Background

ADB's research network supports an important link for think tanks in South Asia, enabling knowledge gained from country-specific and regional settings to be spread widely. One example of such knowledge-sharing work is Regional Technical Assistance approved in 2007 (RETA) 6417: "Supporting Network of Research Institutes and Think Tanks in South Asia". The RETA facilitates dynamic interaction between academia and policy makers through studies, workshops, and the dissemination of information. Twelve (12) research papers were completed under the RETA and the results of these studies will be discussed during the Regional Conference in Male on 8 October 2011.

Objectives

This Conference aims to disseminate policy findings of research papers that were produced by two think tank networks, South Asia Center for Policy Studies (SACEPS), and South Asia Network of Economic Institutes (SANEI) under ADB's regional technical assistance on "Supporting Network of Research Institutes and Think Tanks in South Asia".

Target participants

Participation is by invitation only.

• former SAARC Secretary Generals
• heads of SAARC divisions of SAARC member states
• directors of SAARC secretariat
• selected representatives of the regional academia
• civil society
• experts on ASEAN and EU institutional mechanisms.