November 26, 2025 | Kuala Lumpur – UCLG ASPAC, as host of the ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF) Secretariat, in collaboration with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), convened the inaugural Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Localising the ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2045 at Institut Latihan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (IDB). Bringing together around 20 experts from national governments, academia, research institutions, local governments, and youth representatives, the meeting marked a significant step toward translating the ASEAN vision into tangible local action. It established a clear framework and outlined the next steps for empowering cities and local governments as key architects of the ASEAN Community.
From Endorsement to Execution
Datuk Seri TPr. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Special Envoy of ASEAN Cities and Local Governments, and Advisor on Sustainable Urbanisation, Government of Malaysia, underscored the Kuala Lumpur Sustainable Declaration as an important milestone that formally recognises local and regional governments as indispensable partners in building the ASEAN Community.
Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General of UCLG ASPAC and AGMF Secretariat, emphasised the critical shift “from endorsement to execution.” She stressed that the success of ACV 2045 hinges on the commitment of local governments and the development of practical tools to convert regional ambitions into local progress.
Translating Pillars into Local Action
The meeting undertook an in-depth examination of how the four pillars of ACV 2045—Political-Security, Economic, Socio-Cultural, and Connectivity—can be implemented at the local level. Experts’ presentations on each pillar of ASEAN highlighted specific opportunities for localisation, from enhancing disaster resilience and fostering MSME innovation to promoting digital inclusion and strengthening regional linkages.
In focused group discussions, participants identified practical actions, necessary capacities, and potential indicators for measuring progress. These discussions yielded concrete recommendations for integrating ACV 2045 objectives into local planning and development programmes.
The Way Forward: Developing Practical Tools for Localisation
A key outcome of the EGM was the substantive progress made on two essential instruments for localisation:
- The Guideline on Localising ACV 2045, a practical resource to help cities and local governments assess their alignment with the Vision and identify priority action areas.
- The Implementation Tracking Tools for Monitoring and Evaluation, a framework of indicators to document progress, curate best practices, and ensure consistent monitoring across ASEAN.
Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi outlined the immediate next steps, which include refining the draft Guideline based on the expert insights gathered and beginning the development of the Monitoring and Evaluation tools, with completion targeted for 2026. These will be launched at the next ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum to be held in Manila in 2026.
Throughout the two-day meeting, a consistent message emerged: ASEAN’s long-term progress relies on unity and effective multi-level governance. This shared commitment forms a solid foundation for the next phase of developing the tools and guidance necessary to support the localisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
