RWI Reg. Asia Progr. Human Rights and Sustainable Development 2017-2024

The RAPP1 implemented through 2017 2024 has achieved some key impacts across four thematic outcomes: i) Increased capacities among targeted academic institutions in the Asia-Pacific region to mainstream human rights and gender-based approaches to displacement in the context of disasters and climate change (referred to as disaster, climate change and human mobility) ii) Improved local stakeholders capacities and collaborations to promote environment related human rights, gender equality and the SDGs (referred to as localising human rights and the sustainable development goals) iii) Strengthened and expanded knowledge bases on human rights, gender equality, and the environment for relevant coalitions, networks and collaborations (referred to as human rights and the environment) iv) Increased public discourse about the interlinkages between human rights, gender equality, and the environment (referred to as public discourse on human rights and the environment). The accumulated results are: 1. RAPP1s expanding academic capacities showcased how RWIs commitment to academic development has enriched the academic landscape through collaborative research endeavours and outputs. It highlighted the expansion of the research initiative the establishment of the Asia Pacific Academic Networks on Disaster Displacement (APANDD) and formal collaborations with esteemed universities and academic institutions and publications to enhance its reach and impact such as the edited volume Climate-related Human Mobility in Asia and the Pacific: Interdisciplinary Rights-based Approach (2024) published by Springer which provides an interdisciplinary and rights-based perspective on climate-related mobility. Important input to global and national policy making processes were provided to UN Special Rapporteurs on Climate Change, and HRs and Internally Displaced Persons, the Right to Adequate Housing as well as the UN General Assembly High-level Panel on Internal Displacement. 2. RWI has had an impact on improving local stakeholders capacities and collaborations to promote human rights, gender equality, and the SDGs and advocate to influence policy makers and local actors through a series of knowledge products on Localising Human Rights in the Context of SDGs, which is considered having catalysed positive changes at the local level. 3. RAPP1 has had impacts in strengthening the knowledge bases for relevant coalitions, networks and collaborations through a series of published research products. These publications concern the human right to a healthy environment in Southeast Asia with local researchers from 6 ASEAN member states which has been referenced as a roadmap for future research and by UNESCAP technical report and recommendations to strengthen environmental impact assessment procedures in ASEAN and will subsequently inform the current drafting process of the ASEAN Environmental Rights Declaration. 4. RAPP1 has also employed diverse methods to catalyse public conversations, ranging from initial impactful research collaboration and influential publications to proactive involvement in shaping discussions within conferences as well as raising awareness about the interconnections between human rights, gender equality, climate change, and environmental sustainability. These impacts were measured through (program internal assessment based on survey participated by 54 RAPP stakeholders): - Enhanced Understanding and Capacity, with 98 percent of the respondents reported the significant contributions that RAPP made to their understanding of the interconnections between human rights and various sectors and that RWIs programme is highly relevant to their jobs or professional roles. - Influence on Policy Dynamics, with 76.4 percent of respondents agreed that the RAPP directly influenced the development or implementation of their organisations strategic plans. - Increased Public Discourse and Dissemination of Knowledge, 98 percent of respondents agreed that the Programme encouraged dissemination of human rights discourse and societal issues and 74.5 percent of respondents stated they had actively contributed to the dissemination of discourse related to human rights and disaster displacement, the SDGs, judicial processes, responsible business, and the environment. - Strengthened Local Stakeholder Capacities and Collaboration, with 93 percent of respondents affirmed their ability to effectively translate the knowledge acquired during the Programme into tangible actions and 84 percent of the respondents successfully formed collaborations with other individuals or organisations through participating in RWIs programme and joint publication and research as well as other joint activities/events. Overall, throughout the 7year programme, RAPP1 engaged 4,093 participants in a series of activities organized through regional forums, training courses and workshops, regional policy dialogues and meetings, research collaboration and production as well as knowledge dissemination. Amongst the participants, 1764 were women, 1622 were men, 2 were nonbinary people and 705 were N/A gender. Based on the type of events, RAPP1 engaged 1496 participants through workshops, 344 through trainings, 36 in roundtable discussions, 170 in meetings, 184 in general lectures, 1731 in discussions and 132 through other types of events. The RAPP1 participants represented 39 countries from around the world, with 90 percent of participants identifying themselves as nationals of a Southeast Asian country, whilst 4 percent and 0.5 percent were from South Asia and the Pacific, respectively. More specifically, RAPPs activities have engaged 3693 participants from Southeast Asia, 164 from South Asia, 13 from Northeast Asia, 27 from Pacific Islands and the rest were from Africa, North America, Europe, Australia, and others. Of top 5 countries, 2,761 participants were from Indonesia, 556 from Malaysia, 162 from the Philippines, 130 from Thailand, and 45 from India. Of those total numbers of RAPPs engaged stakeholders across four outcome areas, 1305 were from academia, 1247 were from governments, 86 were from international organisations, 304 were from NGOs, 542 were from private sector institutions, and other types of stakeholders were 582 persons. The majority of RAPP1 participants were researchers, journalists, ASEAN Youth Forum, National HRs Institutes, policy makers, local governments officials, judicial authorities, and right holders. More than 5 international forums and hybrid events aimed at enhancing stakeholder engagement were organised. Some highlights included sessions at the annual World Human Rights Cities Forum in South Korea, Indonesia's Human Rights Festival, Regional Dialogue on Human Rights and Local Governance in the Philippines, and the 3rd EUASEAN CSOs Forum in Brussels. Through applied research and cuttingedge capacity building activities on the interlinkages between human rights and sustainable development, RAPP1 has transformed individual mindsets at both national and regional levels in the form of perceptions of human rights, gender norms and inclusive leadership. This has led to new policies and models for incorporating human rights and gender equality in climate change and environmental protection contexts, as well as a cadre of champions within the different institutions.

The intervention overarching intention is to contribute to a just, inclusive and sustainable development in Asia, through mutually reinforcing protection of human rights, gender equality and the environment. The resultsframwork was revised in late 2019 after a mid-term review was carried out.  The overall problems that RWI has identified that the Regional Asia Program shall address are the following: 1. Lack of knowledge of linkages between human rights, gender equality and environment between and among actors, and lack of connected, qualitative and locally grounded, problem analyses required for such policies. 2. Insufficient collaboration and joint vision between different actors and sectors, which impedes synergies and efficiency in action which are preconditions for progress, including towards Agenda 2030 targets. 3. Gaps in accountability and access to justice on equal terms for all, including insufficient mechanisms for addressing extraterritorial and corporate harm. The Theory of Change for the programme is based on the assumption that addressing the problems mentioned above will achieve the overall objective of the programme to contribute to just, inclusive and sustainable development in the region through mutually reinforcing protection of human rights, gender equality and the environment. The intervention aims to strengthen knowledge regarding the connection between human rights, gender equality and the Environment with the aim to clarify the linkages and to contribute to improved policy and legal development. RWI has developed the following implementation strategies: Strategy 1: Strengthening KNOWLEDGE on the connections between human rights, gender equality and environment in the region, aiming to clarify context specific challenges and opportunities and to inform and influence policy, practice and discourse. Strategy 2: Strengthening multi-sector SYNERGIES, pursuing constructive collaboration and efficient inclusive and rights-based action towards SDG targets, building bridges and offering platforms for mutual exchange. Strategy 3: Promoting ACCOUNTABILITY in relation to programme topics for all in society, including for cross-border violations and actions of private actors, and adequate measures for marginalised and discriminated groups. Change is thought to happen when the three strategies each corresponding to one of the key problems, and contributing also to the programme at large, where each strategy builds and depends on and the results of others to the extent relevant and possible.