Video Conference, 12 May 2026: The Southeast Asia Regional Program on Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP) convened a Stakeholder Consultation on 12 May 2026 to gather inputs on the development of the Regional Training Program (RTP) on Plastic Waste Management. The workstream supports the implementation of Action 10 of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris (2021–2025), which calls for the coordination of regional training programs on plastics and waste management.

The Consultation reviewed findings from a stocktaking and landscape review of existing training resources, courses, toolkits, and capacity-building initiatives. The review covered four thematic areas: (1) Policy Support and Planning; (2) Research, Innovation and Capacity-Building; (3) Public Awareness, Education and Outreach; and (4) Private Sector Engagement.     

The Consultation findings also helped identify opportunities to strengthen future capacity-building efforts, particularly in the areas of policy and governance, circular economy, technology and innovation, community engagement and behavior change, and non-recyclable plastic waste management.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of practical and implementation-oriented learning materials, greater attention to local government needs, stronger inclusion of the informal waste sector, and learning approaches that can be adapted across ASEAN Member States.

Feedback received through the Consultation will inform the refinement of the Training Needs Assessment and the development of the RTP modules. The Regional Training Program is expected to strengthen institutional and technical capacities, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support ASEAN and ASEAN Member States in advancing effective and sustainable plastic waste management across the region.

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