Directory of Economic, Commodity and Development Organizations - table of contents

THE COLOMBO PLAN FOR CO-OPERATIVE ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC



HEADQUARTERS



The Colombo Plan Secretariat                           Postal Add:   P.O. Box 596
13th Floor, Bank of Ceylon Merchant Tower              Telephone:    [94](1)56-4448
28 St. Michael's Road                                                [94](1)38-1831
Colombo 3                                                            [94](1)38-1832
Sri Lanka                                              Facsimile:    [94](1)56-4531
                                                       E-Mail:       info@colombo-plan.org
                                                       




LANGUAGES:  English


ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONS



The Colombo Plan for Co-operative Economic and Social Development in Asia and the Pacific was established on July 1, 1951. It is a regional inter-governmental organization aimed at assisting the countries of the region in their economic and social development. As its motto "Planning Prosperity Together" suggests, the Colombo Plan is a partnership concept of self-help and mutual-help in development.

Human resources development and the creation of skilled manpower have received very close attention under the technical cooperation programs of the Colombo Plan. New forces in international development, such as opportunities for growth in the "knowledge-based economy" connected with information and communication technology such as e-commerce and e-services, globalization and market integration are being given due consideration in the current programs of the Colombo Plan.

All member countries contribute equally towards the administrative costs of the Colombo Plan. However, the training programs of the Colombo Plan are funded by voluntary contributions from member countries, non-member countries, international/regional organizations and donor agencies.

Important programs conducted by the Colombo Plan are:

1. Program for Public Administration (PPA)

2. Program for Private Sector Development (PPSD)

3. Drug Advisory Program (DAP)


1.	Program for Public Administration (PPA)

    The Program for Public Administration, launched in 1995 with the support of the government of Japan, has the objective of assisting the Developing Member Countries (DMCs) of the Colombo Plan in creating a transformation in their public administration systems to be effective in guiding and facilitating the development of an efficient market-led economy as well as regulating it to ensure its social responsiveness. Thus the focus of the PPA is on enhancing the quality of development management of the DMCs.		

    To achieve this objective PPA focuses on issues such as information technology and e-governance, poverty alleviation, development of capital markets, sustainable social development, urban governance and environment concerns in development of upper and middle level managers of public sector from DMCs countries.

    PPA has established links with partner institutions in member countries mainly in India, Malaysia and Singapore and regional organizations such as UN ESCAP, in order to prepare dedicated short-term joint training exercises on selected current issues targeted at specially constituted groups of participants from DMCs. These programs are on a cost-sharing basis with member countries emphasizing on development experience sharing.

    The Program's sub-project - the Colombo Plan Africa Initiative - also funded by the government of Japan, with similar objectives, was started in 2000. However, due to financial constraints, no programs could be mounted in the year 2002/2003. The PPA, nevertheless, is in the process of exploring possibilities and opportunities in promoting Asia-Africa cooperation.



2.	Program for Private Sector Development (PPSD)

    With the emergence of private sector as the major force for economic growth, and with the freeing  of trade from restrictive controls and regulations under the global liberation concept, a push for less government has also meant more responsibility to the private sector. It was in this context that the Program for Private Sector Development (PPSD) was created to supplement the activities of private sector development, especially in small and medium enterprises at regional level.

    PPSD programs are geared for skill development in management and enterprises with special emphasis in promoting regional market and trade. The PPSD programs have received regional and global financial and technical support from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), OPEC Fund for International Development and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). They are partially supported by member countries by providing host facilities and experts for implementing programs. Ongoing projects under PPSD offers training to participants from least developed and developing countries and covers the following areas:

      

    • Small and Medium Enterprises Capacity Building: This activity covers several important areas such as strategic support services for SMEs, venture management, SMEs competitiveness, innovation and globalization issues;

    • E-Commerce Capacity Building:  PPSD offers training on e-commerce technology, implementation and its impact on business promotion, banking, venture management and digital governance;

    • Water Resource Development:  This activity is focusing on irrigation and water management development to improve food livelihood security in developing countries;

    • Establishment of a Regional e-Service Network.
    

    PPSD is undertaking the establishment of a regional e-service network for promoting business and SMEs in the region. This project is partially funded by NORAD and the OPEC Fund.



