV, USAID, and Winrock International. Her work focuses on enhancing cooperative governance, improving market linkages, facilitating access to finance, and promoting climate-resilient, low-emission agriculture. She also brings strong experience in policy research, multi-stakeholder coordination, and designing sustainable cooperative models that support inclusive and resilient rural livelihoods. |
