•  FORMAT: VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

•  TIME: 8-9 NOVEMBER 2021

•  ORGANIZERS: ESCAP, FAO, CIRAD and other ASSET project partners

KEY FEATURES

• Over 120 participants (via Zoom): Including government officials from ASEAN member states (in particular active ASSET project hosts and partners), focal points of Lao facilitated Initiative on Agroecology for ASEAN (LICA), members of the ALISEA network, ASSET project partners and partner networks, and other representatives of relevant civil society organizations, farmers’ organizations, research institutions and the private sector 
• More than 541 views for Day 1 (counted on 10 November 21) via Youtube: Strong messages and ambitions have been shared on the first day by high level policy representatives and the ASEAN secretariat, showing encouraging manifestations of intention and actual pathways to support transitions via national and regional initiatives.
• Up to 75 participants for the parallel session on policy dialogue and processes on Day 2: co-chaired by the Lao LICA focal point and with facilitation ensured by a member of the ASEAN secretariat as well as government representatives participating in the ASSET project

KEY MESSAGES & MATERIALS

Building upon the very rich exchanges and wrap ups organized throughout the two days, key messages have been consolidated to highlight the key perspectives that have been shared during the workshop on the actions and support needed to transition to agroecology and safe food systems, and notably to feed into the current process of producing the ASEAN guidelines on sustainable agriculture, and in support of the ASEAN Vision and Strategic Plan.

Please click on the orange text to find the respective materials 

• KEY MESSAGES
• PROGRAMME & PRESENTATIONS: Click the hyperlink text to find respective presentations. 
• RECORDINGS: The workshop was conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation available on 8 November 2021 and during Session 2B on 9 November 2021 for Khmer, Lao and Vietnamese.
• SUMMARY

BACKGROUND

The ASEAN Vision and Strategic Plan for Food Agriculture and Forestry 2016 - 2025 is a “competitive, inclusive, resilient and sustainable food agriculture and forestry sector, integrated with the global economy, based on a single market and production base contributing to food and nutrition security and prosperity in the ASEAN Community.”  Collaboration between government and research institutes, development partners and the private sector are envisaged to play important roles in achieving this vision.

In addition, the call for safe, healthy and sustainably-produced food presents an important opportunity for a green, resilient and inclusive pandemic recovery path that builds on the extensive traditional knowledge and wealth presented by the region’s agrobiodiversity. Such a recovery path converges with ongoing global coalition-building and multi-stakeholder campaigns accompanying the preparatory processes for the Global Food Systems Summit, and around landscape restoration, ecosystem health and sustainable food systems, in which Governments are beginning to participate.

As Governments focus attention on COVID-19 recovery and stimulus, it is urgent to develop reliable guidance and support for government and other stakeholders, increase networking, and strengthen collaboration to accelerate agroecological transition.

OBJECTIVES

A one and a half-day multi-stakeholder regional workshop is proposed to share perspectives on the requirements for transition to agroecology and safe food systems. Workshop discussions will support the current initiative to produce ASEAN guidelines on sustainable agriculture, as provided under the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and Implementation Plan, and in support of the ASEAN Vision and Strategic Plan. It will also feed into the Lao PDR-facilitated Initiative on Agroecology for the ASEAN (LICA) process and milestones.

Organized through the ASSET project by ESCAP collaborating with FAO, CIRAD, GRET and other ASSET project partners, the workshop will provide space for government officials and other relevant stakeholders to share perspectives on the actions and support needed. 

PARTICIPATION

• Government officials from AMS, relevant ASEAN working groups and LICA focal points
• Members of the ALISEA network, ASSET partners and partner networks
• Representatives of relevant civil society organizations, farmers’ organizations, research institutions and the private sector