SACEPS has already established an institutional base, which is used to reach out to and network with some of the well established national institutions within the region, which can provide support to build a South Asian Community. The core strength of the centre lies in its ability to network with various organizations and institutions within civil society. A number of leading educational institut
ions and thinktanks in South Asian region are associated with SACEPS as collaborating institutions. The founding institutions include: Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Bangladesh, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) India, Centre for Policy Research (CPR) India, Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) Nepal, Lahore University of Management Science (LUMS) Pakistan, Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), Sri Lanka and Marga Institute (MI), Sri Lanka. It is an independent, non-profit making, regional, non-governmental organization engaged in promoting policy dialogues, research and interaction between policy makers, business community and civil society by drawing in a wider constituency of people committed to promote regional cooperation in South Asia. The SACEPS permanent Secretariat was established in mid 2005, and is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Centre has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal concerning the Establishment of South Asia Centre for Policy Studies Secretariat (SACEPS) on 3rd January 2007, which has provided the status of International Non- Governmental Organization (INGO).
