As research organisation working in the Global South, APRC (Asia Pacific Regulatory Centre) and FSR Global (FSR Global Council) come together to collaborate in the establishment of the ‘Pacific School of Regulation’. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) effective from December 1, 2024, will focus on developing and enhancing regulatory capacity and advancing knowledge in the Asia Pacific region. The MoU was signed by Mr. Joel K Abraham, Executive Director, The Asia Pacific Regulatory Centre and Ms. Swetha Ravi Kumar, Executive Director, FSR Global.

As a network of sister schools, FSR Global and APRC will work together in strategically collaborating and jointly developing regulatory knowledge to enable energy transition in the Asia Pacific region. The activities envisaged under the MoU include but not limited to:

• Establishing the Pacific School of Regulation as a centre of excellence to enable knowledge exchange focused on the Asia Pacific region.
• Develop capacity building programs to empower the working force in the Asia Pacific region to effectively develop and implement policy and projects supporting energy transition(s).
• Undertake joint research activities to support capacity building and policy initiatives in the Asia Pacific region.

“By uniting efforts, we are empowering policymakers and regulators with the tools to streamline regulatory processes, enhance regional collaboration, and implement effective policies tailored to local challenges. The Pacific School of Regulation will serve as a beacon of innovation and collaboration, reducing reliance on transient external consultants and fostering localized expertise,” said Mr. Joel Abraham, Executive Director of APRC. 

“Our collaboration with APRC marks a significant milestone in advancing regulatory excellence in the Asia Pacific region. The Pacific School of Regulation will not only build capacity but also foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation by co-creating knowledge and facilitating knowledge exchange across regions. If we need accelerated solutions to solve our climate crisis, we also need accelerated collaborations that help us in delivering these solutions, this collaboration seeks to do just that – by not reinventing the wheel, but furthering the collective knowledge on energy transition to be applied and customised to the Asia-Pacific region, with emphasis on small island nations” said Ms. Swetha Ravi Kumar, Executive Director of FSR Global.

Both organizations express their gratitude to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and particularly Yejin Ha, Economic Affairs Officer – Energy Division; for facilitating this collaboration, underscoring the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared challenges.

About FSR Global

FSR Global is an independent regulatory hub of excellence focused on energy transitions in the Global South. Using a system thinking approach they aim at improving the quality of energy regulation by collaborating and co-creating knowledge with multi-stakeholders from the energy sector and beyond. They develop and disseminate knowledge through their 3-pillars of activities – training, policy dialogues and research, through Global North-South and Global South- South partnerships. FSR Global is a not-for-profit organization registered and based in New Delhi, India. (www.fsrglobal.org)

About The Asia Pacific Regulatory Centre

Based in Suva, Fiji, the Asia Pacific Regulatory Centre (APRC) is an independent institution dedicated to strengthening public policy and regulatory frameworks across the Asia Pacific. With a focus on critical sectors such as energy, water, transport, infrastructure, and health, APRC works to empower policymakers and regulators with innovative solutions that address region-specific challenges. By fostering collaboration and providing evidence-based insights, APRC supports sustainable development, regional resilience, and the capacity for informed decision-making, ensuring that regulatory approaches remain adaptive to the unique priorities of each nation. (www.aprcentre.org)