Writer: Rojana Manowalailao, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems
This week ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems team is participating in the joint conference of German International Cooperation (GIZ)’s Sector Network Transport, Environment, Energy and Water in Asia (TUEWAS) and Sector Network Natural Resources and Rural Development in Asia (SNRD Asia), the first of its kind, in Bangkok, Thailand from 31 May to 2 June 2016.
The conference “Breaking down the SDG [Sustainable Development Goals]’s – Contribution of TUEWAS and SNRD to implementing the Agenda 2030” will bring about 250 national and international development experts of GIZ to exchange and discuss on how the global SDGs will play a crucial role in German development cooperation over the years to come.
Highlights will be on Wednesday 1 June 2016 on “A German perspective on the SDGs” by Ms. Sabine Müller, Head of Sector Department of GIZ.
Mr. Stefan Helming, GIZ Country Director Thailand and Malaysia will give an introductory note while Mr. Peter Prügel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Thailand will give a welcome address. A keynote speech will be delivered by Mr. Hongjoo Hahm, Deputy Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), United Nations.
ASEAN SAS will lead two thematic workshops to exchange and discuss on topics of ‘ASEAN Integration in food, agriculture, forestry’ and ‘Experiencing the Agriculture Sector through Modules on Sustainable Agriculture (MOSA)’ on Thursday 2 June.
The team will join the Working Group Agriculture meeting on Friday 3 June and a field visit to Kamphaeng-Saen Commercial in Nakhon Pathom to experience the whole agriculture value chains in Thailand. ASEAN SAS project is one of the SNRD members under Agriculture Working Group.
Following the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the SDGs comprise of 17 goals and 169 associated targets cross-cutting social, economic and environmental spectrums. Accompanied by a set of indicators and a monitoring framework, the 2030 Agenda built upon the successes and setbacks of its predecessor and applies to all countries. In September 2015, 193 United Nations Member countries adopted the new global agendas at a United Nations Summit in New York to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and address environmental issues. The SDGs have become applicable since January 2016 while the deadline for evaluation is set for August 2030.