Kubernein Initiative is an independent, female led, geopolitical advisory firm based in India working to mainstream issues that need greater intellectual capacity and focus.

The Federal Foreign Office of Germany and Kubernein Initiative have taken the joint initiative to consolidate past and current perspectives and understand the extent of gender mainstreaming in the Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on climate, trade and economic security, human and non-traditional security. We consider the centrality of human security in the Indo-Pacific and aim to explore ways forward for shaping more inclusive policies within the region, as well as learn from best practices that may be particularly relevant to Indo-German engagement. This policy brief is part of a series of publications under Kubernein Initiative and the Federal Foreign Office’s joint project. Our perspective is rooted in Germany’s ‘Feminist Foreign Policy’ vision, and Kubernein Initiative’s work on inclusive foreign policy from an Indian context.

In this policy brief, we look at “non-traditional” security concerns that directly impact human security in the Indo-Pacific and could destabilise the region in a way that has implications on the world at large. We probe more deeply into the critical issues that could be considered as avenues for greater Indo-German engagement. Our approach is anchored on evolving global Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) dialogues, Germany’s Feminist Foreign Policy guidelines, as well as Kubernein Initiative’s work on defining an ‘inclusive’ foreign policy. Our aim is to guide policy thinking in a way that champions a deeper understanding of the region’s social, economic, and environmental nuances, recognising the inherent interconnectedness of gender and inclusivity with the challenges faced by the region.