An Australian Government, AusAID initiative

The Regional Economic Policy Support Facility (REPSF) is one of the components of the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP). The other two components of the AADCP are the Program Stream and the Regional Partnerships Scheme. The AADCP aims to promote sustainable development within ASEAN, by assisting ASEAN tackle priority regional development challenges, through regional cooperation.

The REPSF is basically a funding mechanism, which allows the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) to engage ASEAN, Australian, and New Zealand economic research organizations (including public and private sector research institutions and qualified economics consulting firms) and individual researchers in the provision (through specific research contracts) of regional economic policy analysis for the Secretariat.

REPSF Phase I covered a five-year period (21 January 2002- 21 January 2007). It was designed to support ASEAN economic recovery and promote closer integration and sustainable economic development in ASEAN member countries through the provision of high priority, high quality and timely regional economic policy analysis.

In the lead up to the East Asia Summit (EAS) in December 2005, the Australian Foreign Minister Mr Downer announced a $5 million initiative for funding joint research examining economic integration between ASEAN and the other EAS participants (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, India, Korea).

The East Asia Summit Research Initiative (REPSF Phase II), covering period 22 January 2007 - 30 June 2008, will build upon established REPSF management mechanisms including linkages to the ASEAN Secretariat, identification of research proposals, development of terms of reference, tendering, contracting, publishing, disseminating and quality control of research outputs. REPSF II will focus research on economic integration and cooperation between ASEAN and the other EAS participants. With the expansion of the regional coverage, research collaboration with research institutions and/or individuals from all East Asia Summit participants will be encouraged.

REPSF II ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program The ASEAN Secretariat Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 70A Jakarta 12110 Indonesia Tel. (62-21) 724-3372, 726-2991 Fax (62-21) 722-9028 Email Association of Southeast Asian Nations http://www.aseansec.org/

The Managing Contractor for the REPSF II is GRM International