Asiadhrra

Asiadhrra holds virtual 12th General Assembly

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 07:14:52 +0000

AsiaDHRRA is holding its 12th General Assembly today. Originally planned to be conducted in Vietnam, the GA is being held virtually due to the Covid19 pandemic. VietDHRRA is hosting the event, with support from the Board and the AsiaDHRRA Secretariat.

This year’s GA takes stock of the milestones of the 2016-2020 Strategic Action Plan and will approve the 2021-25 Strategic Plan of AsiaDHRRA. It will also be a venue for AsiaDHRRA to reflect on the implications of the Covid19 pandemic on its rural development and poverty eradication programming in the region.

It will serve as venue to reflect on lessons learned and milestones of the Regional Cooperation to Empower Rural Development Organizations (ReCoERDO) in Asia, its 4-year EU cooperation under the Framework Partnership Agreement. Likewise, the synthesis of its 4-year programming on Farmers’ Fighting Poverty (FFP) with AgriCord. It hopes to communicate the results of its major programs through impact story harvesting (ISH) both at household and organizational levels.

The GA, which gathers rural development NGOs (DHRRAs) and partner people’s organizations, also aims to generate inputs related to the drafting of the ASEAN Framework and Action Plan on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication 2021-2025, and the first ASEAN Rural Development Masterplan. AsiaDHRRA is assisting the ASEAN secretariat in this task and key recommendations from CSOs can be considered in the drafting process.

UN’s FAO strengthens partnership with leading civil society organization in Asia-Pacific to achieve food security, improved livelihoods and sustainable transformation of agriculture

Knowledge Management — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 05:53:05 +0000

23/09/2020 Bangkok/Quezon City – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today formalized its partnership with one of Asia’s leading civil society organizations working to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote transformative, sustainable agriculture.

The CSO, Asian Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Asia (AsiaDHRRA), is a regional leader in building partnerships to empower farmers. It has been active since the 1970s and has been advising and collaborating with FAO in the Asia-Pacific region for more than a decade.

AsiaDHRRA has been instrumental in global, regional and national inter-governmental policy-making, consultations and decision-making processes. It has engaged with Governing Bodies facilitated by FAO, including the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and the biennial FAO Regional Conferences for Asia and the Pacific (APRC).

That relationship with FAO was formalized today following the virtual signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AsiaDHRRA, based in the Philippines and FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, based in Bangkok, Thailand, to strengthen its partnership work.

“The collaboration of AsiaDHRRA and FAO through the years has been very good, and this more formal arrangement will allow us to work together in closer partnership to accelerate our joint efforts to improve the livelihoods and food security of farmers and rural people,” said Jong-Jin Kim, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific. “FAO is committed to working with a wider range of development partners, including CSOs and the private sector, in general, and most particularly during this exceptional point in history as the region and the world moves to recover from the effects of COVID-19.”

AsiaDHRRA and FAO, among other activities, will work to raise awareness about the UN Decade of Family Farming and the MoU will help to facilitate the establishment of partnerships and collaborations at national level to promote family farming. It will play an important role in identifying ways to enhance the voice, representation and participation of rural organizations (including farmer’s organizations) as key stakeholders in policy dialogue and policy consultation processes.

“AsiaDHRRA hopes to be able to contribute in more programmatic way in strengthening social structures that will respond to the calls of the poor and vulnerable, especially amidst the pandemic,” said Nguyen Xuan Hong,

Chairperson of AsiaDHRRA. “We hope to join hands with FAO in its efforts to lead the recovery in the region, with the confidence that we have as grounded rural development organizations and agri-agencies, with the instinct and experience for decisive action, brought by decades of work within and across the region, and connected to global partnerships, in solidarity.”

FAO and AsiaDHRRA are already working together to provide technical advice and mentoring to rural organizations on agribusiness and financial management, with emphasis on gender, youth and environment and climate change issues.

FAO will also be collaborating with AsiaDHRRA to contribute to developing ASEAN’s Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (RDPE) Masterplan 2020-2025, which provides a cohesive guiding framework for ASEAN’s rural development and poverty eradication strategies.

Original post from UN FAO: http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/news/detail-events/en/c/1309327/

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UN’s FAO strengthens partnership with leading civil society organization in Asia-Pacific to achieve food security, improved livelihoods and sustainable transformation of agriculture

UN’s FAO strengthens partnership with leading civil society organization in Asia-Pacific to achieve food security, improved livelihoods and sustainable transformation of agriculture – World

DHRRA Malaysia speaks at the Inaugural Asia Virtual Conference & Access to Justice Exchange

Knowledge Management — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 07:49:54 +0000

Petaling Jaya (via Zoom)- DHRRA Malaysia speaks in the Inaugural Asia Pro Bono Virtual Conference & Access to Justice Exchange held on 24-28 September 2020. The theme of the Conference is: “Pro Bono in a Transitioning Environment”.

