FAO and Grow Asia renew partnership to advance gender equality, climate resilience, digital transformation and SME engagement in policy dialogues in the Asia-Pacific

To accelerate agrifood systems transformation across Asia and the Pacific, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Grow Asia have renewed their partnership through a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed virtually this week. Building on the achievements and learnings of the previous MoU (2021–2024), the new phase of partnership will focus on enhancing the resilience, inclusiveness and sustainability of agrifood systems in the region.

FAO and Grow Asia have collaborated closely in recent years, bringing together FAO’s technical expertise and Grow Asia’s multistakeholder network spanning six country partnerships and more than 775 partners. The joint initiatives have strengthened agricultural value chains, promoted responsible investment, and enhanced the engagement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in agrifood systems transformation.

In his remarks, Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, said that “FAO welcomes this new chapter of collaboration with Grow Asia to advance digital transformation, climate resilience, women’s empowerment, and inclusive financing, key drivers to supporting smallholder farmers and agrifood SMEs who form the backbone of food security.”

Under the renewed MoU, FAO and Grow Asia will work closely to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment through access to opportunities and resources; strengthen climate resilience; and enhance stallholders' access to finance and technical assistance through innovative models and enabling policies.

In her remarks, Beverley Postma, Grow Asia Executive Director said that “Strengthening Asia’s agrifood systems demands both global expertise and field-level insight, and that’s exactly what this partnership brings. By uniting FAO’s global capabilities with Grow Asia’s deep regional networks and on-farm expertise, we can accelerate climate resilience, unlock sustainable financing, and drive inclusive digital innovation for the farmers and rural enterprises that lie at the heart of the region’s agrifood economy.”

The partnership will further accelerate digital transformation by enhancing digital literacy, expanding digital advisory services, strengthening data ecosystems, and fostering innovation among SMEs and agritech startups. At the same time, FAO and Grow Asia will intensify efforts to elevate private sector participation, especially SMEs, in policy dialogue, ensuring that national and regional agrifood policies are inclusive, evidence-based, and responsive to Member Nations’ priorities.

By leveraging FAO’s technical expertise and Grow Asia’s regional networks and multi-stakeholder platforms, this partnership will drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while strengthening food security and resilience across the region.