ANGOC has been named regional focal point for the Agrarian Reform Network (ARNet) or the Knowledge Network on Civil Society Initiatives in Land Reform and Tenurial Security in Developing Countries. The network is one of two international networks on agrarian reform established by the Popular Coalition to Eradicate Hunger and Poverty. The Popular Coalition is a consortium intergovernmental and civil society organizations dedicated to building on the dynamism and potential of civil society groups to eradicate hunger and poverty.

The Coalition is the outcome of the Conference on Hunger and Poverty, held on November 20 to 21, 1995 in Brussels, Belgium. The participants, numbering close to 1,000 and representing a broad spectrum of organizations, reaffirmed the need to eradicate hunger and poverty from the bottom up.

Since the 1995 Conference 400 organizations have indicated their interest in being associated with the Coalition. Sixty per cent of these groups are civil society organizations and NGOs. Two networks have been established for land reform, the Coalition�s priority concern.

ANGOC as the ARNet Regional Focal Point for Southeast Asia coordinates activities among four Country Focal Points in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. The ARNet focuses on the collection, review and dissemination of information on civil society initiatives to improve the access of rural poor people to land and water resources, including common-property resources. They also include conflict resolution, land rights and entitlements and protection of the rights of women and indigenous organizations.

On 25-26 November 1997, ANGOC convened a Southeast Asian Planning Meeting in Manila, involving representatives from the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia, Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria - Indonesia, People�s Campaign for Agrarian Reform (AR NOW!, Philippines), and Thai NGO WCARRD Committee.� In December 1997, a draft regional report and overview on the state of agrarian reform in Southeast Asia, entitled �How Much Land Does a Man Need?� was prepared by ANGOC, based on country papers received.� This paper, as well as a report of the sub-regional meeting is available from the ANGOC Secretariat.� A second series of sub-regional meetings were convened in mid-1998.