1 December 2022, Colombo, Sri Lanka — The Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) successfully concluded its 3-day South Asia Proposal Development Training Workshop (PDTW). The event, jointly organised by the Ministry of Environment of the Government of Sri Lanka and APN, occurred at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo.

The PDTW is a recurring initiative by APN, specifically designed to enhance the capabilities of early-career scientists and practitioners in South Asia for developing competitive research proposals. It also provides a platform for strengthening the network of South Asian researchers and practitioners, fostering opportunities for future collaboration in regional research activities.

29 participants, including APN national Focal Points,  Scientific Planning Group members, and APN project leaders from Sri Lanka, gathered to share their knowledge and expertise. Their goal was to enhance the capacity of 18 early-career professionals from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan in creating collaborative regional research proposals in the field of climate-smart agriculture within the Asia-Pacific region.

The workshop’s central theme was “Climate Smart Agriculture: Meeting the demands of a growing population,” focusing on the three pillars of climate-smart agriculture (CSA): productivity, mitigation, and adaptation. This time, four groups of early-career professionals will develop proposals related to (1) Climate-Smart Agriculture in Policies; (2) Empower Farmers, Women, and Youth; (3) Resilient, Low-Emission Practices; and (4) Landscape Approach for Sustainability.

The inaugural ceremony featured distinguished delegates, including The Honourable Naseer Ahamed, M.P., Minister of Environment, Government of Sri Lanka, Dr Anil Jasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Sri Lanka and APN national Focal Point for Sri Lanka, and Mr Ryuji Tomisaka, Director of the Secretariat. Dr Dipayan Dey, Chair of the South Asian Forum for Environment (SAFE), delivered a keynote speech on Climate Smart Agriculture in South Asia.

During the PDTW, an engaging science-policy dialogue equipped early career professionals with deeper insights into the realms of policy and science. This session, uniting APN national Focal Points and Scientific Planning Group members, emphasised the policy relevance of climate-smart agriculture, underlining its critical role in addressing challenges induced by climate change. Discussions underscored the significance of adaptation for ensuring food security and sustaining livelihoods. The dialogue highlighted key factors such as engaging local communities, co-designing solutions, bridging policy gaps, effective communication, and allocating budget for local knowledge research, which is crucial for propelling climate-smart agriculture forward and securing food sustainability.

APN remains dedicated to building the capacity of scientists and practitioners in the region and continues to facilitate research collaboration on critical global change issues. The PDTW marks a successful collaboration and sets the stage for ongoing efforts to address climate change and enhance sustainability in South Asia and beyond.