PRESS RELEASE – ASEAN Reaches Critical Milestone with the 1st ASCEND Competency Assessment
Bogor, 1 August 2024. The 1st ASEAN Standards and Certification for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND) Competency Assessment was successfully held from 29 July to 1 August 2024.
25 candidates from the National Disaster Management Organisations (NDMOs) of ASEAN and partner institutions of the AHA Centre underwent a rigorous series of online and face-to-face assessments to demonstrate their proficiency in various disaster management occupations.
The 1st ASCEND Competency Assessment provides certification for seven crucial roles in disaster management, including Rapid Assessment Coordinator, Rapid Assessment Officer, Humanitarian Logistics Coordinator, Humanitarian Logistics Officer, Information Management Coordinator, Information Management Officer, and Humanitarian Shelter and Settlement Coordinator.
Held in BNPB Training Centre (PUSDIKLAT) in Sentul, Bogor, the 1st ASCEND Competency Assessment is another significant milestone of disaster management in the region. Deputy Minister for Prevention of the Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) Ms. Prasinta Dewi highlighted in the importance of this competency assessment. “The 1st ASCEND Competency Assessment is an important stepping stone for ASEAN Member States to equip its experts to be a regional and global player in disaster management. This activity also represents a critical step towards strengthening the disaster management capabilities of our ASEAN community,” she said.
Successful candidates who have passed the 1st ASCEND Competency Assessment will have their expertise recognised by the ASEAN NDMOs when performing critical job functions in the disaster management sector.
Executive Director of the AHA Centre, Mr. Lee Yam Ming highlighted the significance of ASCEND in addressing the evolving challenges of disaster management by fostering a network of competent professionals and streamlining resource mobilisation for assisting countries.
“This first assessment will be a stepping stone for us to improve and develop a more robust ASCEND Competency Assessment in the future, in order to optimise our collective efforts in facilitating recognition and mobility of disaster management professionals,” said Mr. Lee.
The 1st ASCEND Competency Assessment is supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF). Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN H.E. Lee Jang-Keun expressed his gratitude to BNPB and AHA Centre for the collaboration to make the 1st ASCEND Competency Assessment possible. “I am impressed by this programme. It really shows the Republic of Korea’s commitment to supporting ASEAN in the disaster prevention sector. I am also grateful that this activity is not only participated by representatives of the ASEAN countries, but also from Korea,” said Ambassador Lee during his visit to BNPB Training Centre in Sentul, Indonesia. During his visit, Ambassador Lee had the opportunity to observe the assessment process and interact with some of the candidates and assessors.
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About the AHA Centre:
The AHA Centre is an inter-governmental organisation established by ten ASEAN Member States on 17 November 2011 with the aim to facilitate cooperation and coordination amongst ASEAN Member States and with relevant United Nations and international organisations in promoting regional collaboration in disaster management. The AHA Centre is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
To subscribe to disaster situation updates in the region, please go to AHA Centre’s website www.ahacentre.org and social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn).
For more information, please contact comm@ahacentre.org.
About ASCEND:
The ASEAN Standards and Certi?cation for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND) is an initiative of the ASEAN Member States (AMS) that provides regionally recognised competency standards and a certi?cation process for disaster management professionals across ASEAN. Supported by ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), ASCEND helps to facilitate the recognition and mobility of disaster management professionals.
More information, please visit: https://ascend.ahacentre.org/
