Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive 

Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations 

(2026-2030) 

Recalling the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the UN, adopted at the 4th ASEAN-UN Summit on 19 November 2011, in Bali, Indonesia, and achievements in the implementation of the first and second ASEAN-UN Plans of Action for the period of (2016-2020) and (2021-2025), respectively, this Plan of Action will continue to pursue the goals and objectives outlined in the Declaration in the next five years (2026-2030), within the framework of the Comprehensive Partnership; 

This Plan of Action identifies strategic priorities and practical measures to be undertaken by both sides to enhance collaboration across all pillars and will serve as the foundation for further planning, including the possible development of frameworks and work plans as initiated by the respective ASEAN sectoral bodies and their UN counterparts. The Plan of Action will also contribute to the promotion of the ASEAN Community-building and integration as well as ASEAN’s efforts in realising the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action as well as the Pact for the Future, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations; 

This Plan of Action calls for strengthening existing ASEAN-UN mechanisms by improving coordination, monitoring, and review processes, as appropriate, to ensure the effective and timely implementation of its action lines. ASEAN and the UN hereby endeavour to pursue cooperation in the following priority areas through the corresponding activities, in conformity with their obligations under international law and in accordance with the respective domestic laws, regulations, and policies of ASEAN Member States, on the basis of equal benefit and opportunity for ASEAN and the UN; 

1. POLITICAL-SECURITY COOPERATION 

1.1. Peace and Security 

1.1.1. Promote closer cooperation for sustaining peace, including through confidence-building measures, preventive diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping and peace-building, and exchange of information, best practices, lessons learned, experiences and expertise in these areas on a flexible, voluntary and non-binding basis, within relevant ASEAN mechanisms and ASEAN-led arrangements such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), as well as collaborate with the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) and ASEAN-led fora, including convening the regular ASEAN-UN Track 1.5 workshops, trainings and regional dialogues as well as relevant capacity-building initiatives; 

1.1.2. Further cooperation with the UN to provide continued training assistance in peacekeeping to ASEAN as well as support ASEAN’s efforts in strengthening the ASEAN Peacekeeping Centres Network and enhancing support for ASEAN Women Peacekeepers in the context of the Action for Peacekeeping Initiative, while adapting peace operations to better respond to existing and emerging challenges; 

1.1.3. Promote cooperation on the UN Triangular Partnership Programme among participating ASEAN Member States, the UN, and the supporting member states to build peacekeeping capacity, as appropriate, based on the readiness of respective ASEAN Member States; 

1.1.4. Strengthen cooperation to maintain and enhance the relevance of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), including through strengthening ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture; promote active cooperation in areas that are mutually beneficial as well as in matters of common ideals and aspirations of international peace and stability in the region and other matters of common interests, in accordance with the purpose and principles of the TAC; and participate in, and support activities to promote adherence to the principles of the TAC among High Contracting Parties (HCPs), including the Conference of the HCPs to the TAC;

1.1.5. Further support ASEAN’s efforts in the implementation of the Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace and Security in ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security (ASEAN RPA on WPS) to ensure the full, equal, safe, and meaningful participation of women in peace and security processes to address traditional and nontraditional security challenges; 

1.1.6. Promote collaboration between the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) and the UN, including sharing of expertise and best practices in addressing humanitarian aspects of landmines and explosive remnants of war; 

1.1.7. Support ASEAN’s efforts in combating various forms of transnational crime, as guided by the successor document of the ASEAN Plan of Action in Combating Transnational Crime (2016-2025), and other relevant ASEAN guiding documents, including the ASEAN Declaration on Combating Arms Smuggling and the ASEAN Plan of Action to Prevent and Counter the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism (2018-2025), and encourage the active engagement of women-led civil society organisations in prevention and response mechanisms; 

