Supporting the Development of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Strategic Plan
| Proponent | : | ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) |
|---|---|---|
| Implementing Agency | : | ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) |
Background
The ASEAN Community Vision 2025, including the ASCC Blueprint 2025 is approaching the end of its implementation phase. Recognising the need for a forward-looking framework, ASEAN Leaders adopted the Ha Noi Declaration on the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision during the 37th ASEAN Summit in 2020. This declaration highlighted the importance of addressing regional challenges and opportunities through enhanced institutional capacity and a whole-of-community approach.
The ASCC Strategic Plan is integral to realising the broader ASEAN Community Vision 2045. It reflects a commitment to inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience which aligns with ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership initiatives. These include measures that advance environmental cooperation, increase people-to-people connectivity, strengthen regional integration, and promote sustainable development, contributing to harmony, peace and progress across ASEAN for a better future and an improved quality of life.
What is the project aiming for?
The project aims to support the development of the ASCC Strategic Plan through inclusive and participatory engagements of ASCC Sectoral Bodies and key stakeholders, and facilitate consultations, dialogues and discussions via diverse platforms across various levels, including Ministerial-level, Senior Officials, Working Group and sectoral bodies under the ASCC Pillar. It seeks to ensure that ASCC initiatives are inclusive, beneficial, sustainable, dynamic, and resilient, contributing to regional integration and community-building. Additionally, the project will implement communication and outreach strategies to raise awareness and support for the strategic plan.
Specifically, the key activities are to:
- Provide technical and secretariat support to the Ad-Hoc Working Group (AHWG) in developing the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan;
- Facilitate consultations and engagements with diverse stakeholders, including ASEAN Member States, sectoral bodies, ASEAN’s external partners, international organizations, think tanks, and civil society organisations; and
- Implement communication strategies such as public outreach, media relations, and advocacy campaigns to enhance understanding and support for the plan.
We, the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)…on the occasion of the 37th ASEAN Summit…do hereby…agree that the development of a Post-2025 Vision shall be pursued in a comprehensive, pragmatic, balanced, inclusive and coordinated manner; taking a whole-of-Community approach to synergize efforts across the ASEAN Community Pillars and among its sectoral bodies to address the increasing complexity of opportunities and challenges facing ASEAN.
Ha Noi Declaration on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision
12 November 2020
Ha Noi, Viet Nam
The project Supporting the Development of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Post 2025 Strategic Plan contributes to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025, particularly Action Line A.1: Engaged Stakeholders in ASEAN processes. Further, this project supports the Connectivity Thematic Area of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
The project is currently underway and scheduled to be completed in the latter half of 2026. As of 31 December 2024, the Project has supported the conduct of four (4) Ad Hoc Working Group meetings to Develop the ASCC Strategic Plan (AHWG), and stakeholder engagement initiatives with key ASCC stakeholders. The AHWG has also finalised the 1st draft of the ASCC Strategic Plan at the end of December 2024. The 1st Draft contains 112 provisionally agreed strategic measures covering both socio-cultural and cross-pillar areas.
As of 28 February 2025
