In May 2021, a consultation meeting was held between the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) and members of the Policy Forum on Development (PFD). During the meeting, a series of recommendations was provided by PFD to DG INTPA concerning the Asia-Pacific Regional Multiannual Indicative Programme (“Asia-Pacific regional programme”, “regional programme”, or RMIP).
The regional programme establishes a set of strategic priorities to be pursued during the financial period of 7 years. It operates its own regional budget for the Asia-Pacific region, complementing the EU’s thematic and bilateral programmes covering partner countries in the region. A few months after the meeting with PFD, in November 2021, the Commission adopted the current Asia-Pacific regional programme 2021-2027, funded by the EU’s Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-GE).
DG INTPA and PFD organised a (virtual) consultation on the Asia-Pacific regional programme on 6 March 2023, which offered a platform for further discussions on the policy priorities pursued by the RMIP and the ways to engage civil society, local authorities and other social partners in their implementation. ICA-AP Regional Office participated in this CSO-LA Online Consultation on the RMIP for Asia and the Pacific (2021-2027).
The meeting discussed key priorities in the development of the water–energy nexus in the region and how CSOs could be better involved in the decision and implementation process. Participants shared their views on the needs and priorities in the area of green/sustainable urban development in the region. The discussion also included how the EU can best support CSOs operating in shrinking spaces regarding areas and topics to work on, who face increasing barriers to collaborating with INGOs and other actors. Addressing the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change on human mobility was also mentioned to be a priority under the RMIP.
ICA-AP staff actively participated in the discussions and highlighted that the office has been working closely with various structures under SAARC and ASEAN to give broader recognition to cooperatives in their policies. A dedicated roadmap for the promotion of cooperatives is a key priority area for more inclusive multilateralism. ICA-AP brings rich experiences from the grassroots as well as international forums to strengthen the capacity and engagement of coops, in partnership with local authorities, to mitigate climate-related risks and build resilience. This can be done by investing in green livelihoods, while fostering self-employment and promoting the dignity of labor, particularly of women, youth and the most vulnerable and marginalized sections of society.
