This workshop on COVID-19 Food Security Response and Recovery Actions in the GMS to be held on 1 September 2021 will present the first Knowledge Product (KP1) of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program technical assistance (TA 9916), offering an up-to-date overview of COVID-19 risks and responses and their implications for agri-food value chains around the GMS.

The purpose of this dissemination exercise is to inform national counterparts and relevant public and private stakeholders, soliciting their insights and comments to adapt KP1 and technical assistance implementation strategy to local needs. The revised and improved KP1 will be released for public information and used as a basis for COVID-19 advisory services targeted to four GMS economies.

This workshop will also provide the opportunity for donor partners, regional organizations, agribusinesses, and GMS government departments to contribute their COVID-19 response and recovery experience and lessons.

Objectives of the Workshop

• To present the TA 9916 Knowledge Product 1: COVID-19 Food Security Response and Recovery Actions in the GMS for stakeholder review and feedback, and
• To facilitate inclusive, transparent, and robust sub-regional policy dialog on meeting the challenges COVID-19 presents for agri-food value chains, with special emphasis on livelihoods and food security.

This workshop aims to achieve (i) improved understanding of shared COVID-19 challenges to subregional national livelihoods and food security; (ii) contribution, commitment, and support more determined policy dialogue and coordination on managing COVID-19 risks to subregional agri-food value chains; (iii) shared experience and lessons of agri-food sector policies and actions to support farmers and agribusinesses.

GMS Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program

The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program contributes to the Asian Development Bank's assistance to COVID-19 agricultural sector response and GMS-wide cooperation on COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. The expected impact of TA 9916 is realizing the GMS vision of being a leading supplier of safe and climate-friendly agri-food products. The outcome of the TA is increased GMS investments and capacity for climate-friendly, safe, and sustainable agri-food value chains. The TA has three outputs: (i) Climate-friendly, inclusive, and gender-responsive agri-food value chains and agribusinesses strengthened; (ii) Harmonized crop and livestock safety and quality systems adopted; and (iii) Climate-adaptive agriculture in the context of the water-energy-food security nexus enhanced. ADB is the executing agency for the TA. The GMS Working Group on Agriculture (WGA), in collaboration with relevant departments of the Ministry of Agriculture and other ministries (e.g., commerce, environment, finance, industry, science and technology, trade), will oversee the implementation of the TA.