ASEAN – USAID Partnership for Regional Optimization Within the Political-Security and Socio-Cultural Communities (PROSPECT) Weekly Report

The partnership aims to enhance regional cooperation and capacity building in areas such as non-traditional security, responsive and transparent governance, and human rights. In the week of February 22nd to 28th, 2021, PROSPECT continued to support ASEAN's efforts to improve cross-sectoral coordination on the implementation of the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP). A Regional CTIP Partners Coordination Meeting was planned for March 29th, which would provide an opportunity for ASEAN CTIP partners to reconnect and share updates on respective projects and activities. PROSPECT also facilitated a Training of Trainers (ToT) program on media literacy to address the problem of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation in social media. The program aimed to develop guidelines and a ToT program to introduce and frame the initiative. Additionally, PROSPECT participated in a webinar on the risks of zoonotic diseases transmission from illegal wildlife trade, which focused on raising awareness on the risks of zoonotic diseases transmission from the illegal wildlife trade to help senior officials formulate policy recommendations for reducing the risks that may contribute to future pandemics. In the week of March 1st to 7th, 2021, PROSPECT continued to support ASEAN's efforts to counter violent extremism. The Media Specialist met with ASEAN officials to inform the development of draft guidelines to introduce and frame the ToT program. PROSPECT also participated in a joint workshop on the Monitoring Framework of ASEAN Roadmap on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2025, which sought to consult AMS representatives on a proposed monitoring framework, indicators, and reporting mechanisms under the renewed ASEAN Roadmap adopted in late 2020. PROSPECT's workstream on human rights and opportunity for marginalized and vulnerable groups focused on engaging youth to contribute to ASEAN processes and strengthening shared ASEAN identity. The ASEAN Youth Social Journalism (AYSJ) program received over 320 applications from nine ASEAN Member States, and the Technical Evaluation Committee was developing the judging criteria for the shortlisting process. PROSPECT also continued to work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat's Poverty Eradication and Gender Division (PEGD) to develop a strategy for gender mainstreaming across the three ASEAN Communities. The partnership's monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities focused on tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement. PROSPECT's operations and deliverables included coordinating meetings and events, such as the Partnership Dialogue on Regional Trends between the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN ISIS Network, and the Regional CTIP Practitioners Meeting. The activity planner outlined upcoming events and meetings, including the launch of the Regional WPS Study on March 8th, 2021. Overall, PROSPECT continued to support ASEAN's efforts to enhance regional cooperation and capacity building in areas such as non-traditional security, responsive and transparent governance, and human rights. The partnership's activities aimed to promote regional stability, security, and prosperity, and to address emerging challenges and opportunities in the region.