On 1 February 2021, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) and collaborate with NARDT for hosting the Second Annual Steering Committee Meeting in Vientiane Capital.

Co-chaired by (Dr. Chansamone Phoungoudom, NAFRI Deputy Director General; Dr. Soulivan Phattivong, IFAD Country Officer (Lao PDR) with distinguished participants from IPSARD, IFAD and NARDT country member (Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam).

The main objectives of the meeting were: 1) To review and approve the implementing plan that were recommended and reviewed by the IFAD project. 2) To review the activities and achievements of the project in 2020 and to approve the 2021 AWBP. 3) To share the experience and lessons learned during the implementation of the project; and other related issues.

In addition, all distinguished participants in the meeting were allowed to discuss and provide recommendations or feedback to each NARDT country member in order to improve their workplan in 2021 namely research focus topics, sharing lessons learned, training provision and setting up the innovation lab.  

The meeting ended in the evening of the same day.