UNDP's MDG Favourite and a story about sandwiches

I think I am fast becoming the UNDP's MDG favourite! Was asked to talk this time at the launch of the "Gender Dimensions of the Millennium Development Goals in Sri Lanka" publication, researched and written by CENWOR (Centre for Women's Research). The other speakers were Anila Dias Bandaranaike and Pat Alailima. Unfortunately the only man invited to the head table to speak, Dr D S Jayaweera, Head of the National Council for Economic Development (NCED) was called away to attend to more important things, so there was a bunch of females talking to a largely female audience, who true to form raised some interesting questions - watch this space for what I said!

While you are waiting, did anyone tell you the story about the multilateral agency that has its senior officers checking the minutae details of consulting firms' expense claims to the level of asking the firm to explain why they served 30 sandwiches at a workshop where there were only seven participants? The firm's explanation is that over twenty participants were invited even if just seven turned up - a fact that should have gained the sympathy of the agency concerned because we are told that one of their own recent civil society consultations had a similar turn out, and there were much more than 23 sandwiches going waste in terms of lunch and refreshments.

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