1.1.8. Strengthen cooperation in preventing and combating trafficking in persons (TIP) in line with the relevant UN instruments and ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP), the ASEAN Multi-Sectoral Work Plan against TIP 2023-2028 (Bohol TIP Work Plan 2.0) and future cross-sectoral work on TIP, while acknowledging the close linkages of TIP with other forms of transnational crime, such as cybercrime, illicit drugs trafficking, arms smuggling and money laundering, and recognising the need to uphold human rights principles; 

1.1.9. Strengthen cooperation on preventing and countering radicalisation to terrorism and violent extremism, preventing and combating transnational organised crimes and terrorism as well as illicit trade of firearms and the supply of weapons to terrorists, terrorism financing and addressing the drivers of terrorism, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and international law, including the use of information and communication technologies by terrorists and their supporters, in particular the internet, including social media platforms, for terrorist purposes; 

1.1.10. Increase cross-border coordination to address transnational organised crime, terrorism as well as other regional traditional and non-traditional security challenges and support ASEAN’s efforts to promote ASEAN border management cooperation as well as cooperation on law enforcement, as appropriate, while ensuring that these mechanisms take into account gender-responsive risk assessments, protection measures for women, and the engagement of women in border management and community-based initiatives; 

1.1.11. Support ASEAN’s efforts to preserve Southeast Asia as a Nuclear WeaponFree Zone, and free of all other weapons of mass destruction in accordance with the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), the ASEAN Charter, and SEANWFZ’s Plan of Action; 

1.1.12. Promote an enhanced role of the SEANWFZ and its States Parties in relevant multilateral fora and UN frameworks on disarmament and non-proliferation, including the Review Conferences of the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 

1.1.13. Promote maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded commerce, mutual trust and confidence, exercise of selfrestraint, the non-use of force or of the threat to use force, and the resolution of disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the relevant Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the relevant instruments and conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO); 

1.1.14. Promote the exchange of best practices in implementing international law and expertise in the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the ASEAN Charter, the UN Charter, and relevant Agreements and UN Resolutions as well as legal and technical training on the law of the sea, especially the 1982 UNCLOS; 1.1.15. Support ASEAN Centrality in reinforcing an open, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture as well as the UN’s central role in the global multilateral system by promoting shared values and norms of conduct and principles of international law governing friendly relations among States, including those enshrined in the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter; 

1.1.16. Continue dialogue to enhance mutual understanding of regional and international issues of common interest and concern that have an impact on international peace and security; 

1.2. Promotion of Good Governance, Human Rights and Democracy 

1.2.1. Support ASEAN’s efforts in achieving peaceful and inclusive societies, promoting the principles of good governance, human rights, democracy and the rule of law through dialogue and partnership among its Member States’ governments and relevant stakeholders to enhance transparency, accountability, participatory and effective governance; 

1.2.2. Strengthen cooperation between the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the UN as well as undertake efforts towards increasing the role of women parliamentarians in the region, emphasising gender equality,women empowerment and promoting the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in decision-making processes; 

1.2.3. Support all ASEAN Member States in the implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption subject to respective national reservations thereto, and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for Preventing and Combating Corruption, including through collaboration with the ASEAN Parties Against Corruption; 

1.2.4. Support the work of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and other ASEAN human rights mechanisms in accordance with their respective mandates, workplans and declarations, including the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of AHRD, as well as encourage their engagement with UN human rights mechanisms, as appropriate, through joint activities, sharing of best practices and exchange of information; 

1.2.5. Support development of regional strategies and exchanges of best practices and expertise on issues related to ratification and implementation of regional and international conventions on human rights and their protocols and engagement with the relevant Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council as mutually agreed; 

1.2.6. Promote the sharing of best practices in voluntary electoral observation among ASEAN Member States; as well as democracy and democratic institutions, including through the Bali Democracy Forum; 

2. ECONOMIC COOPERATION 

2.1. ASEAN Economic Integration 

2.1.1. Support ASEAN’s efforts to pursue further economic integration both within the region and into the global economy, strengthen its intra-trade and investment, addressing digital divide towards digital integration in ASEAN, accelerate green transition and decarbonisation of the economic sector, enhance transport infrastructure and support the implementation of the Consolidated Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution for ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan 2026-2030;

