About AYLG

AYLG stands for “Asian Young Leaders in Governance”. It was a joint initiative project of four regional programmes under the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok (RCB) and the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo (RCC), as part of UNDP’s mandate to advocate for change and connect countries to global knowledge and experiences. These programmes are the Capacity2015 Asia Programme, Asia Regional Governance Programme (ARGP), Regional Indigenous Peoples’ Programme (RIPP), and the Asia Pacific Gender Mainstreaming Programme (APGMP).

It was starting in 2005 and 2006, the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok (RCB) and Regional Centre in Colombo (RCC) conducted one regional leadership course, a leadership training of trainers, and two sub-regional courses (one for Southeast and East Asia and one for South Asia), producing 131 graduates/fellows from 20 countries representing national government (including members of parliament and ministry officials), local government, non-governmental organizations, private organizations, UNDP staff, and regional/international organizations.

And with funding from the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), UNDP RCB/RCC have rolled-out leadership courses and pilots in the region at 2007 and 2008. The leadership courses and pilots built on the success of the previous events, expand the number of young leaders to be trained, continue to produce adapted modules for leadership development in the region, and demonstrate innovative leadership practices in the region. The leadership courses will have continued to feature modules pioneered and tested by LEAD International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, established in 1991 by The Rockefeller Foundation and represents a global network of individuals and non-government organizations committed to promoting change towards sustainable development. These modules have been adapted to Asian context and experiences, and feature Asian case studies and examples throughout the six-day course.

Little about undp

The UNDP was founded in 1965 to combine the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and the United Nations Special Fund. In 1971, the two organizations were fully combined into the UNDP.

UNDP’s offices and staff are on the ground in 166 countries, working with governments and local communities to help them find solutions to global and national development challenges.UNDP links and coordinates global and national efforts to achieve the goals and national development priorities laid out by host countries. UNDP focuses primarily on five developmental challenges:

1. Democratic governance. UNDP supports national democratic transitions by providing policy advice and technical support, improving institutional and individual capacity within countries, educating populations about and advocating for democratic reforms, promoting negotiation and dialogue, and sharing successful experiences from other countries and locations. UNDP also supports existing democratic institutions by increasing dialogue, enhancing national debate, and facilitating consensus on national governance programs.

2. Poverty reduction. UNDP helps countries develop strategies to combat poverty by expanding access to economic opportunities and resources, linking poverty programs with countries’ larger goals and policies, and ensuring a greater voice for the poor. UNDP also works at the macro level to reform trade, encourage debt relief and foreign investment, and ensure the poorest of the poor benefit from globalisation.
On the ground, UNDP sponsors developmental pilot projects, promotes the role of women in development, and coordinates efforts between governments, NGOs, and outside donors. In this way, UNDP works with local leaders and governments to provide opportunities for impoverished people to create businesses and improve their economic condition.

3. Crisis prevention and recovery. UNDP works to reduce the risk of armed conflicts or disasters, and promote early recovery after crises have occurred. UNDP works through its country offices to support local government in needs assessment, capacity development, coordinated planning, and policy and standard setting.
Examples of UNDP risk reduction programs include efforts to controlsmall arms proliferation, strategies to reduce the impact of natural disasters, and programs to encourage use of diplomacy and prevent violence.
Recovery programs include disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, demining efforts, programs to reintegrate displaced persons, restoration of basic services, and transitional justice systems for countries recovering from warfare.

4. Environment and Energy As the poor are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean, affordable energy services, UNDP seeks to address environmental issues in order to improve developing countries’ abilities to develop sustainably. UNDP works with countries to strengthen their capacity to address global environmental issues by providing innovative policy advice and linking partners through environmentally sensitive development projects that help poor people build sustainable livelihoods.

5. HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is a big issue in today's society and UNDP works to help counties prevent further spreading and reduce its impact.
UNDP’s environmental strategy focuses on effective water governance, access to sustainable energy services, Sustainable land management to combat desertification and land degradation, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and policies to control emissions of harmful pollutants and ozone-depleting substances.

Since1990, the UNDP has annually published the Human Development Report, based on the Human Development Index.