MoU between SAF and the National College, Kathmandu Unviersity to Establishment of UMCDSRC

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between:

The South Asia Foundation (SAF), and the National College, Kathmandu University on the Establishment of the UNESCO Madanjeet Centre of Development Studies and Regional Cooperation (UMCDSRC)

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) executed between SAF-Nepal hereinafter referred to as “SAF” and the UNESCO Madanjeet Centre for Development Studies, National College, Kathmandu University hereinafter referred to as the “Centre” on the second part (hereinafter collectively referred to as “parties”) sets forth the agreement reached between the parties relating to the management of the UNESCO Madanjeet Centre of Development Studies and Regional Cooperation (UMCDSRC)

1.  Establishment of the Centre

 With the aim of furthering the SAF’s cardinal objective of promoting regional cooperation by creating greater opportunities for interaction among students, teachers, scholars and practitioners from South Asian countries, UNESCO Madanjeet Centre of Development Studies and Regional Cooperation (UMCDSRC), hereinafter referred to as “Centre” based in Kathmandu, Nepal will offer at least eight (8) fully paid Madanjeet Singh Group scholarships for a bachelor level course on development studies and regional cooperation. The scholarship includes travel, board, lodging and tuition fees, to South Asian students, based on gender equality. These students will be one from each of the eight SAARC countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These scholarships and their costs shall become the responsibility of the Centre.     

 2. Objectives of the Centre

 UMCDSRC shall invite students from all the eight countries of SAARC for a four year bachelor level course on development studies and regional cooperation. This will be taught in coordination with the National College, Kathmandu University and certificates will be given to the students from the University at the successful completion of the course. Major subjects to be taught are concepts and theories of development, economics, good governance, resource and environmental management and regional cooperation in South Asia. Providing knowledge and skills from such inter-disciplinary range of subjects will help in producing able and proficient skilled human capital with practical knowledge and understanding of our region and further the objectives and vision of SAF. The Centre will also periodically organize conferences and seminars where the students will be required to present papers and discuss pressing problems that plague their own societies. A strong focus will be on practical training, field visits, developing leadership qualities and cultivate interdisciplinary knowledge and skills of development.

A multi-dimensional approach such as this shall create a hub of scholars that specialize in the area of development studies on one hand and in depth understanding and skills for promoting regional cooperation, poverty alleviation, peace and development in South Asia on the other. It will be a course of an international standard with the students able to use their certificates anywhere in the world for furthering their studies or applying for jobs.

3.  Organizational Structure:

A board of management will execute the scholarships as envisaged in this MoU.

 Board of Management:

The Board of Management (BoM) shall be responsible for giving overall direction to the functioning of the Centre. The Director will be appointed in consultation with the SAF Founder and he shall convene the BoM meeting at least once a year. He shall also present the Annual Report, the Audited Accounts, and present the next year’s budget and activity plan for the approval of the BoM. The Director shall be responsible for the functioning of the Centre and its academic and extra-curricular activities including coordination of courses, fellowships and public relations.

4.  Contribution of National College

 In conformity with the SAF Governing Council resolution adopted in 2002 at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, SAF shall not fund any project without at least a matching contribution in cash or kind against SAF’s financial assistance.

Accordingly, the expenditure of the Lecturers, Professors, Director and their other benefits will be the responsibility of the National College.

5.  Financial Contribution of SAF

SAF undertakes to contribute US Dollars Five Hundred Thousand (US $ 5,00,000/-) towards the establishment and operation of the Centre spread over a period of five years. The first instalment of the aforesaid contribution will not be less than US $ Dollars One Hundred Thousand (US $ 100,000). It will be paid by SAF into the SAF-Nepal bank account. Fellowships, tenure jobs and all expenditure of recurring and non-recurring nature shall be met either by the US dollars five hundred thousand allocated by SAF over the five year period or from other sources identified by UMCDSRC.

6.  Personal Contribution of SAF Founder

The UMCDSRC shall construct a building for itself for which SAF Founder Ambassador Madanjeet Singh shall contribute an amount of US $ Dollars Five Hundred Thousand (US $ 500,000/-) from his personal account.

