Date and Venue: 7-10 March 2017, 22nd Floor, Lotus 1,2,3 and 4, Centara Grand Hotel (near Central World), Bangkok, Thailand
The objective: of the meeting is to identify how UNDP can strengthen its position as the partner of choice for achieving national
development goals and the SDGs in the new context where domestic financing has become the primary source of development
finance.
The expected outcomes of the meeting are:
 To reflect on future scenarios for the region and implications for UNDP
 To reaffirm our value proposition on helping countries in implementing their development plans and the SDGs;
 To agree on future strategies to diversify UNDP’s funding base and increase domestic co-financing (government and other
local sources) to a minimum of 15% in 2017.
Participation: UNDP Senior Managers, Resident Coordinators (RCs)/Resident Representatives (RRs), Country Directors (CDs), Deputy
Country Directors (DCDs) and Deputy Resident Representatives (DRRs), Central Bureaux of UNDP
7 March
Tuesday
Scenario Building – Priority factors for the future in Asia, RCs and CDs
13:30-17:00
Develop 3-4 scenarios for 2030 in Asia and the Pacific based on trend analysis and CO survey, with the
Economist Intelligence Unit (see Annex 1)
8 March
Wednesday
UNDG Asia Pacific Meeting RCs only
9:00-17:00
Whole day event. Agenda will be shared separately
18:30-21:00
International Women’s Day, Awards night, includes RRs/CDs, DRRs/DCDs, NOs, plus HQ and BRH, on 23 rd
Floor Ballroom, Centara Grand Hotel.
9 March
Thursday
DAY 1: Current developments, future trends in Asia-Pacific that affect UNDP and our capacity and
systems to respond
8:30 -9:15
Welcome Remarks
Luc Stevens, RC/RR Thailand (5 minutes)
Opening Remarks
Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator (15 minutes)
Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Thailand (10 minutes)
Haoliang Xu, UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific (10 minutes)
Dignitaries for the opening session will be seated on the stage. RC/RR Thailand will welcome the
participants to RBAP’s 2017 RMM. He will then invite UNDP Administrator to deliver the opening
statement. The RC/RR will then request the Government of Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to table
introductory remarks. Following which the RBAP Director will be invited to speak. The Director will focus
on the objectives and expected results of the Regional Management Meeting.
The RC/RR will invite all participants for a group photo.
9:15-9:30
Focal point: Pauline Tamesis, Bangkok Regional Hub
Outcome statement team leader: Elena Tischenko, RBAP NY
A short break for a group photo
1
9-10 March Centara Grand Convention Centre #RBAPfuture
Session I: Future trends in Asia and the Pacific and how UNDP can be a valued partner in this context with the Economist
Intelligence Unit
9:30-13:30
11:15-12:30
As countries in Asia and the Pacific rapidly progress in their economic transition and graduate to middle-income
status, the role of development actors in the region is evolving. At the same time, trends such as demographic
change, increasing incidence of extreme weather events, migration, inequality, and evolving public health
challenges, among others, continue to underpin a need for evolving forms of developmental assistance.
Understanding how these trends are likely to evolve is essential to inform effective organizational strategies and
ensure that UNDP continues to play a critical role in the region.
What is going to shape the future of the region? What are the drivers of the change? What or who is disrupting
the course of development? What are the blind spots? The Economist Intelligence Unit and UNDP will analyze
trends and formulate scenarios for Asia-Pacific in 2030.
Part 1
9:30 – 10:30 Moderator opens the session and invites perspectives from partners on UNDP’s role in the
changing future of Asia Pacific (5 mins):
 Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith Foreign Minister Laos (10 min)
 Mr. George Milner Tozaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External trade, Solomon
Islands (10 min)
 Ms. Namita Vikas, Group President & Global Head, Climate Strategy & Responsible
Banking, YES Bank Ltd (India) (10 min)
Q and A (25 min)
Two minutes for change of speakers.
Part 2
10:30 – 13:30 Moderator introduces the second part of the session with EIU;
 Mr. Simon Baptist, EIU Chief Economist and Asia Managing Director;
 Mr. Stefano Scuratti, EIU Senior Consultant Public Policy, Economics, Politics;
 Ms. Renuka Rajaratnam, EIU Consulting Analyst, Public Policy, Economics, Politics;
Presentation of megatrends and scenarios (30 min);
Group work by table on implications of 3 scenarios for UNDP: ‘What does UNDP need to be
doing differently tomorrow? (60 mins);
Scenario rapporteurs kick-off plenary discussion with feedback on implications of scenarios for
UNDP followed by open discussion (60 mins);
Wrap up of discussion and reflections on ways forward (30 mins).
