ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare

24/07/2026

📍𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗦𝗪 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
On 7 July 2026, the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW), together with the JICA Project, paid a visit to the UNICEF Office in Bangkok to discuss ongoing and future collaboration in the area of child protection and migration.
The ATCSW team was led by Mr. Chinchai Cheecharoen, Executive Director of ATCSW, accompanied by Dr. Akiko Yokoyama, JICA Expert, and was welcomed by Ms. Venera Urbaeva, Programme Specialist, Migration and Displacement, UNICEF Centre of Excellence.
The meeting focused on strengthening future collaboration, particularly in preparation for the Second ASEAN Regional Workshop on Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation, Protection, and Care of Children in the Context of Migration, following the successful regional workshop held in December 2025 in Bali Province, Indonesia.
During the discussion, ATCSW shared updates on the Centre's governance structure and preparations for the upcoming ATCSW Governing Board Meeting. The Centre also highlighted that collaboration with UNICEF on the regional e-learning course and the Second ASEAN Regional Workshop has been incorporated into the ATCSW Work Plan, which will be presented to the Governing Board for consideration.
UNICEF provided updates on the development of the regional e-learning course and emphasized the importance of engaging national social work training institutes and centres, alongside government representatives, to strengthen both pre-service and in-service social work education and capacity development across ASEAN.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of ATCSW, UNICEF, and JICA to advancing regional cooperation and building a stronger social service workforce to better protect children in the context of migration.

24/07/2026

𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗦𝗪 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀
On 23 July 2026, the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW) and the JICA Project held an online information exchange meeting with Mr. Tatsuya Okamoto, Vice President of the Japanese Association of Certified Social Workers (JACSW), and Ms. Chiharu Araki from the International Affairs Section of JACSW.
The meeting was organized as a follow-up to discussions initiated during the SWSD 2026 conference in Nairobi, Kenya, last month.
ATCSW and the JICA Project introduced the Centre's mission and ongoing efforts to strengthen social work capacity across ASEAN. In return, JACSW presented an overview of Japan's certified social worker qualification system, the roles of certified social workers, and the activities of JACSW as a professional association.
Participants also exchanged information on Thailand's social worker qualification system and discussed shared challenges, including whether individuals without a degree in social work should be eligible for professional qualifications and whether such qualifications should be required for social work positions.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to learn from each other's experiences and explore future collaboration to advance the social work profession in ASEAN.
ATCSW and the JICA Project look forward to continuing their partnership with JACSW and other professional organizations to strengthen social work training and professional development across ASEAN.

22/07/2026

🗞️📢ATCSW participated in the Workshop on Basic Elderly Care Skills and Preparation for an Ageing Society, organized by the Department of Older Persons, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), in collaboration with the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI) and the Social Service Network (SSN) of the Republic of Korea.
The workshop brought together 35 participants from the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, China and Thailand to exchange knowledge and experiences on ageing, care for older persons, and social work practice.
On the first day of the workshop, Mr. Chinchai Cheecharoen, Executive Director of ATCSW, delivered a presentation on Thailand's social welfare system for older persons and other vulnerable groups. Dr. Akiko Yokoyama, JICA Expert, introduced JICA's pilot initiatives in health and social care for older persons in Thailand, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in responding to population ageing. Participants also shared their countries' legislation, education systems, and social work practices related to older persons.
On 20 July 2026, ATCSW and the JICA Project joined a study visit to the Watsanawet Social Welfare Development Center for Older Persons and the Provincial Office of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security in Ayutthaya Province.
At the Watsanawet Center, participants learned about its community-based approach to elderly care alongside residential services for older persons requiring long-term support. The center is particularly unique because it is located on the same campus as a children's and family home, providing opportunities for intergenerational interaction and integrated social welfare services.
During the visit to the Provincial Office, participants learned about Ayutthaya Province's innovative approaches to social welfare. In addition to the annual budget allocated by the central government, the province actively mobilizes donations from the private and non-governmental sectors. It also provides financial support to middle-income households through the Government Pawnshop scheme. These locally driven initiatives attracted considerable interest and stimulated active discussions throughout the study visit.
The workshop provided a valuable opportunity for participants to exchange good practices and strengthen the capacity of social workers across the region to respond to population ageing.

