Best Practices in ASN Capacity Building in ASEAN: Literature Review and Opportunities for Adaptation in Indonesia

Abstract

Capacity building of the State Civil Apparatus is crucial in creating efficient, responsive, and results-focused governance. This paper applies a policy transfer and institutional adaptation perspective to analyze best practices in ASN capacity building in the ASEAN region, particularly in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, and assesses the possibility of its application in Indonesia. A systematic literature review was conducted, utilizing explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria, to obtain data from peer-reviewed academic journals and authoritative policy documents. The research findings show that competency-based training systems, continuous learning approaches, policy integration, and transparent oversight mechanisms support ASN capacity development in these countries. However, the analysis reveals that adaptation of these practices in Indonesia requires careful consideration of local administrative culture, institutional readiness, and political and resource constraints. Indonesia has great potential to adapt strategic elements such as a tiered training system, rotation of positions between institutions, coaching and mentoring, and the use of digital technology in training. However, the process must be guided by evidence-based policy design and robust evaluation mechanisms to ensure effective and sustainable reform, rather than simple replication of external models.