After a decade of its implementation, an End-Term Review of the ASCC Blueprint 2025 has shown significant strides made by the ASCC in lifting the quality of life of the people through cooperative activities that are people-centred, environmentally friendly, and geared towards sustainable development. These include strengthening regional cooperation and partnerships, expanding cross-sectoral and cross-pillar linkages, and aligning ASCC initiatives to national policies and priorities.

The End-Term Review combines quantitative analysis of the ASCC Blueprint 2025 monitoring reports, key performance indicators, and sectoral work plan implementation with qualitative insights gathered through interviews and focus group discussions involving sectoral bodies, national focal points, and institutions across ASEAN Member States. The Review was conducted independently by the Altamont Group and applied internationally recognised evaluation criteria, with a cross-cutting focus on gender equality, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion.

A decade in numbers

At the conclusion of the ASCC Blueprint 2025, all 109 of its Strategic Measures have been completely addressed with completed and ongoing initiatives. Its sectoral work plans have an average implementation rate of 88 per cent. In comparison, 96 per cent of ASCC’s adopted declarations and statements have 3,752 national and regional follow-up actions (i.e., policies, programmes, and activities).

The unemployment rate in ASEAN dropped from 4.1 per cent in 2016 to 3.4 per cent in 2024, while labour force participation increased slightly from 68.2 to 68.4 over the same period. In the health sector, similar progress was observed with a decrease in infant mortality from 31 to 16.4 per 1,000 live births between 2016 and 2024. ASEAN statistics show that life expectancy also rose to 73.2 in 2024 from 72.1 in 2020. The ASEAN Sustainable Development Goal Indicators Progress Report 2025 has shown a significant reduction in the proportion of the population living below the national poverty line from 13.3 per cent in 2016 to 10.8 per cent in 2023. The End-Term Review complements these numbers with progress in key areas such as health development, education, environmental sustainability, labour, and social protection.

Building an ASEAN Community for the people, with the people

The ASCC Blueprint 2025 set forth actions that ensured the active participation of ASEAN people, not just beneficiaries, in regional and national initiatives. Stakeholder engagement was institutionalised as part of the Blueprint’s strategic measure, with 314 sectoral activities supporting the institutionalisation of stakeholder consultations and a further 304 activities strengthening partnership and cooperation frameworks.

Member States developed programmes to broaden youth involvement, ensuring the active participation of ASEAN youth in ASEAN’s Community-building efforts. Initiatives such as the ASEAN Youth Cultural Forum and the ASEAN Cultural Heritage Digital Archive (ACHDA) increased the younger generation’s awareness of ASEAN’s shared identity and the value of heritage preservation. At the same time, they supported capacity building in heritage preservation through digital documentation and regional artist residencies, further fostering cultural awareness, empathy, and institutional cooperation across national ministries of culture.

Bringing together communities across the region has also been a key factor in preserving and promoting culture. Cultural performances, media broadcasts, and historical storytelling were used to promote ASEAN’s rich and diverse cultures under the “Vivid ASEAN” initiative, while the “Sarong Diplomacy” project employed heritage-based collaborations to promote cross-cultural exchanges. Member States have also used radio programmes and regional events to showcase their cultural heritage and share local stories and traditional practices with a larger audience. Data gathered from Member States have demonstrated that cultural initiatives under the ASCC Blueprint have provided artists and other talented individuals with ways and platforms to engage and connect with a broader audience. The End-Term Review results also showed that young people and women’s organisations gained visibility and more opportunities by participating in regional activities.

In social welfare, climate action, and disaster management, participation is more inclusive and community-driven. Persons with disabilities were actively engaged in the implementation of the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025, while women and community leaders are engaged in resilience planning and development of localised post-disaster recovery frameworks. Across the region, climate action initiatives have engaged women, youth, and communities in environmental governance. Community forestry and biodiversity conservation programmes in a number of Member States have embedded consultation mechanisms for women and local communities to inform local environment planning and benefit sharing. Climate dialogues have also engaged youth and women’s organisations, particularly in the context of climate education and awareness campaigns aligned with the ASEAN Strategic Plan on Environment.

