Objectives and target audience

The purpose of the meeting will be to further develop the sustainability framework of Dairy Asia and promote active leadership and ownership of key stakeholders. Dairy Asia is in the process of aligning the ‘Elements of a Regional Strategy for Sustainable Dairy Development in Asia’ (RSSDDA) that were identified in the Bangkok meeting in May 2014 with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in September 2015, as it was proposed at the Dairy Asia meeting in Muak Lek in January 2016. Dairy Asia platform has designated focal points in thirteen countries in the region. In order to align the work of dairy sector towards SDGs and the regional priorities, Dairy Asia Secretariat has prepared a Strategic Framework Paper titled “Towards a Sustainability Framework for Dairy Asia”. Delegates of the member countries of Dairy Asia were invited to join the meeting to review the Strategic Framework Paper in a consultative process. By bringing them together, this review goes beyond a mere conceptual exercise as the new framework will include country perspectives. The meeting will also discuss output level indicators for SDGs and the dairy sector. This process is expected to be both conceptual and consultative and could involve few national focal points meetings. This is the first National Focal Points meeting. The participants for this meeting include National Focal Points from all Dairy Asia countries (approx. 18 participants).

Expected outcome

A revised Dairy Asia Sustainability Framework endorsed by all member countries, a finalized discussion paper on Dairy Asia alignment to SDGs, which draft has been prepared by FAO, and agreed national work plans.