The 1^st annual WANA Forum aimed to assess regional challenges and concerns, as well as identify opportunities for regional cooperation. There were three reoccurring themes throughout the Forum: regional cooperation; prioritising human security; and the interdependence of social, environmental, economic concerns.

The Forum considered the main issues for which regional cooperation is most needed and can be most feasibly initiated. The issues identified as being the most responsive to regional cooperation included political Islam, corruption, governance, extremism, economic challenges, unemployment, education and environmental challenges.