| SACEPS has been gradually enriching its work programme by developing a
strong constituency of the people committed to the cause of promoting
regional cooperation ever since its inception in 1998. Some of the
new/ongoing projects of SACEPS are as follows
Inception Workshop Supporting Network of Research Institutes and Think Tanks in South Asia phase II
(Reta 6417)
8-9 September 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
Poverty Eradication Project:
The project began in 2004 and five country studies are being carried out under the project, with each of the partner institutions focusing on specific areas of concern to their respective countries. The Bangladesh study explores the question of how to relocate assets with the poor and upscale their participation in the economy. The India study makes an assessment of district level poverty alleviation programs, with specific focus on empowerment of the poor through micro-enterprise development. The Nepal study also examines way of upscaling the participation of the poor in the economy and explores ways on redesigning budgetary policy to reach public resources to the poor. And the Sri Lanka study focuses on promoting empowerment through micro-finance programs, upgrading education opportunities and empowerment of the agrarian society through rationalizing land ownership and tenure.
Monitoring the implementation of the Citizen's Social Charter:
The project is being carried out in five countries vis-à-vis the targets set in the Charter for 2010 and 2020. The work will examine the common elements and monitor its implementation in the following sectors: eradication of poverty; empowerment of women and promotion of their well-being; the rights and well-being of children; the rights and well-being of youth; development and utilization of human resources; environmental degradation and ecological imbalances; protection of aged population; and social integration and good governance.
Deepening Integration:
The project follows the example set by the famous Cecchini Report on the European Union and will examine how economic integration can be deepened and broadened under the framework of the SAFTA agreement, signed by SAARC member states in January 2004. Issues such as further liberalization of trade and services, investments, trade facilitation, protection of intellectual property rights, transport and energy integration, and macroeconomic integration with single currency will be analyzed under a framework of ' Cost of Non-Cooperation in South Asia?.
Implementing the SAFTA treaty:
Meetings of experts and stake-holders on SAFTA is to be organized to see how the agreement can be made into a working document which will be have direct impact on the lives of people in the region. The meetings will consider how treaty obligations under the WTO and the existing bilateral free trade agreements might possible affect the implementation of the SAFTA agreements. It will also come up with specific suggestions on what kind of further work needs to be done by experts to help ease the transition to an effective free trade regime in South Asia.
South Asia Health Foundation (SAHF) Project:
The objective of SAHF is to develop a pilot project which citizen?s of South Asia can relate to directly as a visible benefit to regional cooperation. The SAHF project will explore ways of establishing high quality hospitals, together with satellite health clinics and outreach programs for preventive health care in selected backward regions in each of the countries of South Asia.
Wilton Park Conference on Regional Cooperation:
As a follow-up to the SACEPS-Wilton Park Conference held in October 11-12, 2004, SACEPS will hold another joint conference in 2007. Some of the issues that will be considered are: comparative analysis and strategies for collective action at regional level for poverty alleviation, transport integration, operationalizing SAFTA with deeper integration of South Asia economies and the discourse on the implication of the expansion in SAARC membership (Afghanistan) and the role of observers (China and Japan) in the forum.
Establishing a South Asia University:
In August 2005, the Board of Directors of SACEPS agreed to explore the possibility of establishing a South Asia University. The objective is to advance a sense of South Asian community by bringing together future generations of South Asians in a common pursuit of quality education, which would prepare them for the challenges of the new millennium. SACEPS will organize work with experts to develop a detailed road map, which will look into such issues as sustainability of funding and curriculum of the new University.
Annual Audit of SAARC's policy/programs:
SACEPS will review past commitments made by SAARC in its treaties and declarations and identify what has been achieved, what parts of the commitments are still pending, and the decisions that need to be taken to carry out these obligations. The audit in the form of annual report will be presented to member governments, civil society and the media at least two months prior to the SAARC Summit as an input of SACEPS to the SAARC process.
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