About Social and Development Cooperation

ASEAN and the U.S. are cooperating on a wide range of social, educational and cultural activities under the Enhanced Partnership. This cooperation builds on and complements existing U.S. Government programs in the ASEAN region.

Aceh project: The U.S. and the government of Brunei Darussalam are contributing a approximately $3 million to rebuild two villages in Aceh, Indonesia, that were destroyed by the December 2004 tsunami. This joint project is rebuilding homes, a school, a clinic and related infrastructure.

HIV/AIDS project: In 2004 the U.S. began working with ASEAN to combat HIV/AIDS in five areas: access to affordable drugs, socio-economic impact of AIDS, capacity to collect, analyze and use surveillance and other strategic information, care and support of at-risk populations. Our new program is building on that previous work to advocate comprehensive prevention, care, treatment, and support for HIV/AIDS victims.

Avian Influenza: As a result of the rapid spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Southeast Asia we funded a program that will provide support to the ASEAN Secretariat and strengthen institutional capacity at the national and regional levels.

Environment: ASEAN is experiencing rapidly growing urbanization and its inevitable environmental consequences. We are working with ASEAN's "Sustainable Cities" program to provide technical assistance address negative environmental impact on air, water and land.

Educational Exchange: The U.S. is establishing an ASEAN research scholarship under the auspices of the Fulbright program. The program will fund 4 - 5 scholars for a 3-month program of scholarly research and professional consultation on issues central to the U.S.-ASEAN regional relationship. The program is open to government officials, university faculty, and members of think tanks and NGOs from ASEAN nations. The program will begin in the 2008 - 2009 academic year.

Cultural Preservation: The U.S. is supporting a number of cultural preservation activities in the ASEAN region through the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation. In 2005 and 2006 the U.S. funded a total of $397,000 for preservation activities including:

• Thailand - Archaeological heritage management at Ban Rai and Tham Lod Rockshelters, and preservation of the Mural Painting at Wat Baan Koh.
• Vietnam - Preservation of 18th and 19th Century Worshipping Objects in the Vietnamese History Museum Pham Quoc Quan, and conservation of two traditional lacquer paintings at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.
• Indonesia - Preservation of architectural glass-slide collections at the Institute of Technology in Bandung, and restoration of Omo Hada Houses on the Island of Nias.
• Malaysia - Documentation of Kadazandusun rituals on the island of Sabah.
• Philippines - Preservation of Balobok/Sanga-Sanga archaeological site on Tawi-Tawi Island, and the restoration of murals in Philippine General Hospital painted by Philippine national artist Carlos Francisco in 1954.
• Cambodia - Heritage management at the Prasat Han Chey temple complex, Cheung Ek circular earthwork archaeological and cultural resource management investigations, and rescue excavation and education at Wat Jas Ancient Site.
• Laos - Support the inventory and improved display of the Ho Phra Keo Museum's artifacts.

The U.S. Department of State will continue to support more cultural preservation projects in 2007. Further information on the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation can be found here.

Science and Technology Cooperation: The U.S. has begun discussions with ASEAN to establish an agreement to broaden and expand relations and cooperation between the scientific and technological communities in the ASEAN Member Countries and the U.S.