The Empowering Civil Society for Agroecology Promotion and Policy Advocacy Workshop successfully concluded in Surkhet from the 10th to the 12th of June 2026, organized under LI-BIRD’s Green Evolution Project (funded by Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)) and the Green Karnali Project (funded by Dan Church Aid). The workshop aimed to strengthen the advocacy capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs), farmers, grassroots networks, and rights-based organizations in advancing agroecological food systems transformation in Karnali Province.
A total of 27 participants from various CSOs and farmers’ groups across Karnali Province participated in the three-day event. The workshop was welcomed by Mr. Rigendra Khadka, Program Manager, DCA Nepal. The workshop sessions were jointly facilitated by the LI-BIRD team, focusing on agroecology advocacy and policy, stakeholder and farmer engagement, advocacy tools and strategies, and the implementation of the Agroecology Roadmap.
The workshop also featured experience-sharing sessions from Mr. Uddhav Prasad Adhikari, Alliance of Agriculture for Food, and Mr. Dinesh Gautam, Executive Director of Hriti Foundation. Mr. Adhikari shared his experiences, highlighting efforts to promote apple production and management in Karnali Province through evidence-based advocacy. He also reflected lessons learned from his involvement with the Apple Development Board. Mr. Gautam shared insights from Karnali Utsav, a public policy dialogue platform that brings together diverse stakeholders to discuss key development issues. Emphasizing the importance of citizen engagement and collective action, he expressed his support for advancing agroecology through policy advocacy and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The workshop concluded in the presence of MoLMAC Undersecretary Mr. Tilak Pandey and R-HVAP Provincial Coordinator Mr. Bakhat Bahadur Khadka.
The workshop facilitated rich and constructive discussions on:
- Agroecological principles and sustainable farming practices
- Policy advocacy processes and engagement mechanisms
- Roles of CSOs, farmers, and grassroots organizations in food system transformation
- Policy advocacy processes, platforms, and engagement mechanisms
- Development of a collective advocacy action plan for agroecology promotion in Karnali Province
Overall, the workshop served as a strategic platform to connect stakeholders working toward sustainable agriculture and agroecology-based food systems in Karnali Province.