The Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) is Singapore's way of sharing with other developing countries the technical and systems skills that Singapore has learned and acquired over the years.

Singapore became independent in 1965 and we benefited from the help that developed nations had given by way of human resource development training through technical assistance.

SCP technical assistance is grounded in the philosophy that human resource development is best given on the understanding that "give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life."

Technical assistance focuses on training and increasing the skills of a nation. As a country whose only resource is its people, Singapore believes human resource development is vital for economic and social progress. Singapore had benefited from technical assistance from other countries and international organisations.

In turn, Singapore believes in sharing her development experiences with other developing countries. To do this, Singapore has been providing technical assistance to other developing countries since the 1960s. In 1992, Singapore organised all its technical assistance programmes under one umbrella to form the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). To date, the SCP has reached out to more than 68,000 government officials from 169 developing countries in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Technical Cooperation Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore administers programmes under the SCP.

Types of Assistance Programmes

1. Bilateral Programmes
   
   In bilateral programmes, training is offered directly to a developing country on a government-to-government basis. Technical assistance programmes are developed within Singapore's capacity to assist and are designed to meet training needs of recipient countries.

2. Joint Training Programmes
   
   In joint training programmes, assistance is provided to recipient countries in collaboration with another developed or developing country, or an international organisation. Training provided under such an arrangement is known as a Third Country Training Programme (TCTP).

3. Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) centres
   
   In 2000, Singapore launched the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), an effort to narrow the development gap in the ASEAN region. The IAI aims to mobilise resources from more developed ASEAN members to assist the newer ASEAN countries in their human resource development.
   
   Singapore has set up four IAI training centres, one each in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam since Nov 2001. These IAI training centres provide training in areas of identified priority by the respective countries and where Singapore has the expertise. To date, we have conducted more than 500 courses and trained more than 16,000 officials in these countries. The IAI centres will also be equipped with computers to enhance the facilities. Priority training areas include English language, trade and economic development, tourism, productivity, IT and curriculum planning courses.
    

4. Study Visits
   
   We also conduct study visits for SCP participants who have chosen to share Singapore's experience through specially arranged immersion programmes.

5. Singapore Scholarship for ASEAN countries
   
   We also offer scholarships at Singapore's main universities to nurture the youths of ASEAN member nations.

Last Updated on 17 July 2008