The aim of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) is to strengthen the social, cultural and human dimensions of ASEAN cooperation. The FES together with the Coordinating Ministry of Human Development and Culture and other stakeholders are fostering dialogue forums to build an ASEAN community that is just, inclusive and sustainable in which every citizen can enjoy a better quality of life and have equal access to opportunities and development benefits.

Together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other partners the FES has been hosting the Bali Civil Society and Media Forum as part of the Bali Democracy Forum – to discuss the development of democracies in the region, ranging from the issues of pluralism, women’s role in politics, as well measures to tackle disinformation that democracies.

As part of FES world-wide initiative, countries from the Global South such as Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, South Korea, China, and Indonesia are reflecting on strategies towards multilateralism in the global order amidst the shifting geopolitics of the 21st century. FES programs support Indonesian foreign and foreign economic policies that contributed to an inclusive and rule-based multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific region.