2.2.Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) 

2.2.1. Support ASEAN’s on-going efforts to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and ensure their meaningful participation in the regional and global supply chain, including through capacity building for digital and green transition, access to finance, and by promoting women and youth participation in the economy through entrepreneurship. These efforts aim to enhance ASEAN’s economic inclusiveness and competitiveness; 

2.2.2. Promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth and prosperity through increasing digital trade and entrepreneurship, fostering closer collaboration in the digital economy, preparing and supporting MSMEs for digital transformation and developing a digital-ready workforce equipped for industrial 4.0; 

2.3. Competition, Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property Rights 

2.3.1. Support ASEAN’s efforts to advance consumer protection rights and their access to information, enhance the capacities of ASEAN competitionrelated agencies including through the implementation of relevant framework documents and strengthen the innovation ecosystem through enhancing the protection, utilisation and commercialisation of intellectual property rights; 

2.3.2. Support ASEAN in enhancing the productivity, innovation, and creativity of MSMEs in the region by strengthening intellectual property rights initiatives through capacity-building, awareness raising, improved policies, and regional cooperation; 

2.4. Food, Agriculture and Forestry

2.4.1. Promote cooperation on key issues related to sustainable agri-food systems, food security, particularly in times of crises, nutrition and food safety, agriculture and forestry, and promote responsible fishing practices and aquaculture management practices, support the voluntary implementation of the FAO Small-scale fisheries (SSF) guidelines, enhance cooperation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, promote sustainable and circular agriculture, promote nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approach, decarbonisation and climate smart agriculture, enhance sustainable forest management and role of forestry in adaptation and mitigation of climate change and in implementing the relevant frameworks; 

2.4.2. Support ASEAN in implementing the Action Plan on Sustainable Agriculture, adopted in 2024, which focuses on decarbonisation, the reduction of harmful agrochemicals, the promotion of nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approach, digitalisation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and fostering public-private partnerships at both national and regional levels; 

2.5. Energy

2.5.1. Continue to support ASEAN’s efforts in implementing the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030, with the theme ‘Advancing Regional Cooperation in Ensuring Energy Security and Accelerating Decarbonisation for a Just and Inclusive Energy Transition’, specifically to achieve regional cooperation for energy sustainability, including inclusive energy transition efforts in green and energy transition and in realising the ASEAN Power Grid; 

2.6. Minerals

2.6.1. Enhance collaboration on sustainable minerals development, including through support for the implementation of the ASEAN Principles on Sustainable Minerals Development adopted by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals in November 2023 and the ASEAN Minerals Development Vision and the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan 2026-2030); 

2.7. Tourism 

2.7.1. Enhance cooperation on sustainable and inclusive tourism and promote capacity-building programmes in the tourism sector; 

2.7.2. Foster further engagement in tourism between ASEAN and the UN Tourism, through the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the ASEAN Secretariat and the UN Tourism; 

2.7.3. Promote tourism competitiveness through the exchange of best practices on innovation and technologies in the field of tourism, encouraging publicprivate partnerships through existing networks, providing support to the implementation of the ASEAN tourism investment programme to boost business recovery, and conducting regular exchanges on data and insights about travel trends, aviation and travel facilitation; 

2.7.4. Support the implementation of the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between ASEAN and UN Tourism through training and upskilling of tourism stakeholders in areas such as technology and innovation; 

2.8. Science, Technology & Innovation 

2.8.1. Promote collaboration on the use of Science, Technology and Innovation to help address the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) divide and accelerate the SDGs implementation, including through technical assistance and capacity building especially inclusive participation of women, children, especially girls, youth, persons with disabilities and MSMEs, research and possible support for ASEAN institutions; and possible collaboration on open science, the responsible development, application, and management of AI as well as safe and inclusive digital innovation and human sciences to strengthen capabilities to adapt to future challenges; 

