EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

ASEAN’s impressive progress in promoting regional economic integration has raised questions about the extent to which its benefits have trickled down towards addressing the multidimensional nature of poverty. This trend report highlighted how regional integration has facilitated efforts in addressing poverty eradication and enhancing inclusion, particularly by addressing energy poverty and food insecurity. Regional economic integration has been argued to promote interconnectedness and cooperation which are constructive towards efforts in achieving shared prosperity within the region. While various monetary measurements have shown the meaningful progress ASEAN has achieved in eradicating extreme poverty, such measurements might overlook the entirety of how poverty is experienced by the populations, such as energy poverty and food insecurity.

ASEAN’s energy cooperation has demonstrated its firm commitment to pursue enhanced connectivity between the region’s energy infrastructure, particularly in ensuring accessibility to sustainable energy supplies. Promoting inclusive approaches by accounting for how energy poverty is experienced at the household level may prompt more initiatives in promoting the affordability of sustainable energy sources. ASEAN cooperation in food security has evolved and demonstrated apt responses to past crises. This is largely enabled by enhanced efforts in promoting enlarged cooperation with partners across East Asia. Yet, a more nuanced approach to accessibility to food should warrant a closer look into how undernourishment is accounted for in cooperation within ASEAN.