The virtual event focused on many pro bono and access to justice issues and provided a platform to discuss justice issues resulting from the current pandemic.

Ms. Maalini Ramalo of DHRRA Malaysia, shared the work of AsiaDHRRA and its member DHRRAs within its organization, to localize SDG in the context of rural development and poverty eradication.

AsiaDHRRA participates in the 5th International Conference on Climate Change

Knowledge Management — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 06:50:40 +0000

Cebu City (Via Zoom) – AsiaDHRRA participates in the 5th International Conference on Climate Change held last 24-25 September 2020 via Zoom, with a focus on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

The conference provided a venue to share and discuss various issues regarding climate change, as well as develop the knowledge, research, techniques, and method for adaptation and mitigation through a sustainable approach for supporting global health and support.

AsiaDHRRA was given a seat to intervene, where it pushed to bring in the table the concrete actions taken by the government agencies and the private sectors to address the food supply access problems, especially in the urban areas.

AsiaDHRRA represents CSOs in the 35th FAO APRC

Knowledge Management — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 02:50:03 +0000

AsiaDHRRA represented the Civil Society Organizations during the 2nd day of the 35th FAO Asia Pacific Regional Conference (FAO-APRC) hosted by Bhutan via Zoom, on 2 September 2020.

The 35th Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – APRC aims to “discuss the current country and regional priorities and pressing issues in the region such as the impact of COVID-19, the state of agriculture, natural resources management, food security and nutrition. It will also be an opportunity to highlight examples of partnerships, innovation and digital technologies that are helping to improve food security and nutrition across the region as well as regional and global policy and regulatory matters.”

AsiaDHRRA, as a co-convenor of CSO Ad Hoc Steering Committee for FAO APRC, together with IPC members, works closely in pushing forward the food security and nutrition and rural development agenda at the global, regional, and national levels.

CSO Intervention on:

Results and Priorities for FAO Activities in the Region (APRC20/6 + Web Annexes 1-5)
Decentralized Offices Network (APRC/20/7)

“We, members of civil society and farmer organizations in Asia-Pacific who are engaging in the 35^th FAO-APRC, takes cognizance of FAO’s effort to focus through the Regional Initiaves (Ris) approach, to create bigger impact on chosen priorities at country and regional level. And taking heed of the recent evaluation recommendations, a new set of broadened yet consolidated regional priorities, the 4 RIs, have been defined, anchored on 14 programmatic areas of focus for tangible and measurable results. This is a forward quick action, reflecting commitment of FAO to institute change and innovate. The new Strategic Framework, the re-orientation towards SDG30, the RIs, and the FAO Country Programming Framework (CPF) which will now derive from the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at national level are important steps to achieve greater results at the national level.

It is fitting that Results and Priorities and Decentralization are tackled in the same session. For these two are inseparable.

But the question that we, CSOs, wish this Conference to bring to bear is where have CSOs and Farmers’ Organizations been in all these at the regional, sub-regional, and national levels?

Or maybe the question is : How has FAO and member states involve CSOs and Family Farmers organization in all these processes? Where we at the table, or just on the menu?

We express our concern that in all most of these processes: strategic planning, regional prioritization, review and assessment, we have not been as meaningfully engaged, other than receiving reports of these developments during the biennial APRC. We believe that this laudable effort of FAO and member states to find better coherence and coordination could benefit from engagement with CSOs and farmer organizations through regular consultations, integration in FAO programs and activities, and obtaining feedback from them at all levels.

The participation of CSOs and farmer organizations in the FAO Asia-Pacific Regional Conference cannot be as meaningful if we are not involved in a systemic way, as valuable partners of FAO.

We do appreciate the reference to our organizations in item53 under Partnerships of the Results and Priorities report, and the involvement of CSOs in some programs as reported in item33 of the Decentralized Offices Network, but we believe that there could be more opportunities for productive and inclusive engagement if the mechanism for regular dialogue and consultation at national and regional levels, beyond the biennial APRC, is in place.

Along this, we call on Member-States and FAO-RAP to institutionalize an inclusive mechanism for CSOs and farmer organizations to meaningfully participate in the development of FAO’s

New Strategic Framework, in shaping the MYPoW, and contribute to monitoring and review of FAO programs and activities in the region and at the national level. It is engagement at the national level which is most relevant to many of us, as policies and programs will more directly impact on our constituents. Lastly, We hope that FAO will give priority attention and share the result of this year’s Independent Evaluation of FAO’s Strategy for Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations, in the spirit of responsible, inclusive, and genuine partnership.

