The ASEAN Standards and Certification for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND) Programme reached another milestone with the successful completion of the 3rd ASCEND Competency Assessment, held from 22 – 25 June 2026 at the Indonesia Disaster Training Ground in Sentul, West Java. The assessment reflects ASEAN’s commitment to enhancing the quality of disaster management professionals through a regionally recognised competency standard certification system. The event is part of ASCEND Project Phase 2: Advancing ASEAN Regional Professionalism in Disaster Management, supported by the Republic of Korea through the ASEAN Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF).
Ms. Irma Dewi Rismayanti, Head of the Bureau of Legal, Organisation and Cooperation of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), delivered opening remarks as co-host of the event. Reflecting on Indonesia’s vision of Sustainable Resilience as Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) in 2026, she highlighted the importance of ASCEND as a key regional mechanism for promoting common professional standards, acknowledging excellence, and fostering stronger collaboration among disaster management professionals across ASEAN.
“By investing in human capital and professional certification, we are building a stronger foundation for a more resilient and prepared ASEAN Community,” she said.
Representing the Republic of Korea Mission to ASEAN, Minister-Counsellor, Mr. Hyon-Sang Ahn, emphasised the importance of ASEAN-ROK partnership to enhance ASEAN’s disaster management capacity through technical cooperation and knowledge sharing.
“We want to ensure that this project grows and stays sustainable for a long time. Our goal is to build a solid system so that ASEAN can run this project independently in the future,” he added.
Twenty-six (26) disaster management practitioners from across ASEAN participated as candidates in the 3rd ASCEND assessment, representing various organisations and technical specialities. The candidates were assessed across five key professions under the ASCEND framework, including Rapid Assessment, Humanitarian Logistics, Information Management, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion (WASH), and Shelter Management. The assessment expanded to include self-funded candidates, in line with one of the sustainability mechanisms agreed under ASCEND.
The assessment and strong interest from self-funded candidates reflect the region’s increasing commitment to professional development and showcase ASCEND certification as a reputable regional standard for recognising practitioners who meet shared competency criteria and are prepared to deliver effective disaster management services.
Following the competency assessment, assessors and organisers gathered in the After-Action Review Workshop, a dedicated space where they reflected on the assessment process, shared valuable insights, and identified lessons learned. In the session, the assessors made practical recommendations to strengthen further quality assurance, consistency, recognition, and brainstorm on ASCEND’s long-term sustainability.
Mr. Krishna Putra Tanaja, Deputy Executive Director of the AHA Centre, closed the event by reflecting on ASCEND’s progress, acknowledging the commitment of stakeholders who have supported the programme since its inception and emphasising the importance of building a trusted and sustainable certification system through continuous learning, robust quality assurance, and long-term collaboration to strengthen ASCEND’s recognition and impact across ASEAN.
“Beyond this assessment, we remain committed to building a certification programme that is credible, consistent and built to last,” he concluded.
As ASCEND continues to evolve, the successful implementation of the 3rd Competency Assessment is a crucial step in advancing the ownership of regional standards and institutionalising ASEAN’s competency certification system. Ultimately, ASCEND stays committed to its core principle: investing in skilled disaster management professionals improves preparedness, enhances coordination, and delivers more effective assistance to communities affected by disasters across ASEAN.
