Through the collective efforts of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) of the Philippines and the AHA Centre, the ASEAN Standards and Certification for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND) 2nd Competency Assessment was successfully held from 10 to 13 February 2025 at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Education, Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC) in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines. This activity is a testament to the continued progress of the ASCEND Programme after the 1st Competency Assessment in July 2024 in Indonesia.
The week-long activities were formally opened by Mr Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV, Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration of the OCD of the Philippines. In his opening address, Mr Alejandro highlighted the significance of the ASCEND Programme in reaching the overarching goal of building a disaster-resilient region. “This isn’t just about individual achievement—it’s about building a network of skilled experts who can be counted on in times of crisis. When countries face challenges, the ASCEND Certification makes it easier to mobilize resources and recognize incoming assistance teams, ensuring that the response is swift and effective,” he stated.
Mr Krishna Putra Tanaja, Deputy Executive Director of the AHA Centre, also delivered his opening remarks emphasizing the commitment to continuous improvement within the ASCEND Programme. “This Second Competency Assessment builds upon the success of the first one, incorporating improvements based on the feedback we received in Bogor, Indonesia. These efforts are crucial in achieving our goal, which is to establish ASCEND as a recognised and respected certification programme within the ASEAN region for years to come,” he said.
A total of twenty-three (23) disaster management practitioners from the ASEAN’s NDMOs, AHA Centre partner organisations, civil society organisations (CSOs), and academe were assessed using the ASCEND Competency Standards in the five professions: Rapid Assessment, Humanitarian Logistics, Information Management, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Humanitarian Shelter and Settlement. The comprehensive evaluation process aimed to identify and certify individuals who possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to effectively contribute to disaster response efforts within the ASEAN region.
As the host country, representatives from the OCD of the Philippines and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) participated as observers in the final assessment sessions. The representatives also engaged in discussions exploring the potential for the localisation of the ASCEND Programme within the Philippines.
Following the assessments, an After-Action Review Workshop was convened on 14 February 2025. This workshop was an avenue for the assessors to share their experiences, reflect on the assessment process, and identify areas for improvement. The feedback gathered will be used in refining the Standard Operating Procedure for future assessments and enhancing the overall quality of the ASCEND Programme.
Mr Tanaja concluded the series of events with sincere appreciation to the assessors for committing their time and expertise in the conduct of the assessments. He emphasized that the success of the 2nd Competency Assessment was a collective achievement, made possible with the support from the Republic of Korea through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF).
For more information about ASCEND, please visit https://ascend.ahacentre.org.
