In 1998, the ministers in-charge of rural development and poverty eradication from all ASEAN Member States gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia for the first time to discuss cooperation in the field of poverty eradication and rural development. The ministers emphasised the urgency of promoting the development of progressive, prosperous and self-reliant rural communities to eradicate poverty. 

Since then, ASEAN’s regional cooperation on reducing poverty in the region and promoting inclusive development in rural areas has been overseen by the ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (AMRDPE).

Comprising ministers in-charge of reducing poverty and developing rural areas in all ASEAN Member States, the AMRDPE provides strategic guidance and policy steer on regional development cooperation to uplift the lives of poor and vulnerable people from poverty, and invigorate inclusive and sustainable growth in rural areas. 

The Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (SOMRDPE) is a subsidiary body of the AMRDPE comprising senior officials in the respective ministries in-charge of rural development and poverty eradication. The SOMRDPE supports AMRDPE by recommending regional policies, developing and implementing the five-year regional work plan, and managing partnerships. Currently, SOMRDPE is implementing the ASEAN Framework Action Plan on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication 2016-2020. The work plan contains concrete initiatives to further reduce poverty incidence in the region and foster development in rural areas. 

SOMRDPE’s work plan focuses on the following priority areas:

1. Rural economic growth
2. Social protection and safety nets
3. Development of infrastructure and human resources in rural and peri-urban areas
4. Public-Private-People Partnership (4Ps) for rural development and poverty eradication
5. Resilience of the poor and vulnerable groups to economic and environmental risks
6. Monitoring and evaluation of the rural development and poverty reduction in the region

Regional mechanisms
SOMRDPE Plus Three is an annual meeting of the SOMRDPE with the Plus Three Countries namely China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. It serves as a regular platform for sharing policies and good practices on promoting rural development and poverty alleviation.

ASEAN Public Private People Partnership Forum on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication is an annual multi-stakeholder forum that brings together government, civil society organisations, the private sector, and other stakeholders, to exchange experiences and best practices on rural development and poverty eradication, following the selected theme of each year.

Apart from these mechanisms, SOMRDPE builds collaboration with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, international organisations and civil society organisations such as China, the EU, UNDP, World Bank, ADB, AsiaDHRRA, FAO, WFP and IFAD.