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Asia

The Forum of Federations conducts governance programs in Australia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Forum also does work in the Philippines

Australia                                                       

Australia is a partner government of the Forum of Federations.

The Forum's work in Australia is currently focused on a health conference with the support of the states and commonwealth governments in Australia, and in partnership with the Menzies Centre for Health Policy.

In addition, Australia is tentatively scheduled to host a country roundtable for Global Dialogue Theme 7 on 'Unity and Diversity in Federal Countries'.

India  

India joined the Forum of Federations as a partner government in 2005. India is also host of the 2007 International Conference on Federalism.

The Inter-State Council Secretariat has expressed interest in partnering with the Forum to hold India-specific events around the four themes of the International Conference on Federalism. Such events will include roundtable discussions of Indian policy-makers, with the participation of one or two international experts on federalism subjects.

India is tentatively scheduled to host a country roundtable for Global Dialogue Theme 7 on 'Unity and Diversity in Federal Countries' and has participated in all other themes of the Global Dialogue project.

Recent activities in the India program include:

• India hosts regional conference on federalism
• Indian government expert shares ideas with Canadians
• Indian roundtables on federalism
• Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh coming to international conference
• Federalism Experts Gathered in New Delhi to Fine-tune Conference Papers
  

Pakistan

The Forum of Federations is currently carrying out a two-and-a-half-year development assistance program in Pakistan, which commenced in September 2009, and funded by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The program is designed to increase the capacity of Pakistani decision-makers, political parties, central and provincial civil servants, civil society leaders and the media, to evaluate and analyze federal options based on international best practices.

The program will also help build networks and partnerships within Pakistan and between Pakistan and the outside world, and enable the exchange of experiences and expertise in federal forms of governance.

Past events in Pakistan include:

• Federalism program launched in Pakistan (Dec. 2009)
• Federalism dialogue in Islamabad (Oct. 2009)

• Pakistan’s federal system to be strengthened with German-funded Forum of Federations program (Sept. 2009)
  

Download Program brief

Research papers:

• Adeney - Pakistan federalism (PPT) 2006 (global failure rates)

• The Balochistan Package; Redefining Federalism in Pakistan

• Concurrent and Federal List - Fourth Schedule of 1973 Pakistan Constitution

• Integration of FATA into NWFP

• The special parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms and the concurrent list

• The Gilgit-Baltistan Reforms 2009

• Concurrent powers in federations compared

• 1973 constitution and recent political developments

• Bios of five Pakistan researchers

Philippines

The Forum of Federations continues to seek opportunities to work with the Philippines.

Past events in the Philippines include:

• Forum Workshops on Federalism in the Philippines in August 2005
• The Federal Debate in the Philippines - 2003

Sri Lanka

Since 2002, the Forum of Federations and the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) have worked in Sri Lanka. Activities have focused on raising awareness about the options and possibilities for power-sharing, including federalism, with the aim of facilitating a permanent settlement of conflict.

The Forum and CPA are currently working on a project aimed at both civil society and policymakers, in order continue discussions about power sharing as well as to provide access to comparative expertise which might inform any future Sri Lankan constitutional process.

Recent activities in the Sri Lanka program include:

• Sri Lankan minister confers with Forum (June 2007)
• Forum co-hosts Sri Lankan study tour (June 2007)
• Power-sharing options for Sri Lanka and the federal idea (June 2007)
• Creating lexicons on power-sharing and federalism for Sri Lanka
• Sri Lankan Journalists Learn about Power-sharing Experience in Canada
• Forum President Speaks on Federalism and the Future in Sri Lanka

India's Home Minister, Shri Shivraj Patil, and Prof. Arnold Koller, the chair of the Forum and former President of Switzerland.

The mission of the Center for Civic Education Pakistan, the Forum's implementing partner, is to empower the individual by promoting values of responsible citizenship and principles of democracy in Pakistan

Sri Lankan journalist Ayesha Zuhair (senior feature writer, Daily Mirror), visits the Forum of Federations as part of a study tour.