2.9. Transport 

2.9.1. Strengthen cooperation to enhance transport system, networks, and operations as well as encourage sharing of knowledge and experiences on transport development through capacity building to support the implementation of the ASEAN Transport Sectoral Plan 2026-2030, including on areas such as railway, highway, road safety, dry port, multimodal transport as well as low-carbon transport and smart mobility, which aims to contribute towards a highly cohesive ASEAN economy; 

3. SOCIO-CULTURAL COOPERATION 

3.1. Disaster Management 

3.1.1. Strengthen ASEAN’s capacity on disaster risk assessment and monitoring, the integration of Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, and the promotion of end-to-end early warning system, connected to anticipatory action in the region, including through the utilisation of advanced science, research, and technology and the strengthening of community-based disaster risk management; 

3.1.2. Enhance community resilience including through integrating genderresponsive and disability-inclusive disaster risk management, ensuring the leadership of women, youth and persons with disabilities in preparedness and response efforts, the promotion of traditional, local and indigenous knowledge on disaster management and risk reduction, enhancing adaptive, inclusive and shock-responsive social protection system, as well as shock-responsive financial and insurance mechanisms and strategies for disaster risk reduction; 

3.1.3. Strengthen ASEAN’s efforts to enhance the regional coordination and capacity for preparedness and emergency response, including through strengthening Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP) and its operationalisation, interoperability between ASEAN and the UN, and improving ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre)’s capacity to implement ASEAN Declaration on ONE ASEAN, ONE RESPONSE: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the Region and Outside the Region;

3.1.4. Strengthen ASEAN’s capacity on resilient recovery, including through enhancing capacity in conducting Post-Disaster Needs Assessment and developing post-disaster recovery plan, with the aim to “build back better” and build community resilience; 

3.1.5. Support ASEAN’s continuous efforts in building sustainable resilience in the region and becoming a global leader in disaster management, including through capacity-building initiatives, technical assistance, resource mobilisation, to enhance ASEAN disaster and climate resilience, supporting ASEAN in sharing knowledge, experience and good practices in disaster management to other regional organisations and wider international communities, and supporting ASEAN in implementing, monitoring and reporting of relevant global frameworks, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the ASEAN Anticipatory Action Framework in Disaster Management; 

3.2. Environment and Climate Action 

3.2.1. Promote cooperation and collaborative efforts on environmental protection, marine ecosystem and biodiversity conservation through coordination among relevant sectors, enhance evidence-based and integrated management of natural resources and the environment, with a focus on innovative solutions to sustainability challenges; address climate change through bold and transformative and gender-responsive efforts with gender perspective including through the implementation of relevant framework documents; 

3.2.2. Strengthen ASEAN’s efforts to collaborate in promoting the integration of circular economy and sustainable consumption and production strategies to mitigate climate impact, including sustainable waste management and strengthen collaboration of relevant stakeholders to mitigate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions; 

3.2.3. Promote ASEAN Member States’ efforts to pursue climate actions, including through the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change, strengthening human and institutional capacity in implementing environment and climate actions, and just energy transition at all levels, and implementing their respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement in accordance with the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities – Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), especially for people in vulnerable situations; 

3.2.4. Pursue regional and international cooperation to enhance access to climate finance to support the implementation of mitigation and adaptation actions of the region, with a view to close the financing gap for sustainable development, including support the scaling of blended and innovative finance to enhance equitable, locally accessible climate funding for mitigation and adaptation; 

3.2.5. Explore cooperation in addressing transboundary haze pollution, including through support to implement the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, the Second ASEAN Haze Free Roadmap 2023-2030, and the Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution in Asia and the Pacific and the operation of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC) and the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC); 

3.2.6. Provide a platform for participation and further local and regional collaboration among ASEAN youth, as well as between ASEAN youth and their peers from other regions, towards biodiversity conservation, climate change consciousness, and action;

