With the support from the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA)’s technical expertise in the International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR-SP) and Canada’s Weapon Thread Reduction Program (WTRP) funding, the ASEAN Secretariat conducted a workshop on Risk Assessment and Risk Communication (RARC) from 23-26 October 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Attended by 83 participants from Ministries of Health and relevant government institutions, the workshop was aimed at enhancing the capacity of ASEAN member states to assess risks and communicate them in the event of emergency.

 The workshop presented speakers from UKHSA and WHO to elaborate on fundamentals of toxicology and exposure assessment, as well as risk characterization, management and assessment. The session was continued with discussion on communication aspects and multi-agency coordination. To combine theory with practical applications, participants were divided into several groups to discuss case studies and exercises.

 The next two days were filled with a conference discussing RARC during disaster, outbreak, crisis and emergency. The IHR-SP presented work on the public health surveillance of environmental and chemical hazards.

 Representatives from each Member State then shared their experience in risk assessment and communication. This included:

· joint risk assessment through a One Health Approach in Indonesia

· communications for behavioural impact in Malaysia

· managing public perceptions in a crisis in Singapore

· effective use of media in the Philippines and social networks in Brunei

· EOC as centre for RARC in Lao PDR

· RARC in managing Mekong Basin Disease Surveillance (MBDS) Trans-border Diseases in Cambodia

· managing migrants with language barriers in Thailand. The conference closed with WHO elaborating on infodemic management during a crisis.

 The IHR-SP team are now planning follow up work to ensure a sustainable approach to risk assessment and risk communications through the ASEAN EOC Network.