The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-U.S. Partnership for Good Governance, Equitable and Sustainable Development and Security is a five-year project (2013-2018) supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States Department of State to strengthen institutions and develop regional policies to advance ASEAN’s vision for political-security and social-cultural integration.

ASEAN seeks to promote equitable and sustainable human development in Southeast Asia through increasing good governance and regional security for its population of 600 million people.  The ASEAN Charter signed in 2008 is the guiding document to build an ASEAN Community that is peaceful, stable, and prosperous. Through technical staff at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, the project supports activities to strengthen ASEAN institutions in these three key areas:

PROMOTING POLITICAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION 

The project supports ASEAN’s ability to advance good governance and political stability.  For example, the project will help establish a judicial network to harmonize approaches on key issues in the rule of law in ASEAN. The project will also partner with the ASEAN Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children to conduct activities to promote and strengthen these protections across the region. 

TARGETING PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONNECTIVITY

The project works in partnership with ASEAN to promote equitable and sustainable human development throughout the region. This includes awarding up to eight annual science and technology fellowships to scientists from ASEAN countries to serve in their national ministries to strengthen science-based policymaking.  The project will also develop disaster management training curricula to foster increased collaboration and cooperation between the 10 national disaster management organizations in ASEAN. 

STRENGTHENING THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT

U.S. Government support focuses on enhancing the ASEAN Secretariat’s management capabilities for outreach, efficiency and productivity.  In particular, the project will strengthen institutional information technology systems and public outreach capacities of the ASEAN Secretariat.