1. Poverty Alleviation Initiatives in ASEAN
Prepared for the 2nd ASEAN Plus Three Seminar on Poverty Alleviation
Beijing, 25 September 2006

2. Background Prior to 1997: poverty alleviation work was ad-hoc
October 1997: Inaugural Meeting of ASEAN Ministers for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (AMRDPE) was held in Malaysia.
AMRDPE adopted a Framework Plan of Action on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (RDPE) and an ASEAN Action Plan on Social Safety Nets (SSN)

3. Regional Mandates Bali Concord I (1976)
“the elimination of poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy is a primary concern of member states.”
ASEAN 2020 (1997)
“We envision a socially cohesive and caring ASEAN where hunger, malnutrition, deprivation and poverty are no longer basic problems…”
“We commit ourselves to moving towards closer cohesion and economic integration, narrowing the gap in level of development among member countries…”
Bali Concord II (2003)
“…foster cooperation in social development aimed at raising the standard of living of disadvantaged groups and the rural population....”
“The development and enhancement of human resources is a key strategy for employment generation, alleviating poverty and socio-economic disparities, and ensuring economic growth with equity”

4. Activities with Partners
With UNDP
Training of facilitators on rural development (2001)
Building/Enhancing capacity for research, assessment and monitoring of poverty (2001)
Regional Workshop on ASEAN Cooperation in Poverty Reduction and the MGDs (2005)
With AusAID
ASEAN-Australia Social Safety Nets project convened four policy workshops ( ) to address targeting and rapid assessment mechanisms; the delivery of social services, the role of national and local governments; and partnerships in social policy.

5. Activities with Partners
With the World Bank
“Mainstreaming Social Development in the National Development Agenda”
Video conferences on sustainable rural development, and on targeted social protection (2001)
ASEAN-WB joint activity on Local Participation in Rural Poverty Reduction ( )
ASEAN-WB Tokyo Development Learning Centre Initiative on Learning Programmes on Rural Poverty and Deevlopment (2005 to date – ongoing)

6. Activities with Partners (3)
With the EU
Regional Workshop on Strengthening Social Protection Systems in ASEAN (2006)
With Japan
Regional Workshop on Poverty Eradication – One Tambon One Product (2005)

7. Next Steps
A new Plan of Action for Rural Development and Poverty Reduction ( ) was adopted by the 4th AMRDPE in October 2004.

8. ASEAN goals for poverty
In concert with the UN Millennium Development Goals, new Plan addresses:
Globalisation
Narrowing the Digital Divide
Social Protection
Employment and Income Generation
Partnerships, Decentralisation and Local Participation
Narrowing the Development Gap
Rural Volunteer Movements
Public Information

9. ASEAN goals for poverty
Emphasis on
capacity-building
enhanced information- and knowledge-sharing for inclusion
Recognition of the role of local communities and civil society in any initiative for rural poverty reduction.

10. Links with Civil Society Organisations
Affiliate Status of ASIAN Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Asia

11. More information at www.aseansec.org
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