JAKARTA, 31 October 2023 – The 1st Online Forum of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Research and Development Platform for Poverty Action shed light on the critical need to address the multidimensionality of poverty in realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Themed “ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Challenges in Poverty Alleviation,” the forum brought together experts and practitioners to discuss the interplay of poverty with other issues such as ageing, gender, public health, and climate change.
Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Ekkaphab Phanthavong reaffirmed in his opening address ASEAN’s unwavering commitment to leading regional poverty alleviation efforts.
All speakers and resource persons in their respective statements and presentations, stressed on the need to break down existing silos in poverty eradication efforts. Dr. Shofwan Al Banna Choiruzzad mentioned that becoming a truly people-centred community would require a nimble ASEAN capable of addressing complex challenges facing its people.
He highlighted some of ASEAN’s initiatives in its journey towards mitigating and eliminating poverty and shared that during the 2nd ASEAN Ministerial Dialogue on Accelerating Actions to Achieve the SDGs, the national planning agencies of the AMS agreed to accelerate actions to address the negative impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic, climate change, as well as other mega trends on attainment of the SDGs including Goal 1 on poverty.
Fu Fengshan, Deputy Chief and Minister Counsellor, of the China Mission to ASEAN, underscored the role of international collaboration in addressing poverty eradication, by highlighting ASEAN-China cooperation and affirmed its commitment to mobilise intellectual capabilities within the region to support poverty eradication efforts.
Dr. Jayant Menon from the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, assessed the current state of poverty in ASEAN and suggested a coordinated approach on poverty alleviation efforts, while Sugito, Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia, echoed the importance of integrating rural development with global and regional initiatives.
Highlighting the ASEAN Village Network, an initiative spearheaded by Indonesia as Chair of ASEAN for 2023, he stressed that poverty eradication is not only about meeting targets but making lasting impact.
Dr. Angelique Chan from Duke-NUS Medical School highlighted the interconnections between ageing and poverty and stressed that gender differences should be taken into consideration to develop well-targeted policies for effective elderly care.
Meanwhile, Ryce Chanchai, UN Women Indonesia, emphasised the need for equitable access to social protection schemes, especially in light of the pandemic, which exacerbated gender equality in the region.
Dr. Helena Varkkey from Universiti Malaya presented her insights on the poverty-environment nexus highlighting how climate change and environmental degradation had disproportionately affected marginalised communities in the region. Her research findings highlighted varying experiences associated with the impacts of climate change by gender.
This online forum is part of the ASCC Research and Development Platform initiative of the ASEAN Secretariat, with the support from the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF) and the advisory team from The Habibie Center.
