Published 27 Dec 2024in
The AGREE project supports low-carbon transition through gender-responsive climate adaptation strategies within agricultural value chains, focusing on vegetables, rice, and yellow corn commodities in Cambodia, Viet Nam, and the Philippines, respectively. The project mapped existing initiatives from profit and non-profit sectors relevant to inclusive, climate-smart approaches in the selected value chains using various research methodologies. To translate research into action, the learnings were socialized through pro-active engagement activities that resulted in piloting innovative approaches utilizing the blended resources from the public and private sectors to test solutions in Cambodia and the Philippines. In the Philippines, the PPSA implemented the GrowHer Training of Trainers (ToT) program which built the capacities of women farmer leaders on climate-smart farming techniques, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and community leadership. The training program covers three modules, namely: (1) Climate Change in Agriculture; (2) Climate-Smart Farming Practices; and (3) Agripreneurship. Following their completion of the training program, participants are set to cascade lessons learned to their respective communities. The project is aligned with SDG indicator 8.5.2 (unemployment rate) under SDG 8. The program also supports the attainment of SDGs 5 and 17. In 2024, 32 women farmer leaders from Region II (Cagayan Valley) and Region X (Northern Mindanao) graduated from the GrowHer ToT program. These women reached more – nearly 440 farmers from their respective communities. Through this approach, the program aims to scale and multiply impact, by reaching new groups, in other locations where corn is cultivated. It demonstrates the business case and effectiveness of investing in women leaders in fostering climate-smart agricultural development. Building from strength to strength, the PPSA secured new funding to develop an off-shoot project to expand on the successes of the GrowHer ToT program in Cagayan Valley, called ‘Scaling Up Sustainability (SUS): Training 100 Filipino Farmers on Climate-Smart Practices and Entrepreneurship’ project This new initiative aims to further enhance capacities of graduates of the GrowHer ToT program by providing advanced mentorship, equipping them to become champions of climate-smart agriculture and agripreneurship. It also aims to foster a thriving community of practice that promotes gender-responsive agriculture and entrepreneurship, driving sustainable impact within their communities. AGREE is a project funded by the International Development Research Center (IDRC) and implemented by Grow Asia and its country partnerships, Cambodia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (CPSA), Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Viet Nam (PSAV) and Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA).
2024 SPACE
