Asia-Pacific Regional Centre

Frequently Asked Questions

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre and its services.

General

Which UNDP Country Offices are covered by the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre?

The countries covered by the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre are: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Pacific Centre provides direct, additional support to Pacific countries.

What are the main priorities of the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre?

The Asia-Pacific Regional Centre has two main priorities. The first priority is to provide UNDP Country Offices in the Asia and the Pacific with easy access to knowledge through high quality advisory services based on global applied research and UNDP lessons learnt. The second priority is to build partnerships and promote regional capacity building initiatives, which allow UNDP, governments and other development partners to identify, create and share knowledge relevant to solving urgent development challenges.

Which thematic or UNDP 'focus' (or practice) areas are covered by the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre?

Democratic Governance, Environment and Sustainable Development, Crisis Prevention and Recovery and Poverty Reduction are the four main focus areas of the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre. It also supports UNDP Country Office efforts in capacity development, private-public partnerships, ICT for development, mine action, poverty reduction within the overarching aim to achieve the Millenium Development Goals and HIV/AIDS and management

What kind of support can the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre provide to help UNDP Country Offices in Asia-Pacific?

UNDP Country Offices and their country-level partners can benefit from the services of the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre in its thematic areas. The Asia-Pacific Regional Centre provides policy advisory, regional programme and knowledge management support to UNDP Country Offices and their country-level partners. The Asia-Pacific Regional Centre provides a strategic extra pair of hands to support country offices in their work.

Expert Referrals

How to make a request for a referral?

UNDP Country Offices and increasingly other UN agencies and development partners have come to rely on expert referral services provided by the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre. To make a referral request simply send us an e-mail (regionalcentrebangkok@undp.org) and attach the terms of reference of the specific assignment. Remember, it is the terms of reference that triggers the processing of the referral. Without it, it is very difficult for us to respond. We will follow up with you directly upon receiving the request and the terms of reference.

The value of the APRC roster is that it is federated i.e. linked globally, regionally and at the country level, and that it is managed and quality controlled.

How have the experts currently in the roster been selected?

The experts in the roster have been and continue to be selected in two different ways. First, APRC staff systematically contacts leading think tanks, research institutions, universities and consulting firms to learn about their expertise in topics of relevance to UNDP in the region; and solicits professionals from these sources. Second, UNDP Country Offices provide us with CVs of experts whom they have found to be of the highest quality. Significantly, experts are also removed if it is found that their performance is not of a high enough quality.

To be included in the roster, references are checked thoroughly.

Can I contact other Regional Centres to get expert CVs?

Yes, the federated nature of the roster allows you to contact any Regional Centre and receive the same referral service. We, however, encourage you to contact the Regional Centre which best matches your request and geographical location.

Policy Advice and Technical Backstopping

What are the funding arrangements for a support mission requested by a UNDP Country Office?

A cost equalisation scheme exists which ensures that all Country Offices are served equitably and fairly, whether they are close to Bangkok or far.

Can Asia-Pacific Regional Centre staff assist us from Bangkok without undertaking missions?

Yes, Asia-Pacific Regional Centre staff are at the disposal of Country Offices so if you need some support, even if via email or from a desk, let us know!

Are Asia-Pacific Regional Centre staff connected to the work of UNDP Headquarters units?

Yes, in fact, that is an important aim and comparative advantage of UNDP as the UN's global development network, namely, to learn from and feed good development practices at our global hub and in other UNDP regional offices around the world.

Add questions

If you have any additional questions you would like to see in this FAQ, please let us know. Email us at: regionalcentrebangkok@undp.org.