7.  UMCDSRC’s Contribution

To match with the SAF’s contribution and in conformity of SAF Governing Council Resolution of 2002, the UMCDSRC’s contribution shall be:

  i)  Space for construction of Centre's building;

  ii)  50 percent of the cost of construction of the building of the Centre

  iii)  Access to Internet, library, online journals, media resources, etc.

  iv)  Any other logistic support needed from time to time for any activities to be carried out in furtherance of the objectives of the Centre;

8.  SAF Regulations

Before receiving due payments of subsequent instalment of funds, UMCDSRC shall submit an annual audit report and a progress report of the Centre to the SAF trustees. It is stipulated that SAF shall discontinue funding in case of the Centre fails to fully comply with SAF’s cardinal objective of promoting and teaching regional cooperation as specified clearly in this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

9.  Operationalization of the MoU

The MOU shall become effective on the date upon which the parties append their signatures to it. It shall be the responsibility of the UMCDSRC to seek the approval of the authorities to observe relevant Nepali laws and its conformation that it has obtained all the requisite necessary approvals.

10.  Variations in terms of MOU

The terms of the MOU may be modified in writing as and when required with the mutual consent of SAF and the ‘parties’.

11.  Early Termination of the MOU

Either party to the MoU shall be entitled to terminate this MOU by providing the other party with three months advance notice. The termination of this MOU, for whatever reasons will not affect the rights of a party which may have accrued as at the date of termination and will also not affect any rights which specifically or by their nature survive the termination of this MOU.

12.  Other Salient Points for the Operationalization of the MoU

1. As regional cooperation is the main objective of South Asia Foundation, the SAF institutions of excellence shall annually offer at least 8 fully-paid SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships to study Bachelor in Development Studies and Regional Cooperation at National College, Kathmandu University. A separate guideline will be framed between UMCDSRC and National College.
2. At least 70 percent of the funds provided by SAF annually shall be spent on group scholarships and 30 percent on scholarship-related expenditure, comprising items such as purchase of books, inviting short-term teachers and instructors from other SAARC countries, temporary staff for projects such as workshops, research, college fees (including University fees), field studies, research work, stationery costs etc.
3. Subject to the availability of funds, SAF institutions of excellence shall increase the number of scholarships, based on gender equality.
4. Any unspent amount of annual SAF grant shall be carried over to cover the cost of SAF Group Scholarships during the subsequent year.
5. In conformity with the resolution adopted in 2002 by SAF Governing Council, the institutions are obliged to contribute at least half the funds, in cash or kind, provided by SAF.
6. No SAF funds shall be spent on construction of buildings, repairs, maintenance and related infrastructures.
7. SAF annual instalments for the subsequent year shall be paid to the institutions on receipt of an authorized auditor’s reports, listing the names of students and itemized details of the expenditure incurred on each scholarship-related costs.
8. The annual reports by SAF institutions of excellence shall be sent to SAF-India chapter, New Delhi, to be rechecked before they are forwarded to the SAF Trustees for subsequent payments.

 In agreement of the above objectives and terms and conditions, this MOU is hereby signed by the parties on this 11 day of May 2012.

Appendix attached to the MOUs of all

SAF Institutions of Excellence.

1.  As regional cooperation is the main objective of South Asia Foundation, the SAF institutions of excellence shall annually offer at least 8 fully-paid SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships.
   
   
2. At least 70 percent of the funds provided by SAF annually shall be spent on group scholarships and 30 percent on scholarship-related expenditure, comprising items such as the purchase of books, inviting short-term teachers and instructors from other SAARC countries, temporary staff for projects such as workshops, research etc.
   
   
3. Subject to the availability of funds, SAF institutions of excellence shall increase the number of scholarships, based on gender equality.
   
   
4.   Any unspent amount of annual SAF grant shall be carried over to cover the cost of SAF Group Scholarships during the subsequent year.
   
   
5. In conformity with the resolution adopted in 2002 by SAF Governing Council, the institutions are obliged to contribute at least half the funds, in cash or kind, provided by SAF.
   
   
6. No SAF funds shall be spent on construction of buildings, repairs, maintenance and related infrastructures.
   
   
7. SAF annual installments for the subsequent year shall be paid to the institutions on receipt of an authorized auditor’s reports, listing the names of students and itemized details of the expenditure incurred on each scholarship-related costs.
   
   
8. The annual reports by SAF institutions of excellence shall be sent to SAF-India chapter, New Delhi, to be rechecked before they are forwarded to the SAF Trustees for subsequent payments.

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