The Colombo Plan

For the sixth installment of our 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, we turn once again to Afghanistan — a country woven into some of the Colombo Plan's most enduring work.

For two decades, the Colombo Plan's drug demand reduction efforts in Afghanistan became one of the most sustained interventions in its history — not just in numbers, but in the quiet, daily work of rebuilding lives. Thousands of individuals found their way back from addiction. Thousands of professionals were trained to carry that work forward, often against extraordinary odds.

Dr. Mohammad Aqa Stanikzai, who served as Chief of the Drug Advisory Programme in , bears testimony to what was built. Read his narrative below.

It was a pleasure to have an engaging discussion with Dr George I. H. Cooke, Founder Chairman of the Awarelogue Asian Institute, on strengthening alumni engagement and expanding partnerships with universities.

The discussion explored new ways to connect Colombo Plan scholars and alumni through knowledge-sharing platforms, academic dialogue, research publications and inter-university collaboration. Dr Cooke shared insights from the Institute's work promoting student research, policy discussion and publication opportunities in international relations and public policy.

The meeting also looked at ways to deepen engagement with universities across Colombo Plan member countries, build regional academic networks and give alumni meaningful ways to contribute to policy dialogue and knowledge exchange.

We look forward to exploring future collaboration that builds strong alumni communities and fosters academic and professional connections across the region.

On 15 September, the Secretary-General of the Colombo Plan met with Jen Stephens, Senior Adviser and Deputy, Climate & Environment, Global Programme Division, Centre of Excellence on Children and Climate Resilience, Bangkok, to explore how the two organisations could work together to protect children, young people and families from the growing impacts of climate change.

The discussion found a shared area of interest in how climate shocks can increase vulnerability to substance use. Following a major climate disaster, children, young people and families may be displaced from their homes, lose their livelihoods and family stability, and face long periods of stress. This can make them more likely to turn to harmful ways of coping, including substance use. The discussion explored whether the Colombo Plan could provide technical expertise or consultancy on substance-use prevention as part of wider climate-resilience efforts, especially for communities recovering from climate shocks. This would connect two fields that are usually handled separately.

We look forward to continuing this dialogue.

Today, we were honoured to receive Dr Tara De Mel, Executive Director of the Bandaranaike Academy for Leadership & Public Policy (BALPP), at the Colombo Plan Secretariat for a productive exchange on opportunities for collaboration.

Our discussions explored possibilities for joint, demand-driven training programmes for government, corporate, and professional audiences, drawing on the complementary expertise, networks, and resources of both institutions.

We look forward to building on this conversation and translating these ideas into practical programmes that strengthen professional capacity and regional knowledge exchange.

Happy National Day, Saudi Arabia!

On 16 September 2026, the Secretary-General met with Delphine Schantz, Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, at the UNODC Regional Office in Bangkok to explore opportunities for collaboration in drug demand reduction, training, curriculum development and knowledge sharing.

UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Happy National Day (Constitution Day), Nepal!

Happy National Day of Nepal (Constitution Day) !!!

THE COLOMBO PLAN - PROJECT IMPRINT SERIES 005

In this fifth installment of our 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, we turn to our presence in Latin America.

The Colombo Plan's history in the region could not find a better witness and historian than our own Jo Rivas, Programme Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean until August 2026 — her journey is closely intertwined with ours on the continent.

Read her first-hand account of how the Colombo Plan's wings spread to a continent so far from its Asia-Pacific base.