This handbook aims to help Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) parliamentarians play their role in operationalising the ASEAN Guidelines for Promoting Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (ASEAN RAI). It is based on Responsible investments in agriculture and food systems: A practical handbook for parliamentarians and parliamentary advisors published by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2020. It adapts that earlier handbook to the ASEAN context and provides ASEAN parliamentarians with practical guidance on how to contribute to an enabling environment for responsible investment in agriculture and food systems in their countries, based on the ASEAN-RAI Guidelines.

Food loss and waste (FLW) is one of the key areas under SP4 and BN4 as well as the MPI on Resilient Food Systems in RAP. FAO is well positioned as a global knowledge leader on food loss and waste and many of the other regions already have a tailored regional strategy on FLW reduction. In reponse to the last two APRC's as well as in line with the ZHC, and more recently the new FAO Strategic framework, this publication provides a basis for FAO and others to understand the scope and depth of FLW issues, how these can be addressed, including some good practices from Thailand, China and Nepal. As a multidisciplinary publication, it includes strong elements on policy and statistics with FAO as leading a convenor on SDG 12.3 on FLW measurement and reduction, highlights the scope and opportunities for FLW reduction as part of climate change efforts and also in terms of improved nutrition. It builds upon the analysis and advice of the SOFA 2019 on food loss and waste and identifies key pillars for interventions as well as recommendations for the technical as well as policy/decision makers in the Asia Pacific region. It is strongly linked to the FAP Global Programme on food loss and waste being implemented by headquarters.

Young people are key agents of change, with enormous innovation potential. FAO recognizes that youth are already at the frontline to build more sustainable agrifood systems and are best placed to rejuvenate the sector, acquire the knowledge and skills needed to innovate, uptake new technologies, and spearhead the digital transformation. The Organization provides support to countries to develop more youth-inclusive policies, strategies, investments and programmes, in order to enhance the overall well-being of young women and men. This compendium of good practices brings together snapshots of selected FAO's youth-specific projects, activities and products in support of the Rural Youth Action Plan (RYAP) first biennium of implementation (2021–2022).

Although climate-linked impacts on ASEAN’s economy, increasing vulnerability to severe weather, and interlinkages to transboundary haze, health, security and marine pollution are evident, a recent survey by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute reveals that Southeast Asians are ambivalent about ASEAN’s effectiveness in tackling climate change. All ASEAN Member States (AMS) are fully committed to accelerating reductions to global emissions under the Paris Agreement and demonstrate political will to set up intersectoral climate governance on renewable energy transition, agriculture and food security, forest and land use protection, disaster risk management, conservation on biodiversity, among many other measures. Under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) pillar, the ASEAN Ministerial Meetings on the Environment (AMME) and the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Environment (ASOEN) meet annually to discuss environment-related issues, including climate change. The ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC), one of seven technical working groups reporting to the ASOEN, is tasked to enhance regional cooperation on climate change, promote collaboration between sectoral bodies, and articulate ASEAN’s concerns and priorities at the international level. Climate change issues have become cross-cutting and involve various ASEAN sectoral bodies. The AWGCC’s role, however, is still limited to the environmental mandate. ASEAN needs to establish a super coordinating body on climate change that can ensure information sharing across ASEAN bodies, convene support from dialogue partners, and engage with civil society organizations. The ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on Public Health Emergencies (ACCWG-PHE) model established during the COVID-19 crisis can serve as a precedent.

The achievement of the first two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – end poverty and hunger by 2030 – requires substantial investments. To fully contribute to sustainable development, both public and private investments should be perfectly aligned with the SDGs. In this context, empowering youth to invest in their own farms and businesses along agricultural value chains should be a key component of sustainable development-centered investment promotion and mobilization strategy for three reasons: the improvement of food security; the promotion of the added value of food products; and the improvement of employment and economic well-being. This strategic planning tool can help propel investments by young agri-entrepreneurs at national or regional levels, and help ensure their sustainability. It analyses the current environment and overall conditions young investors face while offering practical solutions to overcome the main challenges identified. The strategic planning tool also helps ensure that decision-makers take ownership of the results through a participatory and inclusive process. The strategic planning process consists of four steps: 1. Identify which actions to prioritize (promising agri-food chains; target areas and groups of young people with the potential to become successful agri-entrepreneurs and who need help the most); 2. Analyse the current context, institutional, policy, legal, and incentive frameworks as well as existing services which help young agri-entrepreneurs make sustainable investments in the agricultural sector and food systems; 3. Develop a common vision of the optimal situation for young agri-entrepreneurs investing in agri-food chains; and 4. Develop practical solutions to enhance sustainable and responsible investments by young agri-entrepreneurs.

There are numerous risks to the sustainability and stability of Indonesia’s farming system, food production system, supply chains, and ecosystems. The evaluation aims to answer two essential questions: whether FAO is doing what is needed and whether it is making a difference. This evaluation recommends that FAO support the green and blue (land and sea) preparedness and adaptation plans, as well as early warning systems. The evaluation further recommends that FAO ramp up its support for a national decision support system that adopts a food systems approach to provide policymakers with the best analytical evidence and data available to guide new public policies and regulations. Many of the conclusions and recommendations call for policy and regulatory reform. The evaluation recommends that FAO work with Indonesia to establish innovative data management systems, new analysis methods, and analytical tools on agriculture including fisheries and forestry.

This paper summarizes the current state of concepts and approaches for addressing deforestation in the trade, marketing, and production of agricultural commodities that have a disproportionate impact on forests at international, national, and landscape level. To date, predominant attention has been directed towards the role of the private sector and "consumer countries" that shape market regulation. This publication aims to complement the international discourse by generating a greater focus on the role of "producer country" governments at the national and local level to support efforts to decouple agricultural production from deforestation.