6th Annual ASEAN CRN meeting

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) participated in the 6th Annual ASEAN Climate Resilience Network (ASEAN-CRN) meeting. Hosted virtually by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), in attendance were representatives from seven ASEAN member states, including CCAC partners Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand.  

Other international organizations represented in the meeting included the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), GIZ and the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA). 

Established to ensure the promotion of climate resiliency in the agriculture sector, the ASEAN-CRN is a platform for regional exchange, for the sharing of information, experiences and expertise on climate smart agriculture (CSA). The ASEAN-CRN links policy makers to research institutions and international organisations, including the CCAC.  Since its inception in 2014, the ASEAN-CRN has successfully launched activities that aim to ensure adaption of the agriculture sector to climate change, and optimise the sector’s mitigation potential.  

Watch the event recording

Objectives and results

The objective of the 6th ASEAN-CRN meeting was to identify opportunities for support to meet the demands and needs of ASEAN Agriculture and land use; specifically, how the ASEAN-CRN contributes to the targets of the Vision and Strategic Plan for ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (2016-2025) and the recent ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework. Based on these two frameworks, as well as the Strategic Plan of Action for ATWGARD (2021-2025), five Strategic Thrusts have been identified. A match making exercise was carried out to explore potential partnerships and to identify needs and priorities under each Strategic Thrust; during the meeting breakout groups discussed gaps as well as how the ASEAN-CRN can increase its’ impact in these areas. 

1. Ensuring quantity and quality of sustainable productions  
   Regional priorities include adopting and implementing the ASEAN Guidelines on promoting responsible investments in the agriculture sector, and the promotion of training to improve production and agriculture competitiveness. Areas that can be strengthened include engagement of the private sector and further integration of digital technology, for both marketing and knowledge dissemination purposes. 
2. Increasing resilience to climate change, natural disasters and other shocks  
   Regional priorities include the integration of the gender dimension and marginalised groups to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change; the implementation of CSA initiatives and support from climate change finance mechanisms; and the documentation and sharing of best practices. Areas for development include knowledge exchange on localized adaption planning and risk financing planning.  
3. Strengthening ASEAN joint approaches on international and regional issues 
   Key issues include the need for transdisciplinary convergence and action – how sectoral bodies working in the ASEAN region can look towards international bodies, and best use tools to link to beneficiaries. Priorities include capturing common positions on key issues in the sector and existing practices climate change adaption strategies and risk reduction. 
4. Promoting high value industries, sustainability and productivity in agriculture  
   Regional priorities include promoting training to improve food production and agricultural competitiveness. Areas for action include scaling up technologies on the ground and increasing capacity for innovation; capacity building for small-scale farmers and SMEs; stakeholder mapping; and seeking funding support and climate finance.  
5. Other support needed/provided in reimplantation of the ASEAN Recovery Framework  
   The whole supply chain has been impacted by COVID-19 – areas for action include the digitalisation of markets and the strengthening of financial mechanisms.  
      

The results of the matchmaking exercise show that regional needs mostly fall within Strategic Thrusts 1, 2 and 3. Clear themes such as climate finance and digitalisation of marketing and knowledge dissemination, arose in discussions surrounding several of these Strategic Thrusts. Work on these priorities and opportunities to strengthen the work done by the ASEAN-CRN, will contribute to achieving the goals of the three ASEAN frameworks, catalysing climate adaption and mitigation in the agriculture sector of the ASEAN region.