Thank you for your attention.” – Ms. Marlene Ramirez, AsiaDHRRA Secretary General

MARCCO inaugurates new processing plant

Knowledge Management — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 12:17:35 +0000

Oriental Mindoro – The Matulatula Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (MARCCO) inaugurates its processing plant for citrus fruits (calamansi and dalandan) at Pola, Oriental Mindoro on 7 August 2020. The building will house the set of necessary machinery for cleaning, juice extraction, cooking and bottling. This processing plant was made possible through the funding assistance from the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) of the World Bank (60%), the National DA (20%), and the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro (20%). The project is supervised on the ground by the Provincial Project Implementing Unit of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

AsiaDHRRA has been assisting MARCCO through capacity building interventions – organizational, management, financial, business coaching and mentoring, and subsidy for initial years of its operations – through the Farmers Fighting Poverty Program (AFOSP) of AgriCORD with funding partnership with EU/IFAD. The new processing plant is part of MARCCO’s Business Plan. Within two years, MACCCO expects to bring this enterprise to a viable and profitable level.

Currently, MARCCO is receiving special business management intervention through consultants provided by AgriCooPh.

DHRRA Malaysia organizes Successor Generation workshop

Knowledge Management — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 09:43:48 +0000

Petaling Jaya – DHRRA Malaysia conducted its Successor Generation Workshop on 11-13 August 2020 with one of the Council of Elders of the network, Mr. Marimuthu. AsiaDHRRA Secretary General, Ms. Marlene Ramirez also joined thru virtual participation, and shared about the DHRRA philosophy – “musyawarah”, and also highlighted key points on sustaining organizations.

This activity allowed for intergenerational sharing of vision, experiences, and, goals for DHRRA Malaysia, following the regional AsiaDHRRA Network Successor Generation workshop held on 22-24 July 2019 at Tagaytay City, Philippines.#ReCoERDOAsia

FNN, CamboDHRRA conduct capacity assessment of Aphiwat Srokyeung Agricultural Cooperative in Phnom Penh

Knowledge Management — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 09:25:38 +0000

Phnom Penh – In collaboration with FNN, CamboDHRRA conducted the capacity assessment of Aphiwat Srokyeung Agricultural Cooperative (ASAC), Kampong Cham province by using FO/RPO Growth Monitoring Tool, held on 12 August 2020. The participants of the assessment composed of representatives from AC’s Board, management, staff, and members.

The objectives of this assessment include:
– To assess the effectiveness of interventions of CamboDHRRA and FNN to the agricultural cooperative in terms of building their capacity.
– To help AC monitor levels of their organizational maturity that AC has achieved in a specific period of time.
– To facilitate reflective discussions among AC leaders to be aware of their current level of competencies and strategize on how to keep moving forward.

The assessment tool looks into ten (10) capacity areas of AC: (1) Representatively, (2) Participation, (3) Accountability, (4) Inclusiveness, (5) Professionalism, (6) Financial Sustainability, (7) Networking, (8) Social Protection Services, (9) Agricultural and Training Extension, and, (10) Marketing Enterprise of Agricultural Products.

The gathered results will be a guide in planning for growth and developing an action plan for ASAC.

#FarmersFightingPoverty

CamboDHRRA organizes Successor Generation planning, launches COME

Knowledge Management — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 09:12:37 +0000

Phnom Penh (via Zoom) – CamboDHRRA organized “Successor Generation Planning” to members, facilitated by Ms. Arlynn Contreras, Organizational Development and Human Resource Management (OD&HRM) Consultant of AsiaDHRRA, conducted on 7 August 2020 via Zoom. The workshop is the inaugural activity of CamboDHRRA Online Meeting and E-Learning (COME).

A total of seventeen (17) participants attended the training, they are representatives from FNN, FAEC, FWN, FCFD, NGO-F, IIRR, KOC, AMRU RICE, AFD, Heifer International Cambodia, and KADRA.

#ReCoERDOAsia

DHRRA Malaysia conducts workshop on Crisis Response Efforts in light of COVID-19 pandemic

Knowledge Management — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 07:36:01 +0000

Petaling Jaya – DHRRA Malaysia conducted a “Community Reliance and Response Efforts in Handling Crisis” workshop on Tuesday, 28 July 2020, Armada Hotel, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Generally, the workshop aimed to strengthen services to rural peoples’ organizations, and, specifically, bring together and facilitate learning and sharing between resource persons and grassroot/ rural people organizations (RPOs) and other NGOs/NGIs on best practices in responding to community needs during a crisis.

This activity was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, made possible through ReCoERDO-Asia project, funded by the European Union.