3.3. Culture, Education and Sports 

3.3.1. Continue to promote and harness culture, education and sports as an enabler of sustainable development by supporting ASEAN Member States to integrate these perspectives into national education policies and programmes; 

3.3.2. Enhancing collaboration in the protection, preservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of ASEAN, and promoting awareness, mutual respect and appreciation of cultural diversity, including through the promotion of regional creative industries, people-to-people activities and traditional sports and games (TSG); 

3.3.3. Strengthen the sports ecosystem and promote the growth of the sports industry and high-performance sports development through innovation and technology utilisation, enhancing multilateral cooperation and crosssectoral collaboration in sports science and management, knowledge exchange, professional capacity building, inclusive access to sports and recreational activities especially in local communities, and promotion of sports participation and physical activities across different age groups; 

3.3.4. Promote regional cooperation in education by: (i) increasing opportunities for cross-border Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), in collaboration with the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC); (ii) strengthening efforts to encourage student mobility; (iii) supporting ASEAN’s efforts in equipping youth, including those with disabilities, with 21st Century Skills; (iv) implementing relevant Frameworks and Regional Action Plans; (v) addressing the needs of out-of-school children and youth, as well as of persons with disabilities, with a focus on girls and young women; and (vi) supporting inclusive and future-proof education at all levels; 

3.3.5. Expand inclusive access to quality digital and learning for teachers and learners, including youth not in employment, education and training (NEET), girls and young women and youth with disabilities, and develop relevant and adaptive learner-centred pedagogical practices and literacy skills for teachers, trainers and educators of children and young people; 

3.3.6. Promote ASEAN identity including among villages community through the use of digital information, strengthen people-to-people connectivity, cultivating a culture of prevention and promoting inherited and constructed values; 

3.4. Social Welfare and Development 

3.4.1. Strengthen cooperation to enhance social welfare and development to reduce inequality and poverty by strengthening family institutions, enhancing social protection measures, developing inclusive and resilient child protection systems, strengthening the social work and the wider social service workforce through the implementation of relevant frameworks; and supporting the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW) and the ASEAN Children’s Forum (ACF); strengthening mechanisms and institutional capacity for equitable access to social protection; support the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening the Care Economy and Fostering Resilience, developing and strengthening sustainable financing mechanisms for social protection, universal health coverage, early childhood care and development and foundational learning, disaster risk reduction, and social pension; 

3.4.2. Promote the rights of migrant workers and their family members, in the entire migration process, decent work for all workers, including employment opportunities, social protection, and occupational safety and health, upskilling and reskilling of workers, elimination of the worst forms of child labour, and inclusive social entrepreneurship for women, youths, and older persons, persons with disabilities, through the implementation of relevant frameworks; to foster safe and healthy working environments; 

3.4.3. Support the ASEAN Committee on the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) in strengthening protection of migrant workers through the mainstreaming of inclusive and gender-responsive approaches and cooperation with the relevant stakeholders, including civil society and women’s rights organisations; 

3.4.4. Enhance ASEAN human resource competitiveness and digital literacy for future workforce by leveraging technological transformation, such as communication and digital technology, as well as emerging technology, such as AI, ensuring the quality and inclusiveness of basic and higher education and TVET, and providing decent work for all with an industrydriven approach; 

3.4.5. Strengthen cooperation with the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) to support the implementation of the Declaration on Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) and Elimination of Violence Against Children (EVAC) in ASEAN and the new implementation frameworks - Regional Plan of Action on EVAW and the Regional Plan of Action EVAC, including the common chapter on VAC-VAW, as well as the Declaration and extended Regional Plan of Action on the Protection of Children from all Forms of Online Exploitation and Abuse in ASEAN; 

3.4.6. Accelerate regional initiatives to support building age-sensitive societies and mainstreaming population ageing issues into national policies and development plans and programmes which may include promotion of healthy, active, and successful ageing, care economy, life-long learning and digital literacy, flexible employment and retirement policies, and sustainable and accessible infrastructure, as well as supporting relevant regional mechanisms, and support the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Ageing, as well as supporting relevant regional mechanisms including the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) and the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening the Care Economy and Fostering Resilience Towards the post-2025 ASEAN Community; 

