Amid escalating climate impacts, socio-economic shocks, and political instability, government representatives across Asia-Pacific are intensifying efforts to adopt integrated, people-centred approaches to resilience in the region’s increasingly complex poly-risk environment. In this context, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) convened the “Regional Knowledge-Sharing Workshop on Mainstreaming Human Security and Resilience Building” in Bangkok. The workshop brought together high-level officials from Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, along with UN agencies, civil society organisations, and regional development partners.
Mr. Gerd Trogemann, Manager of UNDP’s Global Policy Network and Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific, emphasized that the human security approach is highly relevant for navigating complex risks, as it systematically considers vulnerabilities and places people at the centre of development and resilience efforts.
Discussions highlighted the Human Security and Poly-Risk (HSPR) Methodology, developed by UNDP with UNTFHS support. This framework helps governments and development actors identify systemic vulnerabilities, anticipate emerging risks, and co-create people-centred, inter-sectoral, and risk-informed solutions. Pilots in Bangladesh and Nepal have demonstrated the methodology’s potential to foster cross-sector collaboration, strengthen institutional capacities, and promote inclusive planning that reflects community priorities.
Participants shared experiences and lessons learned through peer-to-peer exchange, technical discussions, and country-led reflections on addressing overlapping vulnerabilities in poly-risk contexts. Discussions explored tools for multi-dimensional risk mapping, foresight methods, and people-centred data to inform policy decisions. Opportunities for improved cross-ministerial coordination, early warning systems, and integrating human security principles into national development planning were also examined.
The regional dialogue identified potential national entry points for the HSPR Methodology and highlighted areas for regional collaboration, advancing alignment between national and regional strategies for mainstreaming human security.
As Asia-Pacific countries face an unpredictable and interconnected risk landscape, the exchange underscored the importance of moving beyond sectoral silos and adopting integrated approaches to crisis prevention and resilience building. Mr. Muhammad Bashir Khetran of Pakistan emphasized the need to translate knowledge into actionable policies and programmes, ensuring that resilience efforts protect lives, livelihoods, and dignity.
Governments and partners expressed strong interest in continued UNDP and UNTFHS support, including capacity-building initiatives, targeted country-level engagements, and regional platforms for ongoing learning. By fostering collaboration, strengthening technical capacities, and promoting integrated approaches to risk and resilience, UNDP and UNTFHS remain committed to supporting Asia-Pacific countries in building safer, more inclusive, and resilient societies.