13/07/2026

📍🗞️𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗦𝗪 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡'𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗪𝗦𝗗𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶, 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮
The ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW) participated in the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development 2026 (SWSD2026), held from 26–29 June 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference brought together more than 1,000 social work practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and representatives from international organizations across approximately 30 countries to exchange knowledge and discuss emerging global social challenges.
Representing ATCSW, Mr. Chinchai Cheecharoen, Executive Director, and Dr. Akiko Yokoyama, JICA Expert, presented the ATCSW/JICA Project's initiatives under the theme "𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙎𝙀𝘼𝙉: 𝘾𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣." The presentation highlighted ASEAN's regional approach to strengthening the social service workforce through capacity development, knowledge sharing, and international technical cooperation.
The presentation attracted strong interest from participants, particularly regarding ASEAN's regional collaboration mechanisms and ATCSW's online learning initiatives. Participants learned about the role of the ASEAN Social Work Consortium (ASWC) and ATCSW's Webinar, which promotes knowledge exchange among social work professionals within and beyond the ASEAN region.
During the conference, ATCSW also contributed to international discussions on the future of social work. At an International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) workshop, Dr. Yokoyama shared ASEAN's experience in promoting regional cooperation, emphasizing that diverse regional perspectives are essential to shaping the evolving concept of international social work.
The conference also provided valuable opportunities to strengthen partnerships with international organizations and academic institutions, including the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW), UNICEF, the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance (GSSWA), universities, and professional associations worldwide. ATCSW also received growing international recognition, including an interview by a French social work education institution on the ATCSW/JICA Project's regional initiatives.
ATCSW's participation in SWSD2026 reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional cooperation, strengthening the social service workforce across ASEAN, and contributing ASEAN's experiences to the global social work community. The knowledge and partnerships gained through the conference will further support ATCSW's mission to promote inclusive, resilient, and sustainable social development throughout the region.

03/07/2026

📃📍𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗦𝗪 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

On 3 July 2026, the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW) held a productive meeting with Save the Children at the ATCSW Office in Bangkok to exchange knowledge and explore opportunities for future collaboration in strengthening the Social Services Workforce for Child Protection in the context of climate change.
The ATCSW team was led by Mr. Chinchai Cheecharoen, Executive Director of ATCSW, together with Dr. Akiko Yokoyama, JICA Expert at ATCSW, and Dr. Chokchai Suttawet, Technical Advisor to the JICA Project.
The Save the Children team was led by Ms. Warangkana Mutumol, Strategy, Program Quality & Impact Director, together with Ms. Yuko Nishiguchi, Child Protection Advisor, Mr. Thanapol Kheolamai, Climate Change and Green Jobs Technical Expert, Save the Children Asia Regional Office, and Ms. Panfun Pramojanee, Humanitarian Coordinator.
During the meeting, both organizations reflected on their successful past collaboration and discussed future opportunities to further strengthen regional cooperation. A key area of discussion was the development of a Competency Framework for the Social Services Workforce, which aims to enhance the capacities of both professional social workers and para social workers to deliver effective, coordinated, and child-centred services, particularly during emergencies and disasters.
The discussion also highlighted the growing impact of climate change on child protection. As disasters become more frequent and severe, children face increased risks of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Both organizations emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness and Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) in building resilient communities and strengthening child protection systems across the region.
ATCSW sincerely appreciates Save the Children's continued partnership and valuable exchange of expertise. We look forward to expanding our collaboration to build a stronger, more resilient social services workforce for children across ASEAN.
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25/06/2026