3.4.7. Strengthen sustainable rural development, through ASEAN Villages Network, to enable villages to fast-track rural transformation and contribute to the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; 

3.4.8. Strengthen ASEAN’s efforts in empowering all persons with disabilities through technical cooperation between ASEAN and the UN, taking into account the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032; 

3.4.9. Strengthen ASEAN's efforts to enhance the engagement of ASEAN people in sustainable, inclusive and productive employment in harmonious, safe and progressive workplaces, and that our workforce is competitive and resilient, which ultimately contribute towards a better quality of life and decent work for all; 

3.5. Public Health 

3.5.1. Encourage collaboration between UN agencies and the ASEAN Health Sector to advance ASEAN health priorities, including strengthening health systems and effective implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with primary healthcare at its core, including through supporting the implementation of the health-related ASEAN Leaders’ Declarations, such as on biosafety and biosecurity, One Health, Disaster Health Management, Ending All Forms of Malnutrition, and health-related activities in the ASEAN Strategic Framework and Action Plan for Nutrition (2018-2030); 

3.5.2. Enhance ASEAN collaboration across sectors in implementing the ASEAN Food Safety Policy (ASFP) through the ASEAN Food Safety Regulatory Framework Agreement (AFSRF) and through implementation of the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the Reformulation and Production of Healthier Food and Beverage Options and on the One Health Initiative following Action Track on Food Safety; 

3.5.3. Strengthen ASEAN Health Architecture and promote resilient health systems in responding to disparities in access to and utilisation of basic health services, including maternal and reproductive health, future health emergencies, communicable and non-communicable diseases, crisis and disasters, impact of climate change, emerging trends and external challenges, including collaboration through the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) to enhance regional preparedness and response mechanism for safeguarding public health; 

3.5.4. Support ASEAN’s continued efforts to foster safe and healthy working environments through the implementation of the ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network (OSHNET) Work Plan 2021-2025 and the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Statement on Improving Occupational Safety and Health for Sustainable Economic Growth; 

3.5.5. Support ASEAN’s efforts to promote people-centred HIV responses and programmes that are sustainable, and integrated with communicable and non-communicable disease control efforts, universal health coverage mechanisms, and health and social protection systems; 

3.6. Gender Mainstreaming

3.6.1. Strengthen ASEAN’s efforts in promoting gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls including through the implementation of gender mainstreaming strategies and guidelines to ensure social inclusion and equal opportunities in all sectors, such as through exchange of best practices, technical cooperation and capacity building, and strengthening care services especially for vulnerable girls and women; 

3.6.2. Increase and enable investments in building universal, gender-responsive, inclusive and resilient care systems, and social services that support the recognition, reduction, and redistribution of unpaid care and domestic work, which continues to fall disproportionately on women and girls, including through initiatives on care infrastructure, care-related social protection, care services and employment related care policies; 

4. CROSS-SECTORAL COOPERATION 

4.1.ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) 

4.1.1. Promote practical cooperation in the four priority areas of the AOIP, namely maritime cooperation, connectivity, UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, economic and other possible areas of cooperation; 

4.1.2. Work with other partners to promote open, stable, prosperous and rulesbased international order in the Indo-Pacific region based on adherence to international law, and to enhance engagement in the wider Indo-Pacific;

4.2. ASEAN Connectivity 

4.2.1. Support the implementation of the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan, including through capacity building and exchange of best practices as well as awareness-raising activities; 

4.2.2. Strengthen and expand coverage of smart and sustainable urban development in ASEAN, including through support to the implementation of the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy and to the ASEAN Smart Cities Network;  

4.3. Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and Narrowing Development Gap 

