Learning with Partners CSO 3: Voice and Inclusion: Building Agency and Opportunity for Marginalized People
by Plan International, APCOM Foundation, and International Trade Union Confederation – Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP).
The session showcased Plan International’s community-level programming experiences in Indonesia and the Philippines. Yayasan Plan International Indonesia shared examples of how to create an enabling environment for the voices of young people, especially young women, to be heard in urban planning processes, thus influencing and improving inclusive governance outcomes. Plan International Philippines spoke about how strengthening social mobilization, particularly of young people, can improve their communities and deepen democratic development. ITUC-AP spoke about a new social contract for quality jobs, social protection, social dialogue, just transition, equality, and inclusion, to support workers’ rights in Asia Pacific. They highlighted how young workers are often excluded from workers’ rights and social protection; the main pillars of decent work and just transition, and how this was exacerbated during COVID-19. The Youth Community Union in Korea shared their experiences on how to empower young workers by organizing trade unions to amplify their voices. APCOM Foundation discussed how vulnerable groups have been disproportionally affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including LGBTQI+ communities and people with disabilities. They proposed ideas on how ADB can collaborate with civil society that represents these groups, which is relevant as ADB reviews and updates its Safeguard Policy Statement.
ADB’s SDCC Director General Bruno Carrasco shared his reflections on CSOs’ presentations, stressing the value of listening to stakeholders’ perspectives. He emphasized ADB’s events with youth and LGBTQI+, such as Asia and the Pacific Youth Symposium and the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB). He also highlighted the bank’s safeguarding policy and recognized that while much is happening to promote social inclusion, more work is still needed. Overall, the session highlighted that as the region recovers from the impacts of COVID-19, ADB should include vulnerable populations in discussions and decision-making, to leverage their voices alongside upholding their rights. Voice and inclusion of marginalized groups must be front and center to meet the SDG’s objective of “leaving no one behind.”
CSO Panelists:
- Ivan Inciong, Project Manager–Urban Nexus Phase 2 In the Philippines, Plan International Philippines
- Seol Kim, President, Youth Community Union, Republic of Korea
- Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director, APCOM Foundation
- Francis Kim Upgi, Director, Economic and Social Policy, International Trade Union Confederation – Asia Pacific
- Maulinna Utaminingsih, Project Manager–Urban Nexus Project in Indonesia, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia
ADB Panelist: Bruno Carrasco, Director General and Concurrently Chief Compliance Officer, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department (SDCC)
Moderator: Anna Saxby, Executive, Humanitarian Advisory Group, Australia