Concept Note and Terms of Reference
for the Network of ASEAN Associations of ASEAN Member States

1. Background and Rationale

1.1 To promote ASEAN awareness and a sense of belonging to the ASEAN Community, ASEAN Leaders welcomed Thailand’s initiative in establishing the ASEAN Association of Thailand, as reflected in paragraph 40 of the Chairman’s Statement of the 14th ASEAN Summit in Cha-am in 2009.

1.2 Since then, several ASEAN associations or similar entities have been established in ASEAN Member States (See Attachment). Such organisations or arrangements in the various ASEAN Member States serve as an additional track for dialogue and activities that promote awareness of ASEAN. These organisations and arrangments supplement the work of Track One which remains the primary track in promoting awareness about ASEAN, as well as work in collaboration with other stakeholders for the same goal.

1.3 During the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore on 27 April 2018, the Thai Foreign Minister proposed that ASEAN consider establishing such a Network in order to promote greater public awareness of ASEAN, nurture an ASEAN identity, as well as strengthen and broaden grass-roots support for the ASEAN Community within ASEAN Member States.

1.4 Therefore, with a view to synergising efforts of existing and future ASEAN Associations in ASEAN Member States in promoting ASEAN awareness and a sense of belonging to the ASEAN Community amongst the peoples of ASEAN Member States, Thailand proposes that a Network of ASEAN Associations of ASEAN Member States be established.

2. Objectives of the Network

2.1 To serve as a collaborative platform where ASEAN Associations in ASEAN Member States would share best practices and work together towards the common goal of promoting ASEAN awareness, a sense of belonging to the ASEAN Community and an ASEAN identity within individual ASEAN Member States, complementing ongoing national efforts undertaken by the respective ASEAN National Secretariats which remain a primary vehicle in attaining these goals. It is envisaged that the ASEAN Associations or similar entities designated by the respective governments would also work in partnership with the respective National Secretariats and other stakeholders as appropriate in pursuing these goals at the national level

2.2 To promote regional projects or initiatives that would promote greater awareness of ASEAN, a sense of belonging to the ASEAN Community and an ASEAN identity at the regional level, complementing the regional efforts undertaken and relevant activities organized by the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Foundation. It is envisaged that the ASEAN Associations or similar entities would work in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Foundation to attain these goals at the regional level.

2.3 To encourage greater participation of people in all sectors of society in the overall ASEAN Community-building process in partnership with relevant organisations and stakeholders.

3. Key Elements

3.1 Status
The Network is not envisaged to be an Annex One body under the ASEAN Charter.

3.2 Composition
The Network comprises 10 ASEAN Associations or similar entities designated by the Governments of the ASEAN Member States respectively, the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Foundation. There is no single prescriptive formula for the form or modality of an ASEAN Association or similar entity within each ASEAN Member State. In view of the diversity within ASEAN, each ASEAN Member State has the discretion regarding the form and modality of its particular Association or similar entity. The practical relationship between an ASEAN Association in an ASEAN Member State and its Government, including through the ASEAN National Secretariat, would depend on each ASEAN Member State. What is important is that the ASEAN Association or similar entity needs to be recognised by the Government of the respective ASEAN Member State.
Nationally, the relationship between the ASEAN Association in a particular country and other national platforms that deal with promoting ASEAN awareness in that country would be up to each ASEAN Member State. ASEAN Associations within each country are encouraged to network internally with various national platforms that share similar goals.
Regionally, for the purposes of the proposed Network, only one ASEAN Association or similar entity designated by the Governments of the ASEAN Member States would officially be nominated and represent each ASEAN Member State. This does not, however, preclude the Network from convening joint meetings and activities with other regional platforms that deal with ASEAN matters such as ASEAN-ISIS, ASEAN University Network (AUN) or other regional stakeholders.

3.3 Chairmanship of the Network
The Chairmanship of the Network will rotate alphabetically on an annual basis and the ASEAN Member State which assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship would also be the Chair of the Network.

3.4 Secretariat Support
In order to help kick-start the work of the Network envisaged to be established in 2019, Thailand offers to serve as the Secretariat of the Network in 2019, with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat. In this connection, the ASEAN Association of Thailand would undertake this function, in cooperation with ASEAN-Thailand. In subsequent years, the ASEAN Secretariat can assist the country chairing the Network in providing secretariat support to the Network.

