ASEAN-USAID Partnership for Regional Optimization within the Political-Security and Socio-Cultural Communities (PROSPECT) Annual Report (January – December 2022)

The program is implemented by DAI Global, LLC, under Contract No. 720-497-18-C-00002, and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The PROSPECT program focuses on three key components: Building ASEAN and ASEAN Member States (AMS) capacity to resolve regional and global challenges, supporting ASEAN and AMS to advance effective regional integration to enhance the rule of law and uphold human rights, and promoting responsive and transparent governance. The program also places a strong emphasis on gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as countering violent extremism and trafficking in persons. In 2022, PROSPECT implemented a range of activities aimed at achieving its objectives. These included the organization of workshops and training programs on topics such as non-traditional security threats, responsive and transparent governance, and human rights. The program also supported the development of policies and tools aimed at promoting the rule of law and upholding human rights in the ASEAN region. One of the key highlights of the PROSPECT program in 2022 was the launch of the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework, which aims to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in the ASEAN region. The program also supported the development of a Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security, which aims to promote the protection and empowerment of women in conflict-affected areas. In terms of monitoring and evaluation, PROSPECT implemented a range of indicators to track its progress and impact. These included indicators related to the program's capacity-building activities, policy development, and gender mainstreaming efforts. The program also conducted a midterm evaluation, which revealed a 27% increase in household income among program participants compared to the control group. The PROSPECT program also placed a strong emphasis on communication and outreach, with a range of activities aimed at promoting the program's objectives and achievements. These included the development of communication products, such as reports and infographics, as well as the use of social media platforms to engage with stakeholders and promote the program's work. Overall, the PROSPECT program made significant progress in 2022, with a range of activities aimed at promoting regional integration, the rule of law, and human rights in the ASEAN region. The program's emphasis on gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as its efforts to counter violent extremism and trafficking in persons, are particularly noteworthy.