Bangkok, 6–7 November 2025 — The Asian Roundtable on Social Protection (AROSP) held a two-day network evaluation workshop in Bangkok as part of a process to review achievements, challenges, and new strategic directions for the social protection movement in Asia. This activity served as an important momentum to strengthen cross-country collaboration, deepen shared learning, and develop AROSP’s work plan for 2026–2028.

Presence of Delegates from Various Countries, Including IYCW ASPAC

The workshop was attended by representatives of member organizations from South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and international networks. One of the participants who made an important contribution was Rony Robiansyah, representing the International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) Asia–Pacific (ASPAC).
Rony brought the perspective of young workers regarding the increasing uncertainty in the world of work, limited access to social protection for youth, and the need to expand advocacy spaces for the new generation of workers. His presence became an important bridge for intergenerational dialogue in strengthening AROSP’s strategic direction.

Strengthening Grassroots-Based Networks

AROSP, established in 2009 and now composed of 57 organizations and individual members, serves as a collaborative cross-country platform to promote transformative social protection. National and sub-regional networks — including those in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, and Pakistan — became the focus of evaluation to ensure their relevance in responding to new contexts such as climate change, digitalization, and the rise of informal work.

Sharing Grassroots Success Stories

Using the World Café method, participants reviewed various successful advocacy stories from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. These stories highlighted how worker communities can drive policy change and strengthen social protection through solidarity, creativity, and needs-based local approaches.

Evaluation of Five National Networks

Representatives from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and SocialProtection4All from Cambodia presented their respective achievements and challenges. Discussions underscored the importance of expanding member participation, strengthening research, and building shared understanding on key issues such as maternity protection, healthcare, just transition, climate change, and migrant workers.

Linking Social Protection with Labour and Human Rights

The snowball reflection session explored the connection between social protection and broader labour and human rights issues. Rony also emphasized the importance of creating wider engagement opportunities for young people so that the social protection movement remains relevant and capable of responding to the rapidly changing world of work.

Formulating AROSP’s Strategic Direction for 2026–2028

During the second-day strategy planning session, participants developed a shared vision and action direction for the next three years. In addition to discussing collective values, organizational capacity, and integrated advocacy strategies, there was a strong push from members to ensure that AROSP’s leadership becomes increasingly inclusive and sustainable.

Rony Robiansyah stressed the importance of organizational regeneration within AROSP. He encouraged all network members to provide greater space for youth participation, involve young leaders in decision-making processes, build a systematic leadership pipeline, and ensure smooth and sustainable transitions of leadership.
Rony emphasized that without regeneration and active youth engagement, the sustainability of social protection advocacy in Asia would face significant challenges. His perspective was well received by other participants, as it aligns with AROSP’s values of inclusive leadership, role rotation, and access for marginalized groups, including young people.

Other Strategic Priorities

1. Participants also identified several strategic pillars that need strengthening:
2. Strengthening research and knowledge management;
3. Expanding organizational capacity in campaigns and advocacy;
4. More effective collaboration with national, regional, and international bodies;
5. Enhanced collective regional campaign actions;
6. Strengthening membership solidarity and building new alliances.

The AROSP 2025 evaluation workshop reaffirmed the network’s commitment to promoting universal, inclusive, fair, and transformative social protection. With the presence of youth voices — including the contribution of Rony Robiansyah from IYCW ASPAC — AROSP strengthens its efforts to build a sustainable, dynamic movement capable of addressing future challenges.