AWG-SF is a transformation of the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN), a government-driven social forestry network in Southeast Asia, with the main goal of strengthening ASEAN cooperation in social forestry through knowledge sharing. It aims to promote social forestry policy and practices in the region. SEARCA, being one of the key partners of the AWG-SF and the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC), implements the AWG-SF Strategic Response Fund (ASRF), a flexible funding mechanism for the government sector of the AMS. ASRF is one of the initiatives of the ASFCC Phase III in support to AWG-SF. It is currently funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
As a side event of the 7th AWG-SF Conference, SEARCA will host a meeting of the ASRF Program Steering Committee (PSC) and a Dinner Fellowship for the AWG-SF Leaders and Focal Points on 13 June 2017. SEARCA representatives will present the Operational Report for 2016 and plans for ASRF (2017-2020) under ASFCC Phase III to the program steering committee, whose members consist of selected AMS representative/s, the SEARCA Director, the ASFCC Regional Advisor, SDC representative, AWG-SF secretariat, and ASEC representative. The new ASRF under ASFCC Phase III will launched during the Dinner Fellowship. The event, which will be attended by AWG-SF Leader and Focal Points of the ten AMS, will also serve as an opportunity to establish linkages with potential recipients of the fund.
SEARCA, through Dr. Juan Pulhin, will present the proposed "ASEAN Multi-sectoral Framework for Climate Change: Agriculture and Forestry Contributing to Food and Nutrition Security and SDGs" in the 7th AWG-SF Conference. This is expected to generate more inputs from the conference participants for improving the framework. Mr. U-Prime Rodriguez, on the other hand, will present recent studies on Biofuel as an approach to Forest Landscape Restoration. SEARCA will also participate in the Knowledge Fair during the conference, launching 14 ASRF Learning Notes from previously funded projects and the ASRF Brochure.
The Center will be represented by Dr. Bessie M. Burgos, Program Head of the Research and Development Department (RDD), Ms. Amy M. Lecciones, Regional Program Coordinator of the AWG-SF Strategic Response Fund (ASRF), and Mr. Xyrus Godfrey B. Capiña, ASRF Project Associate. Also joining the SEARCA delegates are Mr. Mark Anthony Ramirez who will present the concept note of the Country Profiling activity in the PSC meeting, and Ms. Millicent Pangilinan, Technical Assistant in drafting the AFCC Multi-sectoral Framework. (Xyrus Godfrey B. Capiña)
