Cross-cutting issues include Gender, Youth, Environment and Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management
In RISDP 2020–2030, cross-cutting issues include Gender, Youth, Environment and Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management.
These issues are central to ensuring that the formulation, deliberation, adoption, and implementation of regional protocols, strategies, policies, and programmes – underpinned by critical existing instruments – is undertaken in an inclusive manner. In this regard, the focus is on intensified gender equality, empowerment, and development through the accelerated equal participation of women, men, and especially youth in regional development, socio-economic, and political processes at both the national and regional levels. Climate change resilience and the scaling-up of climate mitigation measures is also emphasised as a cross-cutting issue in the RISDP. It is expected that disaster risk management investments will be scaled up to ensure increased resilience. Overall, the RISDP recognises the importance of developing a robust and responsive statistical system to underpin regional integration processes, including measurement of progress and impact.