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Christian Echle, Director, Regional Programme Political Dialogue Asia facilitating strategy discussion

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Hon. Ngim Nheng, Member of Parliament, Cambodia

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Hon. Chua Yee Ling, State Assemblywoman, Perak, Malaysia

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Hon. Naing Htoo Aumg, Member of Parliament, Myanmar

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Karen Villanueva, Former Mayor of Bais City, Philippines

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Astik Sinha, Head of Policy - Office of Hon. Anurag Singh Thakur, Member of Parliament, India

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Kim Khorn Long, Chief of Training and Education Department and Member of Steering Committee of CNRP

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14 KASYP-LC representative from 7 different Asian countries in South and South East Asia

It was concluded from an earlier meeting this year, where the KASYP Leaders Caucus was launched, that the significance in integrating the alumni activities within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is relevant and crucial. Especially in the areas of ensuring widespread participation; accountability in monitoring, design and implementation; and scrutiny of governance practices. Overcoming this gap would significantly bridge the policy gap between citizens and governments and as a result, a point of consideration for actors committing to this goal.

As such, 14 KASYP alumni representatives from batches one to six met in Bangkok to discuss the road map forward for the regional caucus. Christian Echle, director, Regional Programme Political Dialogue Asia opened the meeting highlighting the importance of developing young talents in politics, especially in Asia and discussing the good governance frameworks available within the SDG framework. KASYP-LC representatives from seven different Asian countries were then invited to present and share their country reports respectively. These presentations provided perspectives on the latest political trends and developments in adapting and implementing the SDGs in various contexts, along with highlights of certain best practices in policy and partnership aspects as well as impending challenges.

Roundtable discussions that ensued allowed for better understanding of these country experiences, especially in regards to operationalising the SDGs in regards to digital infrastructure for example, as the Indonesia case highlighted for SDG number 9 on "Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"; or the marketing successes of public campaigns towards normalising SDG number 3 on "Good health", in the case of curbing TB cases in India. Other presentations on SDG number 16 provided policy possibilities to support peace processes in prevailing conflict areas in Asia, highlighting the significance of on-going political dialogue and monitoring to build more secure societies.

The one and a half day meeting concluded with a strategy discussion on adapting the SDGs within the greater KASYP framework. Concrete outcomes of this meeting will shape the upcoming KASYP-LC meetings in 2018 and beyond. These meetings will be aimed at fostering greater regional coordination of policy developments and youth political participation in supporting SDG policy and social project interventions in respective countries in Asia.

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