Contributed by GeNA Project
On October 5-6, 2025, over 100 participants from 11 projects of IDRC’s Aquaculture Food Systems in Asia-Pacific (AQUADAPT) community gathered at AIT for the third peer-learning workshop. AQUADAPT is a joint project of IDRC and the Government of Canada aimed at addressing the intertwined critical challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity to enable more resilient and sustainable aquaculture food systems. Towards this goal, AQUADAPT invests in action-based research that harnesses the potential of nature-based solutions for climate-vulnerable communities, including people of all genders and marginalized groups across the Asia-Pacific region. Participants from Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vietnam joined the two-day event.
The project titled “Making Nature-based Climate Solutions in Aquaculture in Southeast Asia Monitoring More Gender Responsive” (GeNA project), supported by IDRC’s AQUADAPT program is jointly implemented by the Gender and Development Studies (GDS) program of AIT and the Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Section of Asian Fisheries Society (GAFS/AFS), in partnership with the Department of Fisheries, Thailand; Cambodian Institute for Research and Rural Development; and The University of the Philippines Visayas. AIT and GAFS/AFS supported IDRC in organizing the AQUADAPT peer-learning event.
One of the key outcomes of AQUADAPT is the integration of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). The AQUADAPT GESI Strategy was jointly developed and adopted by all eleven project teams, which are implementing gender-responsive approaches in their work. In some cases, individual GESI project frameworks have also been developed, such as the Gender Monitoring Schema being piloted by the GeNA project and the Leveraging Climate-Smart Shrimp Aquaculture Solution (LEAPS) project.
The purpose of the AQUADAPT peer-learning event was to create a space for reflection, collaboration, and collective visioning. Participants from different projects came together to share lessons and challenges, take stock of program-level progress, identify priorities, and co-create program strategies and knowledge products. This was the third peer-learning event of the AQUADAPT cohort (the second was held in Penang in July 2024). Through engagement with peers from different areas, participants were exposed to new perspectives, ideas, and approaches to problem-solving and decision-making. The real value of being part of the cohort is not only in individual growth but in collective learning, to grow, challenge assumptions, share experiences, and support each other while refining leadership skills, which are best developed in a shared and diverse environment.
The event began with a field trip on October 4, where AQUADAPT participants visited two sites: a women-led fish processing group and an integrated fish-rice-vegetable-fruit farming system. The visits provided firsthand insights into how local communities generate value through fish-based products while practicing sustainable mixed farming methods.
Over the two days, nine AQUADAPT projects presented their findings in three blocks:
- Inclusive and Equitable Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience and Biodiversity,
- Co-developing and Testing Inclusive Nature-based Solutions with Communities, and
- Monitoring and Assessment Frameworks for Inclusive Nature-based Solutions.
These sessions were followed by Q&A discussions that fostered further collaboration and learning. Additionally, two working sessions were organized on the topics “Knowledge Brokering: Private Sector Engagement and Nature-Based and Inclusive Business Models” and “Research Approaches and Strategies ‘learn-in’: Sharpening and Advancing Our Shared Principles and Good Practices in AQUADAPT,” both facilitated by AQUADAPT project teams.
Both traditional and innovative methods were used to connect and exchange ideas and knowledge, including world cafés, project presentations, and co-creation sessions, among researchers, community partners, and the private sector. These methods facilitated the sharing of opinions and charting the next phase of AQUADAPT’s journey towards regional leadership in inclusive, nature-based aquaculture.
The event concluded with work planning for 2025-2026 focusing on program-level priorities for knowledge sharing and identifying next steps. The event involved significant networking for future collaborations and joint ventures during the breaks.
Edited by Office of Communications and Public Affairs
