As part of the efforts to revitalize cooperation development in the BIMP-EAGA, the 11th SOM and 8th MM held in Spetember 2003 at Davao City, Phillippines agreed to implement reforms in the subregion’s institutional structure. Two new mechanisms were created, namely, the Working Group Clusters and the BIMP Facilitation Center. These mechanisms were instituted to strengthen the coordination of strategies and initiatives in the subregion. Strengthening coordination and consolidation mechanisms was anticipated to significantly contribute to accelerating cooperation activities and bringing BIMP-EAGA back on its development track. |
The Working Group Clusters are composed of related or similar working groups. An objective for the creation of the Clusters is to provide a mechanism to strengthen the coordination and consolidation of BIMP-EAGA’s development initiatives, particularly at the operational level. Since the Working Groups are the core operational mechanism of BIMP-EAGA, improving coordination among the Working Group is anticipated to enhance the identification and prioritization of strategic and high-impact project (BIMP-EAGA flagship projects), which in turn is expected to facilitate the formulation of an integrated plan of action that would help accelerate the implementation of these flagship projects. Working Group Clusters, thus, would be the mechanism for BIMP-EAGA to regain its cooperation momentum by ensuring that the identification, prioritization, implementation, and monitoring of projects are better structured and coordinated.
BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center. The BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center (BIMP-FC) was established in 2003 to ensure coordination among the various organizations engaged in the BIMP-EAGA initiative, and support implementation of activities consonant with the BIMP-EAGA Development Roadmap. BIMP-FC serves as the secretariat of the SOM/MM; Coordinates subregional activities of the WGCs, WGs and NSs; coordinates information flow within EAGA; links EAGA to ASEAN, ADB. Development partners, and multilateral organizations; and generally coordinates activities beyond the scope of the NS. |
