ASEAN’s regional cooperation on social welfare and development is overseen by the Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD). Comprising senior government officials representing the national ministries in-charge of social welfare and development, SOMSWD’s mandate is to implement ASEAN’s commitment to foster cooperation in social development aimed at raising the standard of living of disadvantaged groups, and seek the active involvement of all sectors of society to realize its objectives. SOMSWD supports and reports to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD). Comprising ministers in-charge of social and development in all ASEAN Member States, the AMMSWD sets the strategic policy direction on ASEAN’s regional cooperation on social welfare and development.

In enhancing the quality of life and improving the standard of living for all children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, SOSMWD is guided by the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and other regional documents; Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities; the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,  the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA); and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, among others.

SOMSWD is currently implementing its Strategic Framework on Social Welfare and Development 2016-2020 which focuses on the following thematic areas:    

1. Leveraging social welfare and development to reduce poverty, empowering vulnerable groups, and addressing impacts of social and economic crises.
2. Promoting and protecting the rights of all children, persons with disabilities, older persons and other vulnerable groups through the following:
   • fostering an enabling and supportive environment for healthy, active and productive ageing,
   • enhancing the survival, and strengthening the protection, participation and development of the rights of children; and
   • realising the rights and fostering the opportunities and participation of persons with disabilities towards inclusive societies.
3. Addressing the needs of vulnerable groups through the following: i) promoting social protection policies for increased access and sustainability; ii) strengthening the resilience of families, care-givers in the societies, and iii) enhancing the participation and social responsibility of stakeholders.

Regional mechanisms

SOMSWD Plus Three was established in 2004 and constitutes the Plus Three Countries namely China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. It serves as a regular platform for exchanging policies and good practices on social welfare and development.

AMMSWD Plus Three was established in 2004 as a bi-annual meeting between the ministers in-charge of social welfare and development in China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. It serves as a venue to discuss strategic issues and steer development cooperation through partnerships.

ASEAN Government-Non-Government (GO-NGO) Forum on Social Welfare and Development is a consultative multi-stakeholder forum that brings together governments, civil society organisations, the private sector, and other stakeholders, to exchange knowledge and experiences on policy and programme development and implementation as well as best practices on social welfare and development, following the selected theme of each year.

ASEAN Social Work Consortium (ASWC) serves as a platform that brings together social work practitioners, educators and schools of social work to promote capacity building, and policy and action research in the social work profession.