Social Safety Nets Seminar

Abstract

A seminar on Social Safety Nets (SSNs) was conducted by the Asian Development Bank Institute from 19 to 28 March at the Institute's premises in Tokyo. The seminar was attended by 36 participants from seven South East Asian developing member countries (DMCs) of the ADB, namely, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The main purpose of the seminar was to disseminate knowledge and information amongst the participants in designing and implementing sound and efficient SSNs in the region. The seminar was highly participatory and interactive, allowing the participants to learn from other participating countries' experiences in establishing SSNs. In the opening ceremony, Dr. Masaru Yoshitomi, Dean, ADB Institute, in his opening remarks, pointed out to the participants that this was the first time the Institute had organized a program on such a capacity-building theme. It had been designed to address the common issues that confront the regional grouping of the seven South East Asian countries participating in the seminar. All participating countries have now recognized the need for strengthening their SSNs. This was brought about by the fact that all countries in this regional grouping were affected adversely by the 1997/1998 Asian financial crisis. They are also facing major social and economic adjustments from intensified market pressures resulting from globalization.