ASEAN-wide Research Network on Ageing (ARNA)

Ageing is an increasingly important development agenda across ASEAN. Several ASEAN Member States have conducted national research to better understand the major challenges associated with population ageing, including health, housing, financial security, long-term care and support systems for older persons. These research findings have supported the development of policies, programmes and services aimed at enhancing the well-being, productivity and social participation of older persons.

However, the capacity to conduct ageing-related research varies across the region. Some ASEAN Member States continue to face limitations in terms of funding, technical expertise and access to standardised research tools. At the same time, research findings and best practices on ageing are not always widely shared across countries due to limited research networking, differences in research protocols and the lack of dedicated regional platforms for knowledge exchange.

In response to these gaps, the ASEAN-wide Research Networking on Ageing, or ARNA, was established in 2019 as a regional initiative led by the National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB), Malaysia, under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. The project was supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and aimed to strengthen regional cooperation, knowledge sharing and evidence-based planning on ageing in ASEAN.

ARNA seeks to establish a common, cohesive and sustainable ASEAN research agenda on ageing. It provides a platform for ASEAN researchers, experts and policymakers to exchange knowledge, share experiences, identify priority research areas and strengthen the use of evidence in ageing-related policies and programmes. The initiative also supports the development of standardised research protocols and promotes the establishment of a regional network of experts and researchers on ageing.

Through ARNA, NPFDB commissioned three main outputs:

1. Population Ageing Statistics, Ageing-related Policies, Laws, Programmes and Services

This output provides an overview of ageing trends, policy frameworks, legal instruments, programmes and services related to older persons across ASEAN Member States. 

2. Research Priorities and Directory of Ageing Experts

This output identifies priority research areas on ageing in the Southeast Asian region and compiles a list of experts and researchers working in ageing-related fields.

3. Standardised Research Protocol on Ageing in ASEAN Countries 

This output supports greater consistency in ageing research by providing a common research protocol that can be adapted and used across ASEAN Member States.

Collectively, these outputs contribute to a stronger regional evidence base on ageing and support more coordinated policy responses across ASEAN. ARNA also strengthens Malaysia’s role, through NPFDB, in advancing regional dialogue, research collaboration and evidence-based approaches to population ageing. Moving forward, continued collaboration among ASEAN Member States is essential to ensure that ageing research translates into practical policies, inclusive programmes and sustainable support systems for older persons across the region.