The annual UN Global Compact Leaders’ Summit mobilizes and connects thousands of business leaders, policy makers, civil society and academia representatives, from all over the world, to take action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s virtual Leaders Summit will address the converging crises of climate change, the covid-19 global pandemic, worsening social and economic inequality, and unchecked corruption, and offer a roadmap for a sustainable recovery. Please see the link below: click here

The Asia-Pacific regional food systems dialogue, to be organized virtually on 10 June 2021 from 13.30 to 16.15 hours (BKK time, UTC +7, verify your time zone here) in preparation of the Global Food Systems Summit. The meeting will be broadcasted through the following YouTube Channel:  click here. The participants are welcome to provide substantive questions and comments, if any through the YouTube chat box. For more information and the programme detail, please visit the event’s website :  click here

COVID-19 has been a wakeup call for the international ocean community as it entered the uncharted waters of converging challenges of global security, climate change, recurrent economic financial crisis and deteriorating health of the ocean. As result of the combined effect of COVID-19, with the consequence of years of neglect of the ocean, and the nexus of ocean and climate change, the ocean community faced a challenging year navigating, a new normal, aspiring to contribute to achieving the SDGs of 2030 agenda and a binding legal under UNCLOS instrument for the for the governance of BBNJ. However, as we entered the new norm, of living with the COVID, multilateral cooperation for capacity building of blue economy appeared to be more elusive and challenging. Undeterred we must commit to place a primary focus and objectives of ocean sustainability by  raising awareness and imparting knowledge, skills, and tools in an interrelated and interdependent governance of ocean and coastal living and non-living resources and their sustainability as the overarching objective of harnessing the benefits and opportunities of a blue economy living with the  ocean and from the ocean where the nexus of ocean coast and rural sustainability remains our global collective endeavour. It is our conviction that the age of ocean neglect and lethargy has come to an end given the global commitment today to the UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainability, UN Decade for Ecosystem Restorations, Ocean Alliances and Ocean Foundations and an outstanding emergence of citizens sciences, global monitoring systems, digitisation of ocean literacy has placed the oceans at the centre of the sustainable development agenda. Take this opportunity to immerse yourself in the fathomless world of related ocean governance that is science based and be prepared to accept fundamental change and commitments for the benefits of all humankind –and particularly link all these processes   for a sustainable future for generations to come. That will be our part in the redemption we all seek for the unconscionable damage and neglect inflicted by humans on the health of the ocean in the past. IOI stands ready to contribute to capacity development through its programmes of training, education, publications and ocean literacy. H.E. Dr. Awni BehnamHonorary PresidentInternational Ocean Institute (IOI)Former Assistant Secretary-Generalof the United Nationswww.ioinst.org Dr. Cherdsak VirapatDirector GeneralCentre on Integrated Rural Developmentfor Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP)www.cirdap.org

On 25 May 2021 , Dr. Cherdsak Virapat , Director General of CIRDAP met H.E Mohammed Abdul Hye, Ambassador , Embassy of Bangladesh, Thailand. Bilateral, regional and international affairs were discussed in this meeting, which includes  CIRDAP diplomatic status Universal Health Coverage and Health Security Fund Asia-Pacific Regional Conference organized by FAO RAP and hosted by Bangladesh in 2022 23rd Governing Council Meeting and 33rd Executive Committee Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, in April 2022 Cooperations between Bangladesh and Thailand (BSFF and Thai Union Feedmill PCL, agreement on agriculture & aquaculture, BIMSTEC/ITD/CIRDAP, training on IRD), etc

