Representatives from IIRR’s Philippines and Cambodia units participated in a regional workshop on Food Systems Learning Journey in Bangkok, Thailand from February 20-22, 2023. Organized by Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), the workshop was relevant to the People-centered Food Systems (PCFSy) project that IIRR is currently working on, and the team was invited to share their project with workshop participants.
During the workshop, attendees received in-depth technical guidance and participated in discussions on food systems, systems thinking, project mapping of food systems framework, and project development framework and tools. The workshop was led by Bruce Campbell, A+FS Network Focal Point, and John Ingram, Head of Food Systems Transformation Unit, Oxford University.
IIRR representatives had the opportunity to join field visits to Thammasat University Urban Rooftop Farm, Royal Irrigation Department, and a GIZ conservation project. The team also had a chance to meet with the SDC network, including their technical focal persons on Food Systems, Climate Change, DRR, and SNV team.
Overall, the workshop provided IIRR representatives with valuable insights and knowledge of Food Systems and relevant tools and frameworks. The field visits and meetings with the SDC network and SNV team also provided an opportunity for networking and potential collaboration.
While in Bangkok, the IIRR team met with representatives from IUCN, Asia (International Union for Conservation of Nature), including its Regional Director, Dr. Dindo Campilan, and his technical team. The two organizations discussed forthcoming collaboration with the IDRC supported AQUADAPT program and the potential for a regional workshop on Nature based Climate Solutions (NbCS).
