For generations, Colombo Plan scholarships opened the door to education abroad for thousands of young people across Asia and the Pacific. Many went on to shape the futures of their nations.
In our 75th year, we are reviving this legacy. Building on our long-standing partnership with KDI School in the Republic of Korea, new university partnerships in Thailand have added over 50 Master’s and PhD scholarships this year.
The Foreign Ministers of the British Commonwealth meet to discuss international affairs in Colombo where Australia and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) proposes joint financial and technical assistance to the region’s developing nations.
1950
The Colombo Plan is launched and begins by laying the groundwork for education, healthcare, agriculture, science and infrastructure development, gradually evolving to guide its member countries towards robust industrial sectors.
1951-1971
The Colombo Plan reaffirms its commitment to technical cooperation and human capital development with the establishment of CPDAP pioneering notable initiatives in drug demand and supply reduction.
1972-1988
At crossroads, despite the reduced need for external technical assistance, the Colombo Plan forges ahead, buoyed by members' belief in its potential as a catalyst for regional development cooperation.
1989-1994
Embracing new directions, the Colombo Plan pivots towards South-to-South cooperation, catering to both the region's development and the Colombo Plan’s capacities; that of technical co-operation.
1995-2004
The Colombo Plan gains renewed impetus in its global mission for DDR. As the oldest regional inter-governmental programme in the Asia-Pacific region, it ventures into certification, global prevention and treatment protocols, and the development of training curricula.
2005-2019
Stepping into a decade of milestones, online self-led curricula play a pivotal role in global DDR and capacity building, facilitating outreach to new countries and providing accessible services to both memeber and non-member countries.
2020 - 2026
To support economic and social development in the Asia and Pacific region.
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