Suresh Babu travelled to South Asia in Jan 2023 to explore collaborations under CACCI-Asia:
1.Tamil Nadu Agricultural University-India
Suresh Babu interacted with TNAU faculty and students on Jan 18, 2023. He conducted a capacity strengthening session on CACCI and related climate change issues with 4 faculty members (2 male, 2 female). He also held another session with TNAU students on future resilient opportunities for climate resilient agriculture and the role of CACCI. The session was attended by 8 male and 7 female students.
2. World Resources Institute (WRI)-India
Suresh Babu met with colleagues from WRI to present CACCI work and discuss potential collaboration opportunities under the project. WRI India is working with the Tamil Nadu state intensively in translating national CC policies and strategies into state and district level action plans that combine the NDCs and NAPs and translate them into investment plans. The lessons and approaches used here will be relevant for CACCI- Asia. Discussions revolved around future collaboration in India and other Asian countries taking collaborative lessons from India.
3. Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)-India
Met with Dr Anbu, Director of Research from ERIA, on developing a proposal on working climate smart inventory Sustainable Agriculture with Climate Smart Approach in support of the G20 Agriculture Working Group.
4. Potential partners in Bangladesh
Visited Bangladesh to meet and discuss a potential partnership under the CACCI project. For this purpose, Suresh Babu met with colleagues from the Agricultural Policy Support Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh; Global Center on Adaptation, Bangladesh; Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council; and BIMSTEC. A new multiyear activity funded by USAID’s mission on Climate Smart Agriculture could be an opportunity for collaboration for CACCI. Also, under PEARL funding IFPRI country office is planning to undertake an inventory of climate smart innovation in agriculture. This would again provide several initial entry points for supporting interventions in Bangladesh under CACCI. BIMSTEC can be a potential regional partner covering eight countries for regional dialogues and outreach in the Asia region along with ASEAN-ERIA.
5. Potential Partners in Sri Lanka
Suresh Babu visited Sri Lanka to discuss climate change related topics, including vulnerability assessment, NAPs and NDCs, and CACCI related work with potential partners. Hemet with the Director of Climate Change to discuss the initial set of activities that the Ministry is keen on implementing in contributing to NDCs. USAID funded project by TETRA TECH in Sri Lanka provides an opportunity to collaborate.