On 22-23 August 2017, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Anti-Corruption for Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Asia-Pacific 2016-2020 (ACPIS) Project gathered in Manila, Philippines national country researchers, together with regional and global experts, to plan a new UNDP research report on the ‘Linkages between Corruption and Violent Extremism in the Asia-Pacific Region’.
Ms Clare Duffield, Counsellor, Australian Embassy in the Philippines, Mr Ola Almgren, UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines, and Mr Phil Matsheza, Team Leader of the Governance and Peacebuilding Unit in UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub opened the workshop and welcomed participants. The activity is supported by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ms Duffield discussed the ‘dual scourge’ of corruption and violent extremism harming national and local stability and prosperity. Mr Almgren noted the importance of involving youth and women to increase the effectiveness of fighting corruption and preventing violent extremism. Mr Matsheza highlighted the strong demand that now exists for generating evidence of the linkages between corruption and violent extremism.
The national researchers from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan Philippines and Thailand will start their country studies after the workshop. UNDP aims to launch the new report to mark International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December 2017.
For further information on the research report, please email: acpis@undp.org.