ASEAN - Australia Projects

ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program
The ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Program (AAECP) was established in 1974 to promote cooperation between Australia and ASEAN in areas of agreed regional development priority. The program, funded by Australia’s overseas aid agency, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), has evolved to keep pace with economic progress in South East Asia and the maturing nature of the ASEAN-Australia relationship. 

In August 2002 Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ASEAN committing A$45 million to the next phase, the ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP).

ASEAN - Australia Development Cooperation Program: 
Program Stream
The Program Stream is a A$19 million five-year initiative of AusAID and ASEAN and commenced in May 2003. It is one of three arms of the AADCP. The Program Stream aims to promote sustainable, economic and social development within the ASEAN region. It comprises ten projects which support ASEAN economic integration and competitiveness.

Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and 
Vegetables Project
The QASAFV Project is one of ten projects under the AADCP Program Stream. It is managed by RMIT International Pty Ltd, the Australian Implementing Partner (AIP), in association with the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, who provide technical inputs in the ASEAN region.

The QASAFV Project is coordinated in partnership with ASEAN, through the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) Desk Officer, and the Project Coordinating Group (PCG). The PCG comprises the AIP, the ASEC Desk Officer, the Regional Focal Point, and ten representative focal points from all ASEAN member countries. 

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This project aims to strengthen information delivery systems supporting Quality Assurance (QA) systems development for ASEAN horticulture. It also aims to provide the basis for the design of an appropriate generic QA standard for fruit and vegetables in ASEAN. The project will look at ways to assist ASEAN countries by providing training on the specific postharvest and phytosanitary requirements of export markets. 

The work is expected to include collating and disseminating information on ASEAN and international standards for fruit and vegetables and helping ASEAN producers to understand and comply with the phytosanitary requirements of their target markets. 

The project team  will assist in the identification of quality and safety-related gaps in post-harvest handling procedures and ensure that the results of earlier research and development programs are readily accessible to local producers. 

The project is being implemented in two phases

• Phase I (completed), comprised a three-month Inception Phase aimed at redesigning the project to be more up-to-date and more relevant to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. 

• Phase II, currently being implemented, is a 33-month Implementation Phase.

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Project Design Document - information about the Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables Project.  

Workshop Materials 
The Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables Project consists of a number of workshops which will be held over the life of the project, from 2004 to 2006. 

Workshop and training materials will be added to the site following each activity and can be found under:
Good Agricultural Practices
Postharvest and Quality Matters
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters

For further information, contact the QASAFV Project Coordinator.

Key Stakeholders
ASEAN Member Countries
ASEAN Secretariat
AusAID – Australian Agency for International Development
ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program
ACIL Australia Pty Ltd
Department of Primary Industries Victoria
Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Queensland
RMIT International Pty Ltd