Cambodia and other ASEAN Member States (AMS) will benefit from a new funding mechanism for projects that address food security, poverty, and climate change.
The Philippines-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has been tapped by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to manage ASEAN Social Forestry Network (AFSN) funds.
SEARCA will implement the ASFN Flexible Funding Mechanism as a new supporting partner of the ASFN.
SEARCA signed an agreement with the SDC and joined in implementing the programs of the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) Phase II.
Funded by SDC, ASFCC aims to integrate social forestry into the climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies of ASEAN and its Member States (AMS). It promotes the inclusion of communities, women, and vulnerable groups in social forestry and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
The flexible funding mechanism under SEARCA will support in-country initiatives that enable AMS focal points to quickly respond to emerging issues and challenges and increase their ability to articulate policy recommendations and directions.
Also called ASFN Strategic Response Fund (ASFN-SRF), it will finance projects relevant to ASFCC and ASFN objectives and priority themes and address gaps or issues related to food security, poverty, and climate change.
These projects may be quick “turnaround” (QTA) studies, exploratory reviews, meta-analysis/analytical studies and “think” pieces, study tours, dialogues/roundtable discussions, position or background papers as inputs to policy debates and decision-making, and strategic training scholarships.
The ASFN Flexible Funding Mechanism will be launched at the 8th ASFN Annual Meeting to be held on May 27-28 at the Sabah Forestry Department Office in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Swiss Ambassador to the ASEAN Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn will grace the occasion to inaugurate Phase II of ASFCC and officially launch the ASFN Flexible Funding Mechanism. Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr., SEARCA Director, will also be on hand during the event.
The other implementing partners of the ASFCC Phase II are the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Non-Timber Forest Product-Exchange Program (NTFP-EP) South and Southeast Asia, Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC), and World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF). Article from SEARCA 20 May 2014