What is the main problem the project is seeking to address? While civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Asia-Pacific region have demonstrated growing interest in addressing statelessness, efforts remain fragmented and often lack the institutional coordination and sustainability needed to drive systemic change. SDCC-AP, a key regional platform, is currently operating under the umbrella of another organization —Nationality For All (NFA), which places certain limits on its autonomy, visibility, and operational capacity. The absence of independent legal registration for Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition Asia Pacific (SDCC-AP) restricts its ability to lead regional initiatives, secure funding, expand membership, and engage meaningfully with multistakeholder platforms such as the Global Alliance to End Statelessness. Additionally, there is a pressing need for SDCC-AP to strengthen its internal governance and strategic planning processes, particularly through inclusive engagement with its Steering Committee and members of the Impacted Persons Advisory Group (IPAG). This project seeks to address these foundational gaps by supporting SDCC-AP in two critical areas: (1) obtaining legal registration as an independent entity based in Bangkok, Thailand; and (2) convening an in-person meeting of the Steering Committee and IPAG to finalize the organization’s strategic and operational direction. These steps are essential for transforming SDCC-AP into a robust, sustainable, and representative regional civil society platform capable of coordinating action, amplifying community voices, and contributing meaningfully to the global goal of ending statelessness.

What is the main change the project seeks to achieve? This project seeks to establish SDCC-AP as an independent, legally registered regional civil society entity in Bangkok, Thailand, and to build its organizational foundation to enable long-term sustainability and impact. The main change the project aims to achieve is the institutional strengthening of SDCC-AP, ensuring it can function autonomously, coordinate regional CSO efforts more effectively, and represent the Asia-Pacific region in global forums with greater legitimacy and structure. Through support for legal registration, the project will enable SDCC-AP to secure its own funding, enter into partnerships, and manage programs that strengthen civil society engagement in ending statelessness. The in-person meeting of the Steering Committee and IPAG will serve as a key milestone to solidify SDCC-AP’s identity and strategy. It will focus on finalizing a comprehensive strategic plan, a fundraising strategy, project concept notes for future initiatives, a membership expansion strategy, and the operational framework for the newly registered entity. Ultimately, this project will lay the groundwork for a stronger, more coordinated civil society response to statelessness in the region. It will ensure that SDCC-AP is well-positioned to support its members, amplify the voices of stateless and at-risk populations, and drive collective advocacy and action toward the shared goal of ending statelessness in Asia and the Pacific.

Who are the key partners? The lead organization for this project is the Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition Asia Pacific (SDCC-AP), a regional coalition composed of 28 member organizations working on statelessness, citizenship, and human rights across the Asia-Pacific. The project will be implemented collaboratively by the full membership of SDCC-AP, ensuring regional representation, local expertise, and the meaningful inclusion of stateless-led and community-based groups. Several SDCC-AP members are also members of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness and will serve as key co-leads in this initiative. These include: Nationality For All (Global Alliance member) Family Frontiers (Global Alliance member) Central Asian Network on Statelessness (Global Alliance member) Citizenship Affected People's Network (Global Alliance member) DHRRA Malaysia (Global Alliance member) Imkaan Welfare Organization (Global Alliance member) Council of Minorities (Global Alliance member) In addition, the project will engage and work closely with the Government of the Philippines as a key government partner. As a Solution Seeker State and member of the Global Alliance, the Philippines offers a valuable example of national leadership in addressing statelessness and will provide strategic insights and engagement in the regional consultations.

Who is the target population for this project? PrimaryStateless-led organizations and CSOs

Funding and costs What is the total cost of this project?25,000 USD