With a population of over 650 million and an average GDP growth of 5%, Southeast Asia has become one of the most economically dynamic regions of the world. Over the past decade, it has drawn increasing attention from policymakers and investors alike. We asked several experts questions about donor collaborations in Southeast Asia. Check out their answers below.
In which key sectors should international donors collaborate in Southeast Asia and why?
“Southeast Asian countries have constantly scored high in both Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratings and in Human Development Indexes (HDI), with Singapore in the top bracket. The particular development focus in the region should be on education. While Southeast Asian countries have been improving their education curriculums and donors have assisted governments and civil society, there are more challenges to overcome. These include access to education facilities in rural areas, the inequities in teacher quality and opportunities in post-secondary employment.”
“There is no denying that many Southeast Asian countries have achieved remarkable development outcomes in terms of poverty reduction, WASH, basic income, and social welfare. The priorities, however, have shifted in the 21st century due to globalization, technology advancements, and governance issues. The region now faces a new set of challenges as well as expanding opportunities. Decades of resource exploitation and economic development at the expense of environment protection leave the countries suffering from environmental degradation and a reduction in the quality of life. Climate solutions (for example, renewable energy, organic farming, and environmentally-friendly products) have become inevitable aspects of the long-term development strategies of many Southeast Asian governments. On the other hand, while SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) are the backbone of the economy with more than 90% of these establishments forming the business sector, they face major challenges in accessing financial capital and in complying with international standards in global value chains.”
“In Southeast Asia, the problem of poverty and disparity remain the main concerns. There needs to be new breakthroughs in tackling these issues in the countries of Southeast Asia where there are many of the smallest government units still lead villages and can be the spearhead of the problems of the people there. The majority of people in Southeast Asia are fishermen and farmers living in the countryside who are affected by the problems of poverty and disparity. Transforming village communities to be more empowered and qualified to organize villages and communities can bring a domino effect to all communities in Southeast Asia.”
“In my opinion, there are at least two main sectors that international donors should collaborate on in Southeast Asia. First, the Environment and Forestry Sector – this sector is essential if we are to achieve real not fake global sustainable development. Second – Businesses and Human Rights sector. All business sectors should meet human rights standards. Southeast Asia, with over 650 million people, is prone to human rights violations in the business sector. That is why there should be a multi-stakeholder dialog established involving all levels of government and society.”
What are some of the opportunities for donor collaboration in Southeast Asia?
“There are various types of donors – bilateral donors, multilateral banks, regional development banks and new donors. These organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) donors and development banks have long partnered over development themes such as education and climate change. Yet, while bilateral donors often frame their projects as development-focused, their aid is disbursed to secure their own national interests. More recently, non-traditional donors like India and China have provided aid and technical assistance to Southeast Asian countries. Although China has provided development assistance, the majority of OECD donors have cast doubt on China’s development aid, citing it as corrupt and for China’s political means. Therefore, OECD donors and China may not easily collaborate over development projects in regions such as Southeast Asia.”
“Collaborating with international companies, especially for start-ups and social enterprises, can resolve those drawbacks while benefiting both sides, from an affordable highly-skilled workforce and large potential market sectors. Last but not least, many Western countries and advanced economies in Asia like China and Japan are already at the forefront of the data economy, namely big data, artificial intelligence, and robotics. If Southeast Asian countries are not prepared to participate in the race, they will eventually become products of the system and marginally unequally affected. In summary, in my opinion, climate-smart solutions, AI-driven technologies, and investment for start-ups and social enterprises are areas that are worth consideration by international donors and investors who are looking for golden opportunities in Southeast Asia.”
“Donors need to provide support to improve the quality of government in villages and village communities and economies in villages that can become global without eradicating the original rural culture. Opportunities to assist the village government and its community are still many and will therefore take a long time to achieve. The national government needs a smart strategy to empower these villages.”
Check out more than 380 job opportunities in Southeast Asia here.
