Regional Insights 2025: Health Promotion Capacity and Training Needs in 10 SEAR Nations - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Leste

The report is part of the project title "Capacity Strengthening for countries in South-East Asia Region (SEAR) in response to the 21st Century Health Promotion: The project development under collaboration between ThaiHealth and Faculty of Public Health Mahidol University, Thailand. Health promotion is increasingly recognised as a critical strategy for improving population wellbeing, preventing non-communicable diseases, and strengthening sustainable health systems across the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR). However, systematic evidence on the current capacity, institutional arrangements, and workforce readiness for health promotion remains limited across many countries in the region. This study aimed to map existing health promotion capacity in ten SEAR countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Leste) by assessing knowledge, skills, commitment, institutional structures, systems, and leadership, while identifying gaps where further capacity development is required. The study also examined the current status of health promotion education and training curricula and identified training needs among professionals working in government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academia, and the private sector. A mixed-methods situation analysis was conducted across ten SEAR countries as part of a regional effort to document experiences, practices, and priorities for strengthening health promotion strategies. The study combined document review with qualitative and quantitative data collection. National policies, regulations, strategies, and legislative documents related to health promotion were reviewed using structured search strategies, including key words and combinations from national and international reports, policy documents, and legislative sources. In addition, key informant consultations were conducted with stakeholders from ministries of health, other government sectors, NGOs, academia, and the private sector through individual interviews, small group discussions, online meetings, and telephone consultations. The findings aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current health promotion landscape across SEAR countries, highlighting strengths, gaps, and opportunities for capacity development. Insights generated from this assessment will inform future regional strategies, including investments in innovative research, multisectoral actions to strengthen wellbeing across the life course, development of wellness indicators for monitoring progress, and improved collaboration between public and private sectors to enhance health promotion initiatives across the region.