Session Moderator: Nicholas Rossellini, UNDP China
Focal point: Caitlin Wiesen , Bangkok Regional Hub
Outcome statement team: Christophe Bahuet, UNDP Indonesia
13:30
Lunch
Session II: Adapting UNDP to the emerging challenges
14:30-17:30
Running Coffee
UNDP has taken a series of strategic measures to adapt to the emerging changes and development trends. We
have diversified sources of funding, improved efficiency and sharpened our thematic focus to better support
SDG implementation. We are introducing a new funding model, but to move forward, there are a number of
questions like:
 Does our capacity and systems reflect our ambition? Are we fit for purpose?
2
9-10 March Centara Grand Convention Centre #RBAPfuture



Are we credible with our governments? Are we able to deliver effectively in quality and in quantity?
What capacities do our country offices need to respond to the challenges?
What support do our COs want from HQs? What asks do our COs have specifically for RBAP
management? What proposals do our COs have to make RBAP and COs relevant and strong?
 Are we agile enough? Can we simplify our procedures?
 How can the incentive structures in UN/UNDP be built to encourage partnerships with the private sector
that do not focus only on mobilizing resources, but also on leveraging their resources for sustainable
development more broadly?
 How can our legal and administrative arrangements for engagement with the private sector provide the
necessary flexibility to develop partnerships iteratively over time, whilst providing a robust framework
within which to manage risk?
The session will start with an overview of the Asia Pacific Bureau’s performance during the period of the current
Strategic Plan. This will be followed by a presentation by ExO on the new Strategic Plan 2018-2021. A panel of
BPPS, BERA and BMS will reflect on the institutional changes underway to be fit for purpose. They will address
issues on whether we have the ability to respond as well as the desired mindset, capacities, systems and tools
needed to support COs to deliver. In addition the panel will reflect on improving efficiency, the new funding
model and related accountability framework. This will be followed by concrete recommendations from the floor
on new instruments, processes or models need to help COs deliver on the new Strategic Plan.
Panel Members:
1. RBAP: Presents RBAP’s performance over the period of the current SP 2014-2017, Haoliang Xu (15
mins);
2. ExO: Heather Simpson, Special Advisor to the Administrator (15 mins);
3. BMS: Darshak Shah, Deputy Director (10 mins);
4. BERA: Gulden Turkoz-Cosslett , Deputy Director (10 mins);
5. BPPS: Patrick Keuleers, Chief of Profession (10 mins);
6. CO Feedback, Recommendations from the Floor, Q and A (110 mins);
17:30
18:0019:30p.m.
10 March
Friday
Session III
9:00 – 13:00
Running Coffee
Session Moderator: Valerie Cliff, RBAP Deputy Director
Focal Point: Ricarda Rieger, Bangkok Regional Hub
Outcome statement team: Jaco Cilliers, UNDP India
Wrap-up and Farewell to the Administrator
After the moderator wraps up the session RBAP Director will invite UNDP Administrator to the front of the
room. (Note that the Administrator would be alerted by DRR Thailand CO towards the end of session 2 to join
the informal farewell.)
The Director will say a few sentences, thanking the Administrator for her leadership of UNDP.
The Director invites Staff Association Representative to hand over a gift.
The Director invites the Administrator to conclude.
Farewell Reception for Helen Clark
The Director invites everyone to the 55th floor for informal wind down of day 1.
Guided by BRH and hotel team, all proceed to elevators and go to 55 th floor.
The area cannot be fully closed off for us, but when others see us come, they will probably opt to go elsewhere.
We mix and mingle. No further speeches, all disperse at own leisure.
DAY 2: Creating a unique and valued set of services aligned to the needs of the Asia and Pacific countries
Opportunities for new business development and achieving the 15 percent domestic co-financing goal
Development finance was dominated for 70 years by the ODA flows. Today, ODA accounts for less than one
percent of financial flows in Asia-Pacific and development activities are predominantly funded by domestic public
and private resources. Development finance comes now from a variety of sources that include the traditional
3
9-10 March Centara Grand Convention Centre #RBAPfuture
ODA, IFIs, Vertical Funds (GCF, GEF, GFATM etc.) as well as a range of cutting-edge financing instruments
designed to attract investors to large-scale SDG investments. What are the innovative finance instruments and
how is UNDP positioned in the new development finance architecture? What does it take for UNDP to formulate
relevant and quality programmes and a strong pipeline?
