This event was the continuance of 2013 Technical Innovation Symposium, which formed a core component of SEA: REACTi project, aiming at the establishment and maintenance of an effective forum providing updated findings as well as facilitating sharing and discussion on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) initiatives.
The 2014 workshop gathered 110 participants from government partners, research institutes, Embassies and donor agencies, NGOs and private sector and invited eleven thematic talks from top-notch presenters on three following areas:
1/ Climate Smart Agriculture and models of livelihood adaptation;
2/ Translation of the national CCA policy into implementation of adaptation projects at the local level;
3/ Private sector involvement in community-based CCA initiatives
Morning session laid emphasis on the presenting of initial results achieved in two pilot projects in Can Tho, Vietnam and Xiengkhuong, Laos and addressed the third theme involving Private sector. Of the formal, ADRA Laos and ADRA Vietnam brought Project Manager – Mr. Phoutthavy Vorachit and Senior Programs Officer – Mr. Nguyen Chi Hieu to the dais for revealing achievements, lessons learned of current doings as well as challenges for projects ahead. Interesting distinction of focus lying in two locations was quickly noticed, as ADRA Vietnam has been concentrating on awareness raising activities for community, meanwhile our co-implementing office has centered on adaptive agricultural practices for local farmers. Of the lesson learned from Vietnamese side, partnership with local authorities and organizations imposed both challenges and potentials for project activities, as the example of Can Tho Climate Change Office carrying out too many projects at the same time, resulted in “neglecting” some of responsibilities in SEA: REACTi project, whereas coordination with Provincial Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization was proved to be effective and promising. From the self-evaluation of ADRA Laos, project’s failure fell into inappropriate seeding techniques and soil testing methods, this recognition therefore would contribute partially to the solution integrated in up-scaling model.
ADRA understands very well the indispensable role of the private entities in cooperating and leading out the development and because of that the 2014 SEA:REACTi Workshop was designed to place a specific focus on sharing the pioneering actions in this sector. These presentations came from the private sector, NGO perspective and those working on connecting the two “distant worlds”.
Mr. Peter Chau – Entrepreneur and Founder of icanchangetheworld.com – had captured loads of attention from audiences, while presenting his business and CSR strategy incorporated. Mr. Thomas Walker – Chief Developer of UNIDO Reap 26 and Head of Institute for Sustainable Solutions, Austria – directed participants to innovative model called “The Maturity Model”, which exposed four separated generation or stages of CSR practices. He also insisted on the Ethical Imperatives by Von Foerster: “Act always so as to increase the number of choices”, and so explained the border of “Human Scaled”. Enclosing the third theme, the honor guest Mr. Daniel Oporto from SNV World highlighted the Inclusive Business Models, which helped create huge opportunity for sustainable business and Climate Smart Agriculture.
The afternoon session of 8th April highlighted two remarkable topics: “Climate Smart Agriculture and Livelihood Adaptation Model” and “Translation of the national CCA policy into implementation of adaptation projects at the local level”, presented by UNDP, FAO, GIZ, OXFAM, PLAN and ADC (Agriculture and Forestry Research and Development Center for Northern Mountainous Region) respectively.
Last year’s contribution was laden with Innovations in Rice Cultivation: “System of Rice Intensification” and “Alternate Wetting and Drying”; at 2014 SEA: REACTi Workshop GIZ An Giang introduced new method of “Floating Rice and Vegetables Farming System”.
“In the past, there were few kinds of floating rice, however of the current time, there is only one remained. GIZ is therefore promoting the conservation of this floating rice and application in suitable areas”, said by Ms. Doan Thi My Hoa – Technical Officer of GIZ An Giang.
