Download The Network The Reality of Aid Network – Asia Pacific is an

The Network
The Reality of Aid Network – Asia Pacific is an independent regional organization,
representing more than a 100 member organizations and networks in Asia Pacific to the
ROA global network. It is represented and governed by its own Steering Committee.
Since 2002, it has published its own Reality of Aid Regional Reports mirroring the biennial
global reports. RoA members from Asia Pacific contribute country reports and thematic
articles totaling some 11-15 contributions for each of the global reports. It also published
its own Reality Check magazines, focusing on aid issues specific to the region.
The RoA Asia/Pacific has been an active regional expression of the Reality of Aid Network,
with most of its membership participating in RoA’s global meetings and advocacy activities,
and has engaged in high level forums and other events of the OECD DAC’s WP-EFF, the UN,
the EU/ASEM, the UN-DCF, and other multilateral institutions in the region such as the
ADB, World Bank, UNDP-CDDE. From 2009-2011, Reality of Aid led the process of capacity
development of CSOs on the road to Busan, providing the necessary interventions for civil
society to implement their country plans in 20 countries as part of the BetterAid
programme. At the same time, RoA also conducted 3 sub-regional consultations in the
Pacific, North Africa and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, reaching out to an additional 25
countries. Then in 2012, RoA-AP was elected to be the Asia Pacific secretariat of the CSO
Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE), a reconstituted framework replacing
BetterAid and Open Forum, which unites CSOs from around the world on the issue of
development effectiveness.
Long-term objectives and strategies
The Reality of Aid Network aims to contribute to more effective strategies to eliminate
poverty, based on principles of solidarity and equity, through research, advocacy and
lobbying for changes in North/South systemic relationships and in aid practices.
Its objectives and main activities are:

Analyzing and exposing trends in international aid and development cooperation;

Organizing regional CSO and multi-stakeholder forums highlighting policies to
reform aid and international development cooperation;

Publishing reliable and evidence-based regional civil society reports on
international aid performance and issues in development cooperation;

Conducting policy dialogue and lobby with national and international policy-makers
in the North and the South; and

Increasing public pressure for accountable and effective development cooperation
policies in donor and developing countries.
Membership
In general, the RoA encourages the open nature of membership and the development of
activities in continental regions beyond preparation of the report.
Any development organization that accedes to RoA’s objectives and goals, and wishes to
participate in its activities may join the network as a member. Membership to Reality of Aid
Network – Asia Pacific is achieved through a letter of application addressed to its respective
sub-regional representative, or directly to the Coordinator. Regional processes of
membership vary and are open and subject to a formal process, though voluntary in
character. Each region will publish its membership criteria.
In line with the RoA-AP’s goals, the membership are encouraged to conduct on its own
and/or participate in RoA-AP advocacy work on various concerns relating to aid and
development cooperation, either at the country, regional and global levels.
There are no membership fees in the Reality of Aid network. However, members are
requested to contribute through participation in the network’s advocacy activities, and to
contribute to the RoA’s Reports and other publications.
Roles and Responsibilities
The operational leadership of the ROA-AP Network is conducted by the Steering Committee
(SC). The SC is composed of sub-regional representatives from Northeast Asia, Southeast
Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Pacific, and Middle East & North Africa (MENA), and the
Coordinator of the regional network.
SC members represent the sub-region in ROA-AP’s governance body and engagements with
regional institutions and processes to promote and advance ROA-AP’s goals and objectives
along with the region’s interest and demands related to the aid and development
effectiveness agenda.
The SC gives policy and advocacy direction to the Network. It assists the Regional
Secretariat in developing its fundraising strategy. The SC holds face-to-face and online
meetings whenever necessary.
The Coordinator heads the Regional Secretariat and ensures operational, administrative
and program management that includes program development and fundraising, financial
management and administration, management of the regional processes and events,
necessary coordination of sub-regional/country contributions for ROA Global and Regional
Reports, and confirmation of the network membership.