3.	Drug Advisory Program (DAP)

    The DAP during its 30 year existence, has been the most cost effective program which has served member as well as non-member countries in the region and has evolved as one of the main instruments of global and regional drug abuse prevention and control programs. It has developed a network of all member governments, and NGO apex bodies which are responsible for the development and implementation of drug demand and supply reduction policies and strategies in the respective countries to meet the needs of the member countries.

    The DAP has facilitated and supported global, regional and national programs and collaborated with international organizations in the impart of knowledge and expertise in the areas of drug demand reduction and control.

    Based on the effective programs and activities carried out by DAP and considering the needs of member countries, the DAP expects to initiate future strategies and programs in the following areas:

      

    • Training-of-trainers in drug demand reduction
      
(to create a pool of Asian trainers through sub-regional and in-country initiatives, i.e. ongoing programs Enhancing Life Skills in Drug Demand Reduction)

    • Global conference series on drug prevention and demand reduction
      
(to mobilize and strengthen the global coalition of NGOs and networking among GOs and NGOs, i.e. major partner in organizing the 5th Global Conference in Rom in September 2003)

    • Afghanistan and Central Asian initiatives
      
(as a major part of the DAP's regional demand reduction efforts, it is a paramount importance that attention be drawn to the development of programs to assist countries in the region to deal with the drug problem. The DAP intends to embark extensively in this region to assist faith-based organizations and the utilization of spirituality in reducing the demand for drugs, i.e. the DAP commenced a one year major Demand Reduction Program for Afghanistan covering six areas of action and the first ever initiative in the Central Asian countries involving faith-based organizations)

    • Support to NGO efforts
      
(to encourage and support NGO drug demand reduction efforts, specifically support to the 20th IFNGO Conference in Colombo in August 2003)

    • Short-term attachments to institutions of best practices in member countries
      
(to provide opportunities to gain firsthand knowledge and skills which are more culturally appropriate, save time and resources on research and avoid duplication of efforts, i.e. various forums/workshops and through publications)

    • Production of manuals, guidebooks and documentation
      
(to design and develop documentation and training materials based on regional experiences and expertise)


    

    COMPOSITION
    

    24 Permanent member countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United States

     2 Provisional member countries: Mongolia and Vietnam

    STRUCTURE
    

    The Consultative Committee is the principal policy-making, review and deliberative body of the Colombo Plan.  It consists of all member countries and meets every two years.  The Committee reviews the economic and social progress of members, exchanges views on technical cooperation programs and generally reviews the activities of the Colombo Plan.

    The Colombo Plan Council, which consists of all members, meets several times a year in Colombo.  The heads of member countries' diplomatic missions resident in Colombo represent their countries at Council sessions.  The Council's major functions include identification of important development issues in the region; recommendation of necessary measures to be taken by the Colombo Plan for consideration by the Consultative Committee; and ensuring implementation of the Consultative Committee's directives.

    The Colombo Plan Secretariat participates, in an advisory capacity, at Consultative Committee meetings and assists the Council in the discharge of its functions.  It also services committees of the Council and provides administrative support to the programs of the Colombo Plan.  The Secretary-General of the Colombo Plan gives guidance to the programs and is in overall charge of all financial and administrative matters on which he reports to the Council.

                                  Secretariat Staff
          Secretary-General:           ...     Kittipan KANJANAPIPATKUL (Thailand)
          Director, PPA:               ...     Tomikazu INAGAKI	(Japan)
          Director, DAP:               ...     TAY Bian How (Malaysia)
          Director, PPSD/P/DB:         ...     Muhammad MOLANEJAD (Iran)
          Executive Assistant to
            the Secretary-General:     ...     Ms. Yasmin RAHEEM (Sri Lanka)
          Secretary/Accountant:        ...     T.J. ARIFEEN (Sri Lanka)


    

    GENERAL PUBLICATIONS
    

    Consultative Committee Meeting - Proceedings and Conclusions (biennial); Report of the Colombo Plan Council (annual); The Colombo Plan Brochure (annual); The Colombo Plan Focus (quarterly newsletter); other ad hoc publications.


    UPDATED:  June 2003
    

    

    Directory of Economic, Commodity and Development Organizations - table of contents