LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) have renewed their memorandum of understanding (MOU) during a virtual ceremony held on 22 October 2025.
CIRDAP, established in 1979 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), fosters regional cooperation for integrated rural development and operates through designated ministries and partner institutions across Asia and the Pacific.
Since the formation of their alliance in 2014—marked by the signing of a three-year MOU—SEARCA and CIRDAP have committed to institutional cooperation through joint programs, projects, capacity-building activities, and the exchange of materials, publications, and information.
Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, emphasized the significance and timeliness of renewing the partnership, underscoring its alignment with SEARCA’s 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia). This vision is closely aligned with CIRDAP’s mission to promote integrated rural development and poverty alleviation.
“With our shared priorities, guided by SEARCA’s new strategic plan, we will work together to create opportunities for increasing farmers’ income; advocate for policies that ensure food and nutrition security; advance and scale up climate-resilient farming systems; and empower farmers, youth, and rural institutions by strengthening their capacity to adopt digital tools for sustainable transformation in the region,” said Sombilla.
Highlighting her goal to further elevate the partnership, Sombilla introduced various regional initiatives and proposed projects for collaborative synergy. On education and capacity building, she highlighted the Erasmus Plus-funded Postgraduate Micro-credentials for Food Security and Climate Change (PMC FSCC), aimed at delivering flexible micro-credential courses; the Leadership Development Program for Higher Education Institutions (LDP-HEIs); the Executive Program for Leaders in Asian Agriculture and Development (LAAD); and the SEARCA Agri-Innovator Program (AIP).
On the innovation front, Sombilla discussed the Rice Straw Biogas Hub (RSBH)—a collaborative climate mitigation effort supported by Innovate UK—as well as the Grants for Research toward Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS), which offer seed funding to researchers, scientists, inventors, and agripreneurs to scale up technologies and innovation models.
For research, Sombilla cited regional efforts, including the Nature-based Climate Solutions in Aquaculture Food Systems in Asia-Pacific (AQUADAPT) and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Region (LULUCF). She also mentioned CIRDAP’s potential membership in SEARCA’s Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI) to strengthen evidence-based agricultural policy innovation in Southeast Asia.
In his remarks, Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, CIRDAP Director General, highlighted that seven out of CIRDAP’s 15 member countries are also members of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), SEARCA’s parent organization. He proposed initial steps for joint actions, including sharing publications and opening capacity-building programs and learning events to each other’s networks.
The virtual signing was attended by officials and staff from both institutions, including Dr. Ganga Dutta Acharya, Director for Research; Dr. Babu Kaji Thapa, Programme Officer for Research; Dr. Venkatamallu Thadaboina, Programme Officer for Learning; Mr. F.A.M. Zakirul Huq, Head of Administration and Officer-in-Charge of the Learning and Knowledge Management Division; Mr. Shishir Saha, Finance Officer; and Ms. Hurain Jannat, Communication Officer from CIRDAP; and Dr. Nur Azura binti Adam, Deputy Director for Programs; Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo, Deputy Director for Administration; Dr. Maria Cristeta Cuaresma, Senior Program Head for Education and Collective Learning; Dr. Gerlie Tatlonghari, Program Head for Research and Thought Leadership; and Directorate staff from SEARCA.
By renewing this strategic partnership, SEARCA and CIRDAP reaffirm their dedication to empowering rural communities across Southeast Asia and beyond, driving transformative and inclusive development in the region.