13:00-14:00
Session IV
14:00-17:30
The moderator will introduce the session. A plenary presentation will focus on the changing landscape of finance
for development in Asia Pacific across sub-regions and different country contexts. Regional and country level
analysis on financing the SDGs in Asia Pacific including the role of GEF and GCF with a focus on the private sector
will be highlighted.
The session then will focus on a discussion of new instruments for partnering with the private sector in different
contexts, such as: 1. Impact Investment; 2. Blended Finance; 3. Public Private Partnerships; 4. High Net Worth
Individuals and Family Trusts; 5. Inclusive Finance. Each speaker will provide a overview from their perspective
followed by a structured panel discussion and a moderated Q and A from the floor.
Part 1
9:00-10:00
Moderator opens the session (5 mins)
Presentation on the Changing landscape of financing for sustainable development in Asia and
the Pacific – how is UNDP positioned (Tom Beloe 15mins)?
How is UNDP leveraging international climate funds for financing for development (Adriana Dinu
15 mins)?
Country perspective from Philippines (Titon Mitra 10 mins)
Q&A (15 mins)
Part 2
10:00-13:00
Moderator introduces the second part of the session (5 mins);
Tami Kessleman to introduce panel and present new instruments for partnering with the private
sector (Tami Kesselman (15mins);
 Joan Larrea, President Convergence, Former Head of OPIC, Washington DC – Blended
Finance and Inclusive Finance (20 mins);
 Eric Savage, Co-Founder & CEO of Unitus Capital, India - Impact Investment, High Net
Worth Individuals and Family Trusts (20 mins);
 Jeffrey Avina Asia Pacific and Japan Microsoft – Public Private Partnerships (20 mins);
Presentation will be followed by Q&A (60 mins);
Wrap up by moderator (10 mins);
Lunch time tables for visiting speakers will provide opportunity for further interaction.
Session Moderator: Yuri Afanasiev, UNDP India.
Focal point: Tom Beloe, Bangkok Regional Hub.
Outcome statement team: Bakhodir Burkhanov, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji.
Lunch
Shaping a distinctive UNDP offer
Focus of the session The development sector in the region is increasingly competitive. New specialized private
and public entities are entering the market. Reduced ODA contributions to UN agencies translate into increased
competition for funding and mandates. UNDP must create a set of unique and valued sustainable development
services. To do so, a number of questions need to be addressed. These are:
 What are we offering that make us relevant and valued (partners willing to pay for our services), that
makes a difference for SDGs in Asia and the Pacific?
 What are UNDP’s response strategies for working with the youth, private sector and High Net-worth
individuals?
 What new products can we offer to work with the private sector?
4
9-10 March Centara Grand Convention Centre #RBAPfuture

How can we further leverage our convening power, innovation results, what new investments are
needed?
 Do we have the right business model for policy services?
 Do you we have the right operational support?
The moderator will open the session. This will be followed by a brief introduction from the RBAP Director. A
panel comprising of COs, ExO and BPPS will reflect on key challenges and opportunities to deliver on the 2030
agenda. They will discuss the growing competition from UN agencies, CSO and private sector and changes
required within UNDP to remain relevant. Structured interactions from the regional team leaders to the panel
discussion will help chalk out new directions for: 1/policy advisory services; 2/ Innovative product lines;
3/response to high impact/high leverage/large scale interventions; 4/implementation support to large scale
initiatives; and 5/convening power. A question and answer session from the floor will aim to listen and respond
to CO concerns and feedback.
1.
2.
3.
Moderator opens the session (5 mins);
Remarks by Haoliang Xu, Director RBAP (10 mins);
Panel Discussion:
 Renata Lok-Dessallien, RC/RR Myanmar (10 mins);
 Neil Buhne, RC/RR, Pakistan, (10 mins);
 Lizbeth Cullity, RR Samoa, (10 minutes);
 Alain Noudehou, Chief of Staff, ExO (10 mins);
 Pedro Conceicao, Chief of Profession (10 mins);
4. Structured interactions from Regional Team Leaders: Gordon Johnson, Phil Matsheza, Joseph D Cruz,
(30 mins);
5. CO Feedback, Recommendations from the floor, Q and A (90 mins);
6. Wrap up by Moderator (10 mins);
Session Moderator: Claire Van der Vaeren, RC/RR Cambodia
Focal point: Silvia Morimoto, RBAP NY
Outcome statement team: Agi Veres, China CO (to feed into the outcome statement)
17:30
Adoption of Outcome Statement and Closing
5
9-10 March Centara Grand Convention Centre #RBAPfuture