4. Annual Meeting of the Network

4.1 It is envisaged that the members of the Network would meet once a year, unless mutually agreed to otherwise. This annual meeting would be the primary working modality of the Network. During the year, the Network can continue its coordination inter-sessionally through various forms of communication.

4.2 The annual meeting of the Network will be chaired by the Chair of the Network, with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat. The Chair of the Network will also be the host of its annual meeting and coordinate efforts as necessary during the inter-sessional period. Thailand will host the first annual meeting of the Network of ASEAN Associations in Thailand during its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019.

4.3 At the annual meeting, representatives of ASEAN Associations of ASEAN Member States are expected to share best practices regarding national efforts as well as ideas for possible joint activities at the regional level that they could conduct together in the following year(s).

4.4 Decisions of the Network shall be reached on a consensus basis. The rules of procedure of the Network will be developed by the Network based on consensus.

5. Funding

5.1 The costs of setting up such an Association in an ASEAN Member State will be borne by that Member State. Additional funding modalities may be explored at a later stage.

5.2 The costs of preparing the annual meetings of the Network will generally be borne by the host country or the host ASEAN Association of the Network. For the inaugural meeting of the Network in 2019, the ASEAN Association of Thailand will be the host, working in partnership with ASEAN-Thailand.

5.3 The costs of participation (such as travel costs, per diem, accommodation, etc.) by the members of the Network, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the ASEAN Foundation in the annual meetings of the Network will be borne by the respective Member States or the participating ASEAN Associations of the Network, the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Foundation, respectively. Additional funding modalities may be explored at a later stage.

5.4 The modalities for funding for programmes, activities, or projects co-organized by ASEAN Associations of ASEAN Member States in the future will be decided by the Network, but will be primarily based on voluntary funding. ASEAN’s external partners may also be approached for additional funding and support.

6. Reporting Mechanism

The annual report of the Network of ASEAN Associations of ASEAN Members States would be submitted to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, who may then circulate it to relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies as appropriate, in view of the cross-cutting nature of the Network’s activities. At the same time, the Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation would bring the annual report to the attention of the Board of Trustees of the ASEAN Foundation in order to promote close coordination of efforts. If needed, the ASEAN Chair may update developments regarding the Network to the Joint Consultative Meeting (JCM).

7. Suggested Steps

SOM in March 2019	Exchange of views on a revised Concept Note and TOR.
Inter-sessional Period	Fine-tune the revised Concept Note and TOR.
SOM/JCM in May 2019	Finalise and endorse the Concept Note and TOR at SOM and to be noted at JCM.
ACC and 34th ASEAN Summit in June 2019	Adopt the Concept Note and TOR at the ACC, to be noted at the 34th ASEAN Summit.
Inter-sessional Period	ASEAN Member States to finalise internal efforts to establish ASEAN Associations or similar entities. Note Throughout the year, the ASEAN Association of Thailand stands ready to visit interested ASEAN Member States to share experience in establishing ASEAN Associations.
35th ASEAN Summit in November 2019	Launch of the Network
November-December 2019	Convene an inaugural meeting of the Network in Thailand.

 

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Indicative List of ASEAN Associations

ASEAN Member State	Name of ASEAN Association	Contact
Malaysia	ASEAN Circle	Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia ISIS Tel: +60-3 2693 9366 ISIS Fax: +60-3 2691 5435, +60-3 2691 3210 Contact person: Ms. Dwintha Maya Kartika, Analyst (at ISIS) Email: [email protected]
The Philippines	ASEAN Society Philippines	Focal: Ambassador Delia Domingo-Albert Email: [email protected] Fax: 8181377 / 8190872
Thailand	ASEAN Association of Thailand	Address: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Government Complex Commemorating His Majesty, Building B, 8th Floor, Chaengwattana Road, Thung Song Hong Sub-district, Lak Si District, Bangkok 10210 Thailand Tel: +66-2-203-5000 Ext. 44202-44204 Fax: +66-2-143-9324 – 31 Ext. 44200 Email: [email protected] President: Dr. Chitriya Pinthong, Vice President for International Affairs, Rangsit University
Viet Nam	The Viet Nam-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation Association	Address: 105A Quan Thanh Street, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam Tel: +84-24-38232012 Fax: +84-24-37338214 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Chairman: Mr. Le Cong Phung, former Executive Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

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Concept Note and Terms of Reference for the Network of ASEAN Associations of ASEAN Member States