Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja, CPSC Director General (right) hands over a token of appreciation to Mr. Dipayan Bhattacharyya, UN WFP Deputy Country Director (left)
The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) and the United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) conducted a collaborative meeting on February 11, 2025, to discuss the shared vision of strengthening the agricultural sector, enhancing food security, and fostering resilient food systems across the Asia-Pacific through technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The meeting was held at the UN WFP office in Rockwell Business Center, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.
The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja, CPSC Director General; Prof. Naeem Yaqoob, CPSC Faculty Specialist and Chairperson of Projects and Consultancy Division (PCD); Mr. Lawrence Gonzales, CPSC Acting PCD Officer; Mr. Dipayan Bhattacharyya, UN WFP Deputy Country Director; and Mr. Carlos Joseph Feria, UN WFP Training Officer.
CPSC and UNWFP conduct its collaborative meeting
During the presentation, Prof. Naeem zeroed in on the potential areas of collaboration in the agriculture, livestock, dairy, veterinary, and poultry sectors. He also proposed providing specialized training programs for farmers, veterinarians, and food supply chain experts in areas such as value chains, food waste reduction, climate-smart agriculture, and fair-trade practices.
As the meeting concluded, Mr. Bhattacharyya noted that UNWFP will review this initiative with the management. Partnering with agricultural TVET institutions will also be explored with the guidance of CPSC.
The UN World Food Program (UN WFP) is the United Nations' agency that fights hunger in over 80 countries across the world. It provides food assistance in emergency situations, supports nutrition programs, and helps communities with long-term food security. In 2020, UN WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to promote peace in conflict-affected areas and prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict. Likewise, CPSC will engage closely with the UN WFP to further develop this initiative.
