Jakarta, Indonesia – The AHA Centre convened the ASCEND Reference Group (ARG) Workshop on 26–27 November 2025, with support from the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF). The workshop brought together representatives from all eleven ASEAN Member States, ASCEND assessors from partner organisations, and certification experts. This workshop marked a pivotal moment in ASCEND’s transition from a project-driven…
Jakarta, Indonesia – The AHA Centre convened the ASCEND Reference Group (ARG) Workshop on 26–27 November 2025, with support from the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF). The workshop brought together representatives from all eleven ASEAN Member States, ASCEND assessors from partner organisations, and certification experts. This workshop marked a pivotal moment in ASCEND’s transition from a project-driven initiative to a regionally owned certification system for disaster management professionals.
The workshop served as a platform to discuss two critical pillars for ASCEND’s future: institutional sustainability and financial sustainability. Institutional sustainability focuses on embedding ASCEND within national systems and ensuring robust quality assurance mechanisms that uphold transparency and international recognition. Financial sustainability, on the other hand, aims to diversify funding streams and implement cost-effective operations to secure the programme’s longevity.
During the two-day workshop, representatives of ASEAN Member States and AHA Centre partner organisations shared their experiences and strategies in managing a regional disaster management certification system. On the first day, Mr. Amar Bramantyo from Indonesia’s National Standardisation Agency (BSN) opened the knowledge-sharing sessions with insights on international certification frameworks, focusing on ISO 17024, the international standard for bodies that certify personnel. Mr. Berton Pandjaitan from Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) then shared BNPB’s journey in establishing a national disaster management certification system through the Vocational Certification Body for Disaster Management (LSP-PB).
From the Philippines, Ms. Karenkaye Caballero of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) presented the country’s efforts to pilot ASCEND national adoption, anchored in the Philippine DRRM Law, the Philippine Qualifications Framework, and national civil service professionalisation policies. Complementing her presentation, Mr. Venzel Concoles from the Philippines Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) showcased the country’s robust national infrastructure for certification with a nationwide network of accredited assessment centres. TESDA offers several promising pathways for operationalising ASCEND within a nationally recognised system.
Discussions on financial sustainability produced concrete recommendations, including a proposed standard certification fee with tiered pricing to accommodate different income levels and professional groups across the region. Participants also identified cost-reduction strategies such as hybrid delivery models combining online and in-person components, leveraging existing facilities of NDMOs and partner organisations, and clustering assessments geographically to reduce travel costs. To secure long-term sustainability, participants emphasised diversifying funding sources through cost-sharing mechanisms with the government budget, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, university partnerships, and support from multilateral institutions.
Looking ahead, Mr. Lee Yam Ming, the Executive Director of the AHA Centre acknowledged the Republic of Korea’s continued support through AKCF and the AHA Centre’s partners who contribute to the discussion. He noted that while ASCEND’s sustainability initiative is still in its early stages, progress will depend on sustained cooperation among ASEAN Member States.
In his closing remarks, he stated, “The collective insights, commitments, and forward-looking proposals from ASEAN Member States demonstrate a clear regional ambition: to establish ASCEND as a credible, efficient, and regionally owned certification system that supports stronger disaster preparedness, response, and cooperation across ASEAN.”