This Regional Guidance contributes to the implementation of the Ha Noi Declaration on Strengthening Social Work towards a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community (hereinafter the Ha Noi Declaration), describing a collective effort to enhance the role of social work within the region, with a focus on promoting social cohesion and responsiveness to the diverse needs of the Members of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). It emphasises the importance of social work in addressing social challenges, supporting vulnerable populations, and advancing sustainable development, ultimately contributing to a more unified and compassionate ASEAN community. Additional regional commitments to human rights, children’s rights, gender equality, and the right to social protection are listed in Annex A.

The Regional Guidance, identified as a priority for development under the Road Map for the Implementation of the Hanoi Declaration, will support policymakers, decision-makers and practitioners in government planning authorities and in national climate and disaster management authorities (NDMA), responsible for the social service workforce, and in allied sectors, in ASEAN Member States to:

• i) understand the role of social workers and the wider social service workforce in disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate resilience and climate change adaptations (CCA);


• ii) identify steps to integrate CCA, climate resilience and DRR into the planning, development and support 
  for the social service workforce;


• iii) ensure inclusion of the social service workforce in national and local DRR-CCA strategies and plans.