Reducing barriers, empowering the people

Across sectoral workplans, 554 activities focused on providing equitable access to services and opportunities, while 397 focused on promotion and protection of human rights, indicating that inclusivity and addressing barriers to access and opportunities are not only peripheral concerns but core principles of the ASCC Blueprint’s implementation.

In health development, different levels of success were noted in achieving universal health coverage (UHC), while improvements were seen in health finance and access to health services. To lower the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases, stricter regulations in promoting tobacco and alternative nicotine products were implemented across the region. Climate and health strategies have also integrated efforts to combat vector-borne diseases and illnesses caused by pollution. The End-Term Review findings also showed the effectiveness of technical subgroups and health cluster mechanisms in managing coordination, allowing countries to act and respond quickly in areas such as surveillance and emergency response. Relatedly, information sharing and disease surveillance among Member States were also strengthened by the operationalisation of the ASEAN UHC Network.

Under the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025, Member States expanded social assistance for persons with disabilities, further promoting equal access and opportunities. Vocational training programmes for persons with disabilities, which contributed to improved employment opportunities, have contributed to disability-inclusive development in the region. Notable progress was also recorded in the area of social protection, with the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection listing 122 follow-up actions. The Bali Declaration on the Enhancement of the Role and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the ASEAN Community generated 90 follow-up actions. Both ensured that regional frameworks are concretely translated into national policies, programmes and activities.

On labour, the End-Term Review findings showed that more than seven million migrant workers benefited from ASEAN-led social security and labour frameworks through access to pensions, health insurance, and work-related risk coverage. In several Member States, returning migrant workers also received skills development and participated in reintegration programmes. Regional instruments outlining labour resilience strategies, such as skill development programs, employment reintegration efforts, and financial literacy campaigns, have also been instrumental in supporting communities affected by economic disruptions.

Similarly, public service training programmes and human resource development have also seen improvements under the ASCC Blueprint 2025, particularly in governance, leadership development, and service delivery. Results from the End-Term Review showed that initiatives under the ASEAN Cooperation on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM) facilitated knowledge exchange programmes across Member States, fostered stronger networks for public service delivery and training, and enabled governments to adopt and adapt best practices, leading to a more strengthened and enhanced public service delivery and administration across the region.

Gender equality and the protection of women and children remain among the significant dimensions of the ASCC Blueprint’s people-centred approach. Treated as a cross-cutting theme, gender has been integrated into multiple sectoral workplans, such as in health, social welfare, labour and education. Data from Member States showed their prioritisation of women’s and children’s access to essential health services. In the area of women’s economic empowerment, the establishment of the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network is considered a notable milestone that has improved women’s access to economic opportunities, including access to financing and training support for women-led businesses. To ensure the protection of women migrant workers, several Member States have instituted policies that address gender-specific vulnerabilities, which also ensure that women migrant workers receive better legal protections and access to social services. Member States have also ensured the translation of key regional frameworks, such as the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children with 109 follow-up actions, and the ASEAN Declaration on the Gender-Responsive Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and SDGs with 94 actions, reflecting the strength and depth of regional engagement in advancing gender equality and women’s rights.

Driving dynamism, resilience and sustainability

Recognising that ASEAN is a region prone to natural disasters, the ASCC has worked tirelessly to ensure that the region is better prepared, communities are safeguarded, and the quality of life of the people is preserved.

ASEAN has improved its disaster response and efficiency, mainly through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre). Efficient and effective coordination of humanitarian aid, deployment of early warning systems, and streamlining of post-disaster recovery efforts have also benefited from multisectoral engagement in disaster preparedness. Regional emergency response mechanisms, such as the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Teams, public communication campaigns, and close collaboration across Member States have contributed to a coordinated and collective response to disasters and to equipping communities with knowledge of safety protocols, digital tools on emergency updates, and early warning systems.

With the growing impacts of climate change, the ASCC has advanced climate adaptation and environmental sustainability through various initiatives that incorporate biodiversity preservation and coastal protection initiatives into regional frameworks. Instrumental in driving biodiversity conservation and enhancing ecosystem management is the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) programme, which also strengthened ranger training programmes and facilitated dialogues on wildlife trafficking and forest protection. ASEAN has also continuously addressed the issues of transboundary haze pollution with mechanisms such as the Myanmar-Thai Transboundary Haze Pollution Prevention Committee and regional fire protection initiatives, which improved real-time data sharing, resource mobilisation, and cross-border policy alignment.

