AsiaDHRRA’s member and partner DHRRAs in the region, namely, CamboDHRRA, LaoDHRRA, and PhilDHRRA, organized the Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Learning Program on Empowering Women and Youth in their respective countries on 4-15 October 2022. The activities are follow-ups from the Learning Program Dry Run organized by AsiaDHRRA capacitating Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and the Philippines at the Richmonde Hotel, Pasig City, Philippines, on 19-22 September 2022.
Ms. Phetdavanh Sipaseuth and Mr. Phutpasong Thongsoulin, SMEs from LaoDHRRA, conducted the Learning Program in Vientiane, Lao-PDR, on 4-7 October 2022. The event was joined by 29 participants from various farmers’ organizations, academic, rural women, and gender groups and supported by the VungVieng District Agriculture and Forestry Office.
CamboDHRRA’s SMEs Mr. Him Noeun and Mr. Chea Chantha, in coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Cambodia and the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), jointly organized the same event on 10-13 October 2022 at the Sunway Hotel, Phnom Penh and participated by 25 representatives from civil society organizations (CSO), farmers’ organizations, agricultural cooperatives, and the young farmer network.
Lastly, Ms. Katlea Zairra Itong and Ms. Melissa Alamo, SMEs from PhilDHRRA, convened various farmer’s organizations, young farmers and rural women groups, cooperatives, and non-government organizations on 12-15 October 2022 at the Partnership Center, Quezon City, Philippines. The event highlighted a participant’s reflection: “Mas na-inspired po akong mag organize sa aming barangay. Naway mas madami akong mahikayat na kabataan at maexplain ang kahalagahan ng RAI when it comes to agriculture (I am more inspired to organize in my community; I hope I could encourage more youth to value the importance of RAI).”
The learning programs will be followed by national dialogue and validation events to be organized between November and December 2022. RAI is a project supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which refers to creating productive assets and capital information oriented to support the realization of food security, nutrition, and sustainable development, including increased production and productivity.
