Circular No. APR-C09-2026
Dear Colleagues,
Greetings from the Asia-Pacific Support Centre!
The World Scout Bureau – Asia-Pacific Support Centre (APSC) is pleased to announce the launch of the National Support Assessment Tool (NSAT) 1.0, a framework developed by the Asia-Pacific Region to promote good governance, strengthen organisational capacity and encourage consistent standards of good practice across the Sub-National Formations (SNFs) of National Scout Organizations (NSOs).
Background and Development
The development of NSAT stems from Resolution 16/22 of the 27th APR Scout Conference, which adopted the Asia-Pacific Regional Plan 2022–2025. Under the priority area of Good Governance, the resolution called upon the Region to:
“Encourage the large NSOs to further apply the GSAT Model at Sub-National Levels with necessary adjustment to have good governance at all levels.”
In response to this direction, the Asia-Pacific Region developed the initial NSAT guidelines and assessment tool, drawing upon the principles and framework of the WOSM Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT), with appropriate adaptations to reflect the governance, financial management and administrative responsibilities of sub-national structures.
The initial framework was piloted in three NSOs: Scouts Australia, The Bharat Scouts and Guides (India), and Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia. The pilot experiences demonstrated the relevance and importance of extending systematic assessment and benchmarking practices beyond the national level to sub-national formations, enabling NSOs to establish and maintain consistent organisational standards throughout their structures.
Feedback and recommendations from the pilot initiatives were gathered from the participating NSOs, their respective sub-national formations, assessors, facilitators and other stakeholders involved in the process. The APR team of volunteers and professionals subsequently undertook a comprehensive review of the framework, incorporating relevant suggestions to strengthen its content, applicability and assessment methodology.
The refined framework was subsequently shared with the WOSM Global team and further reviewed through consultations involving more than 12 representatives. Following this review and refinement, NSAT 1.0 is now ready for implementation by NSOs across the Asia-Pacific Region
Purpose and Application
NSAT 1.0 provides a structured framework for assessing and strengthening good practices at sub-national levels. It enables NSOs to identify organisational strengths and areas for improvement while promoting consistent standards across their structures. NSOs may adapt the assessment criteria to their respective organisational contexts, while maintaining the essential requirements of the framework.
Capacity Building and Implementation Support
APSC will support interested NSOs in building their capacity to implement NSAT through the training of facilitators and assessors, including practical exposure to the assessment process. Facilitators will guide sub-national formations through the preparation and improvement process, while assessors, selected from the pool of trained facilitators and provided with additional training, will conduct objective, evidence-based assessments.
The NSO retains ownership and responsibility for implementing NSAT within its structures, including appointing facilitators and assessors, conducting assessments and following up on identified areas for improvement. APSC will provide the necessary technical guidance and implementation support.
Invitation to NSOs
All NSOs are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this initiative and take the necessary steps towards introducing NSAT within their respective organisations.
NSOs interested in taking a lead in its implementation are invited to nominate suitable individuals for the initial NSAT Facilitator Training. Nominations should be made in accordance with the candidate profile and requirements outlined in the accompanying document.
Interested NSOs are requested to submit the names and relevant details of their nominees using the attached reply slip no later than 30 November 2026. This will enable APSC to assess the level of interest and plan and schedule the initial training at the earliest opportunity.
Alternatively, an NSO wishing to organise the training at a time convenient to its own schedule may request APSC to facilitate a dedicated training programme, provided that it can nominate a minimum of 12 participants and is willing to accommodate participants from other interested NSOs, subject to available capacity and mutually agreed arrangements.
The NSAT 1.0 Guideline and Assessment Toolkit, together with the Profile of Suitable Candidates for NSAT Facilitator/Assessor Training and the nomination reply slip, are enclosed for your information and reference.
We firmly believe that the introduction of NSAT will be an important step towards strengthening organisational governance, accountability and institutional capacity throughout our Member Organizations. More importantly, it will provide NSOs with a structured approach to ensuring that the quality and standards of Scouting are consistently strengthened at every level of their organisations.
We look forward to the active participation and cooperation of all NSOs in taking this important initiative forward.
For further information or clarification, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
Yours in Scouting,
J Rizal C. Pangilinan
Regional Director
Attachments:
- NSAT 1.0 Guideline and Assessment Toolkit
- Profile of Suitable Candidates for NSAT Facilitator/Assessor Training
- Nomination reply slip
