An event titled “Brainstorming Session on the Challenges and Opportunities of Tackling Climate Change in South Asia” was held on 23^rd and 24^th March 2022 in Kathmandu, Nepal. This program was hosted by the South Asia office of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The primary objective of this program was to discuss different aspects of climate change challenges in the South Asian region and to find out the probable solutions to confront these challenges. This very program was also crucial for the effective and successful implementation of the Consortium for Scaling-up Climate Smart Agriculture in South Asia (C-SUCSeS) project.

The brainstorming session was attended by National Focal Points (NFPs) of the C-SUCSeS project from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in person, and Bhutan and Pakistan in virtual mode.  In addition, two eminent international experts in climate-smart agriculture namely, Dr. Arun Kumar Joshi, CIMMYT Asia Regional Representative, and Dr. Pramod Aggarwal, Regional Program Leader, BISA have also attended the brainstorming session. The program was graced by the presence of the special guest Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal, and Mr. Roshan Cooke, IFAD’s Country Director for Nepal. Among the other participants, Dr. Shahidur Rashid, Director, IFPRI South Asia (attended virtually), Dr. Md. Baktear Hossain, Director, SAC, Project officials from C-SUCSeS Project Coordination Unit, and delegates from the IFPRI-South Asia Office have attended the brainstorming session.

The NFPs presented successful and most prominent climate-smart technologies of their respective countries. PCU presented the overview of the project, 1^st annual work plan and budget, programme implementation manual, and monitoring and evaluation system.  Furthermore, IFAD and SDF as funding agencies have presented the requirements for the project and IFPRI highlighted how they will engage with SAARC member states in the implementation of the project.  The program ended with the closing remarks by Dr. Shahidur Rashid, Director, IFPRI South Asia (attended virtually), and a vote of thanks by Dr. Md. Baktear Hossain, Director, SAC.