In 2020, the region’s resilience was tested by the COVID-19 pandemic. ASEAN’s response to the pandemic demonstrated its strength in leveraging and maximising its existing mechanisms and partnerships, while also exposing gaps in the region’s preparedness for public health emergencies. Cross-border pandemic response measures, coordinating vaccine distribution and facilitating knowledge sharing between health ministries have been guided by regional frameworks, including the ASEAN Public Health Emergency Coordination System. Member States have also accelerated the digitalisation of health services, including telemedicine, online consultations, and digital health monitoring platforms, which have been integrated into their national healthcare systems well beyond the pandemic. The pandemic has also hastened digital transformation in the areas of labour and education, where virtual platforms became essential in sustaining learning and workforce development.

Central to ensuring that the gains of the ASCC Blueprint’s decade-long implementation are sustained, the ASCC has undertaken efforts to translate ASEAN commitments into national laws and long-term strategies, as evidenced by its more than 3,000 follow-up actions, at both the national and regional levels, to adopt declarations and statements. Member States have successfully translated ASCC priorities, such as social protection measures, into national programmes; disaster resilience frameworks into national disaster response laws; and gender sensitivity into policies and programmes. Several Member States have also developed national-level frameworks that ensure ASEAN’s regional commitments align with national laws and policies—reflecting the impact of national integration on the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of regional initiatives.

Regional partnerships and cross-pillar and sectoral collaborations have also played a critical role in sustaining the gains of the ASCC Blueprint 2025. Examples from joint environmental programmes, such as in the Mekong River Basin, and multi-sectoral cooperation initiatives have also demonstrated the importance of regional partnerships in promoting shared responsibility and ensuring sustainability, including through knowledge transfer and regional learning exchanges.

Building on a decade of lessons, gains, and good practices

The ASCC Blueprint 2025 has been instrumental in building a people-centred, people-oriented ASEAN Community that is more resilient, dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable. Its implementation has advanced climate action and disaster resilience, enhanced social welfare and protection, and ensured that ASEAN people are better prepared, protected, and supported, especially in times of crises, emergencies, and disasters.

While the End-Term Review outlined ASCC’s milestones and accomplishments, it is equally candid about what still needs to be done. The uneven gains in the Blueprint’s implementation resulted from gaps in participation, resource constraints, and the need for deeper institutional and stakeholder ownership, stronger and more sustainable financing, and greater alignment between regional commitments and national action. The breadth and comprehensiveness of initiatives under the ASCC Blueprint 2025 also pose further challenges to the ASCC’s capacity and resources, underscoring the value of prioritisation and strategic focus. Communication and outreach efforts have largely focused on institutional stakeholders rather than grassroots communities, particularly in rural and remote areas. The End-Term Review points to the need to focus on high‑impact, sustainable initiatives; strengthen cross‑sectoral and cross‑pillar coordination; and invest in more robust monitoring, evaluation, learning, and communication systems.

As ASEAN looks beyond 2025, the ASCC Blueprint leaves behind both a foundation and a roadmap. The ASCC Strategic Plan inherits this decade’s lessons—on what works, where the gaps and challenges lie, and what it truly takes to translate ASEAN’s shared vision into a people-centred, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient community. The years ahead present an opportunity to carry forward the ASCC Blueprint’s core objective of putting people at the centre and further improving their quality of life—leaving no one behind in ASEAN’s regional cooperation and community-building.

The article is drawn from the Interim Report of the ASCC Blueprint 2025, covering the period of 2016-2023, submitted by the Altamont Group, an independent consultant for the End Term Review of the ASCC Blueprint 2025. The Final Report of the ASCC Blueprint 2025, which covers the period until 31 December 2025, is currently being developed.

The article was prepared by Jennifer L. Santos, Senior Officer, and Astri Fajawarti, Officer, ASCC Monitoring Division.