JAKARTA, 29 July – Youth development experts convened at a two-day online meeting to exchange ideas on the development of the ASEAN Work Plan on Youth 2021-2025.

Thirty-five participants from youth organisations, ASEAN entities, relevant NGOs and UN Agencies, as well as potential partners attended the virtual meeting that was organised by the ASEAN Secretariat on 28-29 July 2020.

At the meeting, the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Project Lead of the Asia Pacific region Thuy Nguyen presented key findings of the WEF ASEAN Youth Survey 2020: COVID-19, the true test of ASEAN youth’s resilience and adaptability.

The survey shows that ASEAN youth have been adapting to challenges caused by COVID-19 by significantly increasing digital adoption, learning new skills, thinking creatively and developing new business models.

Findings from the survey recommend the strengthening of public-private-partnership in improving digital access, investing in promoting digital skill capabilities, and providing more funding to support youths in the gig economy and entrepreneurs.

The forthcoming work plan will continue efforts to promote youth development in line with the current ASEAN Work Plan on Youth (2016-2020), to achieve the broad objectives of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025.

The priority areas of the next work plan will be structured around the five domains of the ASEAN Youth Development Index: Education, Health and Well-Being, Employment and Opportunities, Participation and Engagement, and ASEAN Awareness, Values and Identity.

The breakout sessions solicited ideas and perspectives on how to ensure a holistic and well-coordinated approach in addressing all priority areas under the work plan. Further, participants discussed how to leverage partnerships for its effective implementation and how youth can be better engaged in the process.

Multi-stakeholder partnerships and the increased involvement of youth will be key to the implementation of various cross-sectoral initiatives of the post-2020 youth work plan.

Lao PDR’s Youth Union and Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Ministry, as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively, of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Youth (SOMY) observed the meeting.

The expert recommendations gathered at the meeting will be taken in consideration in the formulation of the post-2020 youth work plan.