4.3.1. Continue to support ASEAN’s efforts in narrowing the development gap within and between ASEAN Member States, through the implementation of IAI Work Plan IV (2021-2025) and its successor document in the form of knowledge sharing, institutional capacity building, technical assistance and technology transfer, as well as joint efforts to alleviating poverty and promoting sustainable and inclusive development, including but not limited to transformative rural development, and aligning sub-regional growth with the comprehensive development of ASEAN in order to realise the ASEAN Community and regional integration; 

4.4. Development Cooperation 

4.4.1. Strengthen cooperation on sustainable development, as an area of cooperation under the AOIP and in support of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including by enhancing the complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and mainstreaming gender equality and women empowerment in SDGs implementation and support for the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) and the ASEAN Institute for Green Economy; 

4.4.2. Promote exchange of experiences and best practices, technical cooperation through South-South and triangular cooperation, and research and capacity building in monitoring and reporting on SDGs, including the use of gender data and statistics, addressing knowledge and data gaps, as well as tapping into inter-and intra-regional synergies; 

4.4.3. Support ASEAN’s efforts to strengthen development financing policy and to improve financing for implementing the SDGs to close financing gaps and enhance statistical cooperation with the UN to support regional progress and accountability in implementing the SDGs; 

4.4.4. Continue to support Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN, including through technical assistance and capacity building initiatives in line with the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Application of Timor-Leste for ASEAN Membership, and the Roadmap for Timor-Leste's Full Membership in ASEAN; 

4.5. Strengthening Cybersecurity and Safe Online Environments 

4.5.1. Enhance training and technical support in cyber–related cooperation including through the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ASCCE), the implementation of relevant ASEAN cybersecurity and cybercrime strategies and regular exchanges to promote an open, secure, stable, interoperable, accessible and peaceful ICT environment; 

4.5.2. Enhance cooperation on capacity building and sharing of best practices on cybersecurity and online safety, including through the ASCCE and ASEANJapan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) to support the implementation of the voluntary, non-binding norms for responsible State behaviour outlined in the 2015 report of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security; 

4.5.3. Promote regular exchanges between ASEAN and the UN to promote the peaceful use of ICTs and increase stability and security in the use of ICTs, sharing of best practices and lessons learned, including through the UN Global Mechanism on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security and advancing responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs; 

4.5.4. Explore cooperation on promoting best practices to counter online misinformation and disinformation as well as online attacks or ‘hate-speech’, prevent all forms of violence, harassment, especially toward women, children, and other vulnerable groups through sharing of information and comparative experiences and activities at the regional level to protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms; 

5. SECRETARIAT-TO-SECRETARIAT COOPERATION 

5.1.1. Encourage frequent exchange of information between sectoral desk officers of the two Secretariats on programmes, activities and projects to explore potential partnerships in areas of mutual interest; 

5.1.2. Encourage the deployment of a permanent UN liaison presence in Jakarta to enhance coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, and other External Partners in ensuring the effective implementation of the ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership;

5.1.3. Explore cooperation to support the strengthening of the ASEAN Secretariat, including through capacity building for ASEAN Secretariat staff such as relevant training and knowledge sharing; 

6. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS AND MONITORING 

6.1.1. This Plan of Action will be taken forward with resources available or mobilised by ASEAN and/or the UN System; 

6.1.2. Encourage ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and the UN system to pursue technical cooperation through this Plan of Action and support for relevant ASEAN centres of excellence, as appropriate; 

6.1.3. Continue regular ASEAN-UN Secretariat-to-Secretariat Dialogues, ASEANUN Ministerial Meetings (AUMM), ASEAN-UN Summits, and where appropriate, convene informal ASEAN-UN Senior Officials’ Meetings to prepare for the AUMM and the ASEAN-UN Summit; 

6.1.4. Produce joint reports of the two Secretariats to the AUMM and through it to the ASEAN-UN Summit, including on the progress of the implementation of this Plan of Action; 

6.1.5. Enhance interaction between ASEAN and the UN system, including through holding senior-level dialogue meetings, where appropriate, between the UN and the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), as well as the ASEAN Secretariat.