本企画は、長期的にアジアに関心を持つ研究者と一般市民を「アジアに関わる市民」として捉え、彼らが世代・業種・専門を越えて交流・議論する「アジア関わりコンソーシアム」を設立する。その上で、アジアでの臨地研修や国内での研究セミナーなどを開催し、それらの実践を通じ、アジアを対象とする市民研究プログラムの構築を図る。
　現在、多くの日本人がアジア各地で勤務・就学し、また日本では、外国人就労者の増加等、草の根レベルの国際化が進展している。アジアと日本人との出会いの機会が広がるなかで、アジア研究の需要は多様化し、大学院でアジア研究を専攻した後に実業界に進む人や、仕事で関わったアジアに関心を持ち、退職して大学院で学ぶ人も相当数存在する。しかし、このような「アジアに関わる市民」の研鑽や交流の場は少ない。本企画は「アジアに関わる市民」に開かれた、新たな学びのプラットフォームを構築し、市民が社会に主体的に関わる次世代型市民社会における知的活動基盤のモデルとすることを目指す。
　企画実施にあたっては、過去22年間に渡りアジア各地で学生のフィールドワーク実習を開催してきた「アジア農村研究会」の人材とノウハウを活用する。

This project aims to construct a program for “Asia-concerned citizens” who have lifelong interests in Asia and are eager to keep studying about Asian societies. For this purpose, The Consortium for Asia-Concerned Citizens (CACCs) will be created as a platform for Asia-concerned citizens. By holding seminars regularly in major cities in Japan and organizing a fieldwork training course in an Asian country once a year, CACCs will enhance intercourse of Asia-concerned citizens with various backgrounds (generations, jobs and majors) and enable to deepen their personal experience and knowledge by preparing discussions and joint study/research projects.
　While many Japanese now work or study in Asia, the process of grassroots globalization has progressed within the Japanese society as seen in changes such as the significant increase of foreign laborers. It can be said that opportunities for Japanese to encounter Asia or Asians are more spread and diversified than ever before. Various demands for Asian studies have risen in this context. For example, not few students who have majored Asian studies in graduate schools enter into business instead of becoming scholars, whereas business persons leaving their job related to Asia to enter graduate schools and be engaged in Asian studies are increasing in number.
　Despite the wide presence of such Asia-concerned citizens, it is very difficult for them to find a suitable place in the society for studying and networking. This project attempts to develop a platform open widely to Asia-concerned citizens and present it as a model of an intellectual basis of the future society led by proactive citizens.
　The participants of the project are constituted largely from members of the Association of Asian Village Studies which has a reliable storage of know-how based on its activities in various Asian countries in the past 22 years.