The AIPA Secretariat recently convened the first “AIPA-FAO-IISD Joint Workshop on the Implementation of ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (ASEAN RAI)” in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The workshop was attended by approximately 40 participants, including parliamentarians and parliamentary staff of AIPA Member Parliaments, representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR, ASEAN Secretariat, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

During the two-day event, participants engaged in sessions aimed at enhancing their understanding and capacity regarding ASEAN RAI, explored the role of parliamentarians in advancing its implementation, and provided feedback and recommendations to the initial draft of the Implementation Framework. The consolidated version of draft Implementation Framework will be presented further to the second workshop, scheduled in July 2024.

“Fostering Parliamentary Action and Collaboration for Implementation of the ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (ASEAN RAI)”

Building on the success of the first AIPA-FAO-IISD Joint Workshop on the Implementation of ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting ASEAN RAI, held last April in Vientiane, Lao PDR, AIPA once again partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) organized to host a second joint event. This event took place from 24 to 25 July 2024 in Bali, Indonesia, with support from the House of Representatives of Indonesia, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), and the Swedish International Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

The two-day event set a precedent in facilitating stakeholders’ engagement by fostering understanding, gathering insights and advancing the promotion of the ASEAN RAI through the inclusion of academia, local communities, civil societies, and private sector entities. On the second day, a closed meeting among participating parliamentarians focused on further deliberating the draft ASEAN RAI Parliamentary Framework, which will be finalized for presentation at the 45th AIPA General Assembly in October 2024.

Building on the adoption of the ASEAN-RAI Parliamentary Implementation Framework at the 45th AIPA General Assembly, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), successfully hosted the 3rd AIPA-FAO-IISD Joint Event, “Championing ASEAN RAI: Parliamentary Leadership and Partnerships for Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry Sectors”. The event took place on 12 December 2024 in a hybrid format, with in-person participation in Jakarta, Indonesia.

This milestone gathering brought together over 35 participants, including representatives from AIPA Member Parliaments, the diplomatic community, development partners, and the ASEAN Secretariat. It marked a pivotal moment for the implementation of the Framework, as pathfinder parliaments were identified to champion specific pillars and action lines. The event also opened new avenues for collaboration with relevant stakeholders, further strengthening efforts toward responsible investment in food, agriculture, and forestry across ASEAN.

In championing its commitment to promoting sustainable development, the Parliament of Malaysia and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Secretariat organised a National Parliamentary Briefing on Promoting the ASEAN Guidelines on Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (ASEAN RAI). Co-hosted with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with technical support from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the briefing served as a follow-up to the AIPA-FAO-IISD 3rd Joint Event in December 2024. The briefing reinforced the Parliament of Malaysia as one of the pathfinder parliaments championing Pillar 4: Oversight under the ASEAN RAI Parliamentary Implementation Framework 2024–2030. It aimed to enhance the understanding of Members of the Parliament of Malaysia on the ASEAN RAI Guidelines, while identifying strategies for implementing the ASEAN RAI Parliamentary Implementation Framework 2024–2030, with a particular focus on strengthening parliamentary oversight.

Held from 18–19 February 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the event brought together over 40 participants, including Members of the Parliament of Malaysia, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia, academia, and representatives from the UN FAO and ASEAN Secretariat. The event also saw the participation of the National Assembly of Cambodia, the National Assembly of Lao PDR, and the European Parliament through a pre-recorded video presentation.