Civil services are recognised as the backbone of development and good governance across all ASEAN Member States (AMS). The ASEAN Cooperation on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM) was established to strengthen collaboration among AMS based on the belief that civil service cooperation is essential for narrowing development gaps and supporting the establishment of the ASEAN Community. Since its inception, ACCSM has served as a platform for fostering closer regional ties, enabling collaboration, and facilitating the exchange of information, innovations, and best practices in civil service management and development.

The ACCSM Work Plan, renewed every five years, provides a dynamic platform for AMS to identify key management and reform issues, share policy perspectives, and strengthen communities of practice across ASEAN civil services. The current Work Plan (2021–2025) continues to pursue ACCSM’s long-term goal of building and sustaining a high-performing, dynamic, and citizen-centric civil service for the peoples of ASEAN. It also plays a central role in promoting cooperation, developing and implementing capacity-building programmes, and raising professional standards across AMS. To support this, ACCSM has expanded cooperation with the Plus Three Countries (China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea), Dialogue Partners (Australia, Canada, and India), and other ASEAN Sectoral Bodies.