The Community Learning Centre Project has been approved within the framework of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All (APPEAL), and supports one of APPEAL's priority areas, community participation and ownership. Community learning centers, managed by local institutions outside the formal school system, provide literacy and learning opportunities of empowerment for all people to improve quality of life, develop community, and promote social transformation. A planning meeting held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 1998 was attended by 18 participants representing governments and nongovernmental organizations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Uzbekistan. The objectives of the meeting were to exchange experiences among participating countries, develop a clear concept of the community learning center, and develop a regional framework and national action plans. In chapter 1, country papers identify issues and emerging trends. Each country paper includes a profile of the country, the education system, and a case study on existing community learning centers. Chapter 2 presents reports from field visits to community learning centers around Dhaka. Each report describes the center's physical and socioeconomic context, clientele, management, activities, expectations, and outcomes. The concept of the centers and guidelines developed by participants are found in Chapter 4. National action plans developed from the guidelines are in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 contains recommendations for regional cooperation. Five appendices present a list of participants, the agenda and work schedule, opening remarks, a background report on community learning centers, and case studies from Nepal. (TD)