PRESS RELEASE
STRENGTHENING RURAL ADVISORY SERVICES IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
APIRAS Learning Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand, 24-26 January 2023
Bangkok, Dr. Siti Amanah (Chair, APIRAS, and RASSEA), Dr. Epsi Euriga (Program Officer, RASSEA), and Dr. Johan David Wetik (Chairperson, IFRAS) were involved in the APIRAS Learning Workshop in Bangkok, Thailand. On this, the first day of the workshop, the sub-regional network including Siti Amanah (RAS-SEA), Botir Dosov (CAC-FRAS), Souvanthong Namvong (MELA) Nimisha Mittal (AESA) presented the current status as like key interventions, governance, support to Country Fora (CF), financing, challenges and opportunities, and future plans. The agenda followed by a presentation from regional networks/initiatives:(1) Ravi Khetarpal (APAARI), Pierre Ferrand (FAO-RAP), Roy Murray Prior (APEN), Song Yong-sup (RDA/AFACI) and Eng Chheanghong (GIZ) Delgermaa Chuluunbaatar (FAO-TAP-AIS) also GFRAS initiatives and documentation on Country Fora (CF) by Ingrid Oliveira (GFRAS). Then the final meeting on the first day established CF including Arlene Flores (PhilEASNet-Philippines), Afzal Hossain Bhuiyan (BAEN-Bangladesh), Botir Dosov (KGFRAS-Kyrgyzstan).
The second day began with a wrap-up from day one by Virginia Cardenas (member APIRAS SC) and then followed by the presentation of the current status of the emerging CF (Key interventions, governance, financing, composition, challenges, and opportunities, and future plans) including Krishantha & Ranila (Sri Lanka), Mahesh Chander (India), Chea Sokhon & Heng Choulong (Cambodia), Johan David Wetik & Epsi Euriga (Indonesia), Norsida (Malaysia), Nabira (Uzbekistan), Turmandakh (Mongolia), Bulent Sezer (Turkiye), Kerimbekov (Kazakhstan). After the current status of emerging CF, then followed by groups work sub-region. They have developed a 2-year work plan for the newly emerging CF Based on the learnings from Day 1 and new opportunities that they visualize after that each CF makes a 10 minutes presentation on CF Work Plan. The third day is closed with a presentation of what actions are needed to strengthen APIRAS and the action needed include (identification of key interventions, key responsibilities, implementation plan, and timelines.) on Regional Initiatives; Sub-Regional Initiatives; CF Initiatives; Participation in GFRAS Initiatives (Nutrition Working Group/Digital Extension Study/ Agroecology Initiative, NELK-New modules and Promotion).
The last day of APIRAS learning workshop activities is the Extended Steering Committee Meeting of APIRAS to discuss: (1) Hosting, (2) Governance, (3) Resource Generation, (4) Collaborations, (5) Priorities chaired by Siti Amanah (Chair, APIRAS) and facilitated by Rasheed Sulaiman V.
