A delegation comprised of Dr. Hanifa D. Mezoui, Chief, Non-Governmental Organization Section, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/); Dr. Francois Loriot, Vice President of AIFOMD, and Center of Excellence for MDGs (Geneva) (http://www.aifomd.org); and Mr. Nico Barito, Senior Fellow, UNITAR, who is also a member of the Institute-level Advisory Board and the AIT Center in Indonesia Steering Committee, visited AIT on November 13th and discussed preparations for the auspicious two-day event planned for late March 2008.
The objective of the upcoming ASEAN Round Table is to generate substantive multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral discussions to improve the implementation on MDGs, in order to achieve and meet the 2015 targets, through education, training tools and materials.
According to the organizers, the 2008 Round Table is an attempt to involve ASEAN participants more actively in Millennium Development Goals’ education and training. The possibility of creating a Regional Center of Excellence on MDGs will be discussed at this Round Table, officials said. This will be a framework through which similar initiatives at the national and local levels could lead to creating centers of excellence in all parts of ASEAN.
The first day of the Round Table meeting in March 2008 will include four parallel workshops on specifically agreed upon MDGs (all of which are themes in line with AIT's mission), these include: eradication of extreme poverty, promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing a global partnership for development. AIT will work with experts from AIFOMD on the redesign and development of the syllabus, under the four themes. These training modules will be sent to UNITAR at a later stage for accreditation and validation.
The second and concluding day will include addresses and messages by the United Nations Secretary General, UNESCAP Executive Secretary, ASEAN Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General UNITAR, the President of SEAMEO among others, and a declaration and launching of the ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence for MDG Training to be hosted at AIT. AIT will actively engage a broad spectrum of academic institutions and partners in the region in promoting the MDGs under this initiative.
In a follow-up to her AIT visit, Dr. Mezoui also had discussions with Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, as well as with the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, Thailand; and Forum-Asia NGO Coalition, all of whom were very supportive of this initiative and will help in further promoting it through their own associations and networks.
The Institute is grateful to Dr. Mezoui and Mr. Nico for partnering AIT in this important regional endeavor. AIT has a proven capacity to link together a wide range of international partners, collaborating together in research, teaching and development activities, and can provide a unique platform for training, such as through the proposed ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence.