The project entitled “Safeguarding the Regional Food Security under Climate Change Impacts via Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions-centered Adaptation Strategies” funded by APN, is being implemented by AIT in collaboration with partners from Nanyang Technological University, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Institute of Technology of Cambodia, Viet Nam National University, An Giang University, and Stockholm Environment Institute.

Group Photo

On Tuesday, 16th May 2023, AIT organized a virtual inception workshop with aim to disseminate knowledge covering an introduction to the project team, the project’s objectives, work packages, upcoming immediate plans, and some preliminary findings and around 35 participants were attended. The workshop was opened with a welcome remark by Professor M.S. Babel, Water Engineering & Management, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), and followed by a speech delivered by Ms. Naomi Young, program officer at the APN secretariat.

Welcome Remarks by Professor M.S. Babel, AIT

Speech delivered by Ms. Naomi Young, APN

Prior to the showcase of project preliminary findings, Dr. Ho Huu Loc, project PI from Water Engineering & Management, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), shared the reflections on the aims and work packages of NAFOS project and addressed some of the ongoing works and accomplished tasks. Dr. Ho Huu Loc emphasized that the project team, made up of a group of young researchers, is evaluating the nature-based solutions (NBS) that can actively harness ecosystem services (ES) to address climate change challenges across three study cases, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as well as to fill the gaps in food security in the lower Mekong Region.

Introduction to NAFOS project by Dr. Ho Huu Loc, AIT

After that, a presentation on the preliminary findings of the project was shared by young researchers. Mr. Pratik Poudel, a Ph.D. candidate from AIT, gave an academic presentation on the “Development of Food Security Indicators.”  He shared his reflections on how SMART analysis was used to evaluate indicators with respect to five dimensions of food security. Then, the presentation under the topic of “NBS for food security in LMRB region” was continued by Mr. Hoang Minh Thomas Nguyen, a Ph.D. candidate from AIT. He shared valuable insights on implementing NBS concerning food security from the literature review of scientific papers.

“Development of Food Security Indicators” presented by Mr. Pratik Poudel, AIT

“NBS for food security in LMRB region” presented by Mr. Hoang Minh Thomas Nguyen, AIT

Ms. Sreejita Banerjee, a Ph.D. candidate from AIT also delivered on the “Policy implications on LMRB”. She first introduced a concise overview of the four dimensions of food security and shared her literature review on the established policies to secure food in three case study countries. After that, Mr. Fahad Ahmad, a Ph.D. candidate from AIT has shared the findings on the investigation of climate change impacts on ecosystem services by using InVEST ecosystem modeling tool in the Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. He has also mentioned his future plans to be continued after the assessment of ecosystem services in the case study region.

“Policy Implications in LMRB region” presented by Ms. Sreejita Banerjee, AIT

“Climate Change and Ecosystem Services; a case of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia” presented by Mr. Fahad Ahmad, AIT

Following this, a live discussion was facilitated between collaborators and young researchers, and resulted in the following synthesis, and constructive remarks.

  • NBSs are seen as necessary for ensuring water security and mitigating water-related extremes, such as floods and droughts, NBSs are also crucial for coping with water scarcity and shortages
  • Evaluate NBS to handle salt intrusion and crop alteration problems encountered in the research area.
  • Aligning with NAFOS – the project aims to Streamline NBS in policy formulation together with watershed planning
  • Designing questionnaire surveys should incorporate the opportunities for improving gender equality in decision-making processes
  • Strong coordination between countries is essential for cross-comparison and prioritizing the criteria and indicators

Closing Remarks by Prof. Sangam Shrestha

The inception workshop concluded with a speech from Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Water Engineering & Management, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Overall, the collaborative project team’s inception workshop represents a critical step toward guaranteeing food security in the LMRB region and delivering tangible project implementation achievements.