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The Asia Pacific regional food systems dialogue is being organized in preparation of the Global Food Systems Summit. It will provide insights from the national dialogues that are currently being convened on the five action tracks, and identify opportunities for regional and sub-regional collaboration. It will also consider cross-cutting issues such as digitalization, data, urban agriculture, and women and other vulnerable groups that have emerged as priority areas for action during the recent Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. A diverse range of stakeholders is expected to participate in order to consolidate regional views, perspectives and experiences regarding pathways and actions for equitable and sustainable food systems transformation to achieve healthy diets for all people in Asia and the Pacific and support the implementation of the SDGs within the context of current realities. TENTATIVE PROGRAMME 13.30 – 14.00 Welcome and Opening (30 min) Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of ESCAP Mr. Jongjin Kim, Assistant Director General, FAO Asia-Pacific Special address: Dr. Agnes Kalibata, Special Envoy for 2021 Food Systems Summit 14.00 – 15.00 Round 1: Messages from the countries (60 min) What are the priority action areas to transform the food systems in A/P along the five action tracks identified for the 2021 Food Systems Summit? Moderator: Dr. David Nabarro Senior Advisor to the Food Systems Summit Dialogues Moderated panel discussion with national dialogue convenors or their representatives Highlights of the national dialogues; what is the buy-in of stakeholders; what is the significance of each Action Track to countries/sub-regions Moderated discussion on the regional issues that emerge (e.g. multiple burdens of malnutrition; climate and pollution issues that cross borders; circular economies etc). Recommendations on developing sub- regional/regional co-operative approaches through the UN, regional bodies etc. 15.00 – 16.00 Round 2: Opportunities for regional action (60 min) What are some cross-cutting areas to accelerate the five action tracks at regional level , including digitization, Data collection, and improved surveillance to monitor nutrition, food security, and livelihood indicators, urban agriculture, social protection systems, and increased access of women. Representatives from global and regional organizations representing a mix of government, civil society, private sector, international organization What are major issues that are possibly being missed in the conversation Will we go back to ‘business as before’ after the pandemic or are there signs of a change to ‘building back greener and better’ with the solutions discussed during the APFSD SDG2 roundtables 16.00 – 16.15 Closing (15 min) Mr. John Aylieff, Regional Director, WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia   OUTCOME A meeting report summarizing main messages and recommendations for action at regional level will be prepared and submitted as an input to the Global Food Systems Summit. PARTICIPANTS Government representatives from the Asia Pacific region (national dialogue conveners), United Nations Country Teams, civil society, private sector. PLATFORM Zoom and public screening on YouTube. Dial-in/connection details and information will be sent to registered participants 24 hours before the event via the e-mail provided. CONTACT INFORMATION Ms. Katinka Weinberger, Chief, Environment and Development Policy Section, ESCAP is the focal point. She can be reached via email at escap-edd-edps@un.org. REGISTRATION For registration, please click here (https://forms.office.com/r/LgxXcBYWg8). The registration will be closed on 4 June 2021 at 23.30 (BKK time, UTC +7).

The Inception Workshop of the study titled “A Review of Agricultural and Non-agricultural Real Income for Investigating Food and Nutrition Security Policy in Bangladesh” held on virtually on 11 May, 2021. The Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) of the Ministry of Food, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) are jointly organized this Inception Report Workshop. The welcome address of the workshop was provided by Research Director of FPMU Md. Hajiqul Islam and the Chief guest was Dr. Md. Ruhul Amin Talukder, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. The inception report was presented by Dr. Mohammed Helal Uddin, Director Research, CIRDAP and Professor, Department of Economics, Dhaka University. The virtual workshop was embraced by 77 distinguished participants. The objective of the study is to generate evidence-based information to bridge the knowledge gaps required to produce and formulate pertinent national policies at ease. The workshop is supported by Meeting the Undernutrition Challenge (MUCH) project which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union (EU).  

UNCTAD Trade, Gender and Development Programme will organize a new edition of its online course from 31 May to 18 July 2021. This course will be offered in English and French. Course participants will have the possibility to take an optional module focused on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The course with the optional module will run from 31 May to 25 July 2021. The course targets policymakers, academics from universities and research centres, and representatives of civil society in developing and least developed countries involved in policy formulation and implementation, research, teaching, advocacy or field work in the area of trade and gender. For more information about the online course, click here. If you wish to apply to the course in French, please scroll down. Please note that the recommended browsers to fill out the application form are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari. The deadline for submitting applications is 16 May 2021.