📍🗞️ATCSW Meeting with UN Women

On 22 June 2026, the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW) held a fruitful discussion with UN Women Asia and the Pacific and UN Women Thailand to exchange knowledge and explore opportunities for future collaboration on strengthening responses to violence against women and girls.
The ATCSW team was led by Mr. Chinchai Cheecharoen, Executive Director of ATCSW, together with Dr. Akiko Yokoyama, JICA Expert at ATCSW. The UN Women delegation was led by Ms. Melissa Alvarado, Ending Violence against Women Regional Programme Manager, with representatives from both the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and UN Women Thailand.
During the discussion, both organizations exchanged perspectives on the important role of social workers in addressing violence against women and girls through coordinated, victim-centred approaches and the empowerment of survivors. Both organizations also discussed the importance of integrating gender-responsive principles into the practice of all social service professionals and shared ongoing regional initiatives related to gender-based violence prevention and response.
ATCSW sincerely appreciates the valuable exchange with UN Women and looks forward to strengthening future collaboration in advancing social work, social protection, and gender-responsive services across the ASEAN region.
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12/06/2026

📔📢Interested in learning more about ATCSW and our work across ASEAN?
We are pleased to share the launch of our new e-book:
"Review of Activities for the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW) for the Implementation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Project under the ATCSW’s Five-Year Strategic Plan."
Developed under the Project for Human Resource Development on Social Work in ASEAN Region, this publication highlights ATCSW’s key activities, milestones, and contributions over the years.
The report was prepared by a consultant team from the Faculty of Social Work and Social Welfare, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to JICA for supporting the development of this publication.
Take a look and get to know ATCSW better through the full e-book on our website:
https://atcsw-thailand.m-society.go.th/review-of-activities-for-the-asean-training-centre-for-social-work-and-social-welfare-atcswfor-the-implementation-of-the-jica-project-under-the-atcsws-five-year-strategic-plan/
🤎🤍🤎🤍

11/06/2026

📌Check out our latest feature on the JICA website: “Expanding the Future of Social Welfare through AI.”
The article highlights the International Conference on the Use of AI for Ethical Social Work Practice, hosted by ATCSW in collaboration with JICA and partners, bringing together social welfare professionals and experts from around the world to explore the opportunities and ethical considerations of AI in social work and social welfare.
🔗Read the full story on JICA’s website:

The Project for Human Resource Development on Social Welfare in ASEAN Region was launched in August 2025. This technical cooperation project is jointly implemented by the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW), the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thaila...

11/06/2026

📢📄Check out our latest feature on the JICA website: "ATCSW Promotes Collaboration for Community Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction in Chiang Rai, Thailand."
We are proud to work with our partners in strengthening community resilience and advancing disaster risk reduction efforts in the region.
Read the full story on JICA’s website:

The Project for Human Resource Development on Social Work in ASEAN Region was launched in August 2025. This technical cooperation project is jointly implemented by the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW), Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MS...

29/05/2026

🏡👩‍🏫ATCSW Visits Phra Prachabodi Institute สถาบันพระประชาบดี คลอง5 ธัญบุรี, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand
On 26 May 2026, the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW), led by Mr. Chinchai Cheecharoen, Director of ATCSW, together with Dr. Akiko Yokoyama, Long-term Experts of the JICA Project, paid a visit to Phra Prachabodi Institute, Pathum Thani Province, to exchange knowledge and discuss potential collaboration on capacity development in social work and social welfare.
During the visit, the ATCSW delegation was welcomed with an overview of the missions, roles, and key operations of Phra Prachabodi Institute. Both parties also exchanged information on training programmes and capacity-building initiatives, particularly courses related to social work and social welfare. In addition, discussions were held on possible future collaboration between Phra Prachabodi Institute and ATCSW to further strengthen professional development and regional learning networks.
The delegation also toured the institute’s facilities, including accommodation areas and meeting rooms, and had the opportunity to observe the “Civil Servant Seedling Programme” training session for newly recruited government officers, which was being conducted on the same day.
ATCSW would like to express its sincere appreciation to Phra Prachabodi Institute for the warm welcome, valuable exchange of knowledge, and insightful discussions. We look forward to fostering continued collaboration and partnership in the future.✳️✳️✳️