The Global South Hub Asia brings together global partners and promotes South-South Collaboration across networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America
Agrilife24.com: Farming Future Bangladesh (FFB), in collaboration with the Alliance for Science, has launched the Global South Hub Asia in Bangladesh. The inaugural event took place on Monday (17 July) at a hotel in Gulshan, where government officials, scientists, specialists, and representatives from NARS (National Agricultural Research Systems) came together to kickstart this exciting initiative.
The Global South Hub Asia will focus on creating platforms for partners across the science, technology and innovation ecosystem to leverage the growing networks of experts across the Global South, to promote South-South collaboration and advance projects which apply science-based solutions to shared challenges.
The Alliance for Science launched a Global South Hub in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2022, to increase synergies