ASEAN-CRN Knowledge Exchange Event, Partners Meeting and Inception Workshop for the GCF Readiness Grant

Background

The ASEAN Climate Resilience Network (ASEAN CRN) was established in 2014 by the ASEAN Technical Working Group on Agricultural Research and Development (ATWGARD) as a platform to ensure that the agriculture sector of ASEAN member states (AMS) is better-positioned to adapt to climate change and optimize its mitigation potential. ASEAN-CRN promotes climate resiliency through the exchange of information, expertise, and experiences on climate-smart approaches to food systems. Since its formation, the network has significantly advanced the agenda of agriculture and climate change in ASEAN by providing a dialogue platform and linking policymakers with the scientific community. ASEAN CRN has also supported the establishment of the ASEAN Negotiating Group for Agriculture (ANGA) which has engaged with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in shaping policies relevant to agriculture, most notably the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture and its follow-up implementation plan at COP27 in Sharm El Sheik.

The ASEAN CRN and ANGA have produced a variety of policy guidelines and outputs to support ASEAN in its transformation to low emissions and resilient agrifood systems. These are, to name a few: ASEAN Guidelines in the Promotion of Climate Smart Agriculture, Volumes 1, 2 and 3; ASEAN Guidelines for Public Private Partnerships in Technology Development for the Food, Agriculture and Forestry Guidelines; and the ASEAN Guidelines for Gender Mainstreaming in the Food, Agriculture and Forestry. The network also put forward JOINT SUBMISSIONS to UNFCCC Calls for Views on SBSTA 44, and the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture through ANGA. In addition, it has acted as a very active platform for knowledge exchanges which have resulted in several collaborations and partnerships with multi-stakeholders across the region.

All these achievements formed the bases for ASEAN CRN developing one of the world’s first multi-country and sectoral proposals to the Green Climate Fund’s Readiness Grant to create business plans backed by climate science that will bring the necessary investments for accelerating transformation in the agrifood system for the region.

According to the ASEAN-CRN workplan for 2023, ASEAN-CRN focal points expressed interest in forging greater understanding on the following technical topics, which are framed within the context of understanding how agriculture can help achieve national climate targets:

• utilization of agromet/ climate information services
• digitalization of information in agriculture
• potential use of agro-insurance in accessing loss and damage funds
• the development of carbon neutrality strategies in agriculture

Therefore, this three-day event will seek to build the capacities of ASEAN-CRN focal points while providing a venue for discussion on potential collaborations among the various partners of ASEAN-CRN. This year, ASEAN CRN will also revive its tradition of opening up discussions and matching support from development partners with needs from ASEAN Member States.

Hence, this event is designed in such a way as to allow the first two days to be dedicated to a knowledge exchange on decarbonization and other relevant topics, including a partnership forum. The third day is assigned as the Inception Workshop for the successful GCF Readiness Grant of 6 ASEAN Member States, and the formation of a project steering committee.

The event, which combines all the needs above, is being organised with support from GIZ under the “Promotion of Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in ASEAN” (ASEAN AgriTrade) project together

with the Mekong Institute (MI) and the FAO-Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP). It is co-chaired by Thailand as Chair of ASEAN-CRN and by Philippines as the incoming ATWGARD Chair.

Objective

• To enhance understanding of utilization of agromet, climate information services and digitalization of information as well as potential use of agro-insurance in accessing loss and damage funds
• To increase knowledge on how agriculture can help achieve national climate targets
• To identify potential collaborations among partners of ASEAN-CRN
• To conduct the Inception Workshop for the Southeast Asian GCF Readiness Grant

Expected Participants (30-40 participants)

• ASEAN-CRN members (Up to two representatives from each AMS)
• International development organizations conducting similar initiatives in the region
• CSO and NGO partners

Note: A welcome dinner will be hosted by the PH DA.