Review of activities: Tasks which lie ahead in economic and social Technical cooperation programs:

The main tasks of the groups were: • to review economic and social progress within the Co- lombo Plan region since the Consultative Committee last met, taking note of the various factors which have HќLJ[LKWYVNYLZZ • to consider the tasks which lie ahead in economic and social development; the priorities; and the best use of available resources; • to exchange views on technical co-operation programs P[OH]PL[VHJOPL]PUNLѝJPLUJ`HUKLќLJ[P]LULZZ • to discuss a pre-selected special issue of general con- cern relating to development; • to review the activities of the Colombo Plan Coun- cil; the Colombo Plan Secretariat; the Drug Advisory Program; the Program for Public Administration and Environment Program; the Program for Private Sec- tor Development; the Long Term Scholarship Program HUK[OLVSVTIV7SHU:[HќVSSLNLMVY;LJOUPJPHU,K- ucation; and • to take decisions about the proceedings of the Con- sultative Committee itself. The Meeting noted the presentations from the three groups South AsiaSub-Region of South West Asia; South East Asia; HUKZPH7HJPÄJ;OLZLHYLOPNOSPNO[LKILSV South AsiaSub-Region of South West-Asia Group made pre- sentations in the following Programs and Activities: • Give continued importance to human resource de- velopment with a focus on Technical and Vocational Training and Education • Need to focus on training and capacity development WYVNYHTZ[VNL[ILULÄ[[LKMYVT[OL2UVSLKNL,JVU- omy. • Felt the need for longer-term Scholarship • ,UZ\YL LѝJPLUJ` HUK LќLJ[P]LULZZ L_WLY[Z ULLK [V be arranged and invited so that a large number of par- [PJPWHU[ZJHUILILULÄ[LKH[SVLYJVZ[ • Ongoing programs are highly relevant; however it needs to be prioritize among the priorities. Recommendations: All communication and correspondence from Secretariat should be channeled only through National Focal Point. It can be copied to other technical or functional focal points. Secretariat and Council to propose and the host country while ÄUHSPaPUN[OLHNLUKHMVY4ZOV\SKPUJS\KLHZLZZPVU[V\W- date and review on the decision taken in the last CCM and implementation status. CCM agenda also needs to be accompanied with proposals to be considered and decided by the CCM . Outgoing, Current, and next Chair should meet before the CCM. The Chair Country until it hands over the chairmanship to next country should spare some time to monitor the implementation of decisions made at the CCM and the implementation of same under the Colombo Plan Mechanism. South East Asia Group

A. Review of activities:

• 4LTILY JV\U[YPLZ HYL ZH[PZÄLK P[O +Y\N K]PZVY` Program initiatives and collaborations. • Member countries are encouraged to identify other do- nor agencies for Colombo Plan related programs such as long term scholarships, PPA, PPSD and Gender ќHPYZ • 5\TILY VM ZJOVSHYZOPWZ VќLYLK PZ KLJYLHZPUN OV- ever, continuity should be maintained. Colombo Plan should revitalize long term scholarship program to en- courage Member States’ participation and funding. • Colombo Plan should organize long term scholarship HS\TUP[VYHPZL[OLWYVÄSLVM[OLVSVTIV7SHU[VNLU- erate more support for the program. Recommendations: Colombo Plan must try to allocate funds properly as well as W\YZ\LTVYLM\UKPUN0UZ\ѝJPLU[I\KNL[PZHYLHZVUHќLJ[PUN the programs. Colombo Plan needs a proper mechanism to evaluate and pri- oritize the needs of its member countries. Colombo Plan should increase co-ordination and collaboration among other international organizations in the region such as :,5:9HUK7HJPÄJJV\U[YPLZ

B. Tasks which lie ahead in economic and social

development: Colombo Plan should promote South-South, triangular and multilateral co-operation in order to enhance the capacity building for economic and social development. Colombo Plan should optimize the use of expertise and good practices from each member country. Colombo Plan should come up with revised strategies and pri- VYP[PLZHUKZOV\SKHSZVJVUZPKLY[OLWYPVYP[PLZVM[OLILULÄJPHY` and donors as well.

C. Technical cooperation programs:

South-South co-operation should be one of the priorities of Colombo Plan. Needs assessment of the member countries is needed. NEWSLETTER I2014 18 The group has focused on following areas: development, gov- ernance, health services, poverty alleviation and peace build- ing. Colombo Plan Secretariat needs to explore collaboration for the scholarship and trainings with other countries and institu- tions. Colombo Plan needs to extend its collaboration with related stakeholders and related ministries in the member countries.

D. Concerns of any pre-selected issues: