Human Resource Development he Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is developing rapidly in the context of an emerging global economy. Consequently, education and training systems in GMS Tcountries are under increasing pressure to provide the human resources needed to sustain continued growth; health systems are struggling to meet expanding demands for health care in the face of increasing income inequality; and cross-border labor migration is growing rapidly to exploit income-earning opportunities and to meet labor shortages within the GMS. In addition, the cross- border transmission of communicable diseases (some emerging, some existing) and human and drug trafcking are increasing concerns in the subregion. There is also growing concern about the social and health impact of rapid growth and subregional integration in border areas, many of which are inhabited predominantly by highly vulnerable ethnic groups. However, the gaps also make effective cooperation Upper: Agricultural research training, .DVHWVDUW8QLYHUVLW\7KDLODQGLower: A difcult to achieve in some areas. There is a risk FODVVURRPLQ6D7KD\+LJK6FKRRO9LHW Although GMS economic growth has been rapid that subregional cooperation can result in an Nam, with access to internet. (averaging over 6% per annum in recent years), it unequal distribution of the benets of GMS human has also been unbalanced within the subregion. resource development (HRD) cooperation among There are still substantial differences in levels of countries, as well as within countries between the income and earnings among GMS countries and in poor and the nonpoor, if effective countermeasures the degrees of development of their social sectors. are not adopted. For example, per capita gross domestic product (GDP) ranged from $742 to about $5,000 among There is an urgent need to reform, strengthen, and the six GMS countries in 2010, while values of harmonize GMS vocational and technical training the Human Development Index ranged from standards, and to harmonize labor migration 0.483 to 0.682 in 2011. These differences provide policies in order to meet labor demand across the a strong rationale for subregional cooperation. region and provide skilled and unskilled workers Human Resource Development 237 with cross-border employment opportunities. Opportunities for Human Resource However, cross-border labor migration increases Development Cooperation the risk of spreading infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, from one country to The GMS consists of a group of geographically another. These risks are heightened by the fact that contiguous countries, which are increasingly linked there are large differences among GMS countries along several transport corridors that provide in the prevalence of such communicable diseases. unique opportunities for economic cooperation and Migrants also have difficulties accessing education integration in such sectors as agriculture, energy, and health services while residing in another transport, and tourism. These opportunities extend country. The absence of systematic information well beyond the areas immediately bordering the about labor markets in the subregion makes it more Mekong River and are not available in either smaller difficult for GMS countries to provide appropriate or larger regional and international groupings, such training and information to their populations to as the Mekong River Commission, the Association enable them to exploit cross-border opportunities of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), or Asia-Pacific in skilled employment. Economic Cooperation. HRD involves various activities that provide A GMS Human Resource Development Strategic vital inputs to a growing economy, including Framework and Action Plan (2009-2012) was education and training, and health and nutrition approved in 2009. HRD cooperation and services that enhance productivity or prevent integration within the GMS will (i) contribute to catastrophic disease outbreaks that can lower broad economic growth and sustainable social economic growth. The main instruments of HRD development, (ii) address problems and needs are (i) investments in education, health, labor and growing out of increased regional connectivity and Upper: Prenatal care at a clinic in the migration, and social development that improve integration in other sectors, and (iii) help the process central highlands, Viet Nam. Lower: Training village patrols, Biodiversity people’s productivity in an equitable manner; and of further integration. HRD cooperation is viewed as Conservation Corridors Initiative, (ii) national, regional, and international policies an important way to support economic growth and Yunnan, PRC. to support that goal. Because HRD increases social development, and ensure that the benefits people’s productivity (creates human and social of regional cooperation and integration reach the capital), a more equitable distribution of HRD poor. For example, cross-border labor migration has outcomes both between and within countries the potential to yield substantial economic benefits contributes to poverty reduction, political to GMS sending and receiving countries and to stability, and national security. HRD provides promote poverty reduction by providing higher opportunities for ethnic groups, women, and other income-earning opportunities for the poor. vulnerable segments of the population. Finally, HRD contributes directly to human welfare. For Harmonization. Different national HRD example, most people place a very high value on regulations, standards, policies, and procedures good health, literacy, personal security, and social are in some cases a constraint to further GMS inclusion. HRD contributes to these by not only integration and economic growth. In these reducing income poverty but also satisfying basic cases, subregional harmonization can assist the human needs. cross-border flow of investments, goods and 238 Greater Mekong Subregion Atlas of the Environment MAP LAST UPDATED: 05 March 2012 services, workers, and students. Examples are (i) standardization of labor regulations (e.g., minimum conditions of employment and regulation of child labor); (ii) food and drug regulation; (iii) border health certification; (iv) cross-border migration regulations and procedures (e.g., registering cross- border workers, employment contracts, ensuring migrants’ access to social services, and regulating the activities of private recruitment companies); (v) standardizing teacher training in key areas, such as technical training, language, portability of educational and training qualifications across borders (e.g., the transfer of credits among GMS universities); and (vi) mutual recognition of skills and qualifications in key occupations to facilitate cross-border migration of skilled workers. Although the potential benefits from harmonization in these and other HRD areas are large, they may take considerable time to achieve. Cross-border Issues. There is an important cross- border dimension to many HRD issues affecting the subregion. Some of these issues have become more urgent as the result of growing subregional connectivity. An important example is the control of infectious diseases. Some communicable diseases (e.g., HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS]) are easily transmitted Phnom Penh Plan for Development Management is across borders by migrants and travelers. Avian a highly successful example of the additional value influenza, an important emerging disease with that can be obtained through subregional activities. potentially devastating economic and health impacts, In this case, the value comes from (i) developing can be transmitted by infected poultry traded across a common GMS approach to problem solving (by borders. Some vector-borne infectious diseases, such exposing GMS government managers to a common as malaria and dengue fever, cannot be effectively curriculum), (ii) developing foreign language skills controlled in border areas unless they are controlled on both sides of the border. Other important cross- border HRD issues include (i) the illegal drug trade, which is the main channel of HIV/AIDS infection Phnom Penh Plan in some GMS countries; (ii) cross-border trade in fake drugs; (iii) cross-border trafficking of women he Phnom Penh Plan for Development and children; and (iv) cross-border travel to obtain TManagement is a pioneering program that supports building a critical mass of medical care. Although much of the effort needed highly competent and qualified junior-, to address these problems is national, regional middle- and senior-level policy makers, cooperation is also needed. Several GMS projects development planners and managers to have already been implemented to address such lead and drive socioeconomic development cross-border issues, including regional projects to in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). control communicable diseases and to study the The Phnom Penh Plan supports learning problem of cross-border human trafficking. programs on a range of topics specifically designed to address the needs and enhance the competencies of the GMS civil service, a Additional Value through Subregional fellowship program in prestigious learning Upper: Research on new crop varieties, Cooperation. Some HRD activities involve institutions for contextual immersion, Kasetsart University, Thailand. Lower: significant economies of scale or public goods Education for farmers about avian flu, a research program that supports new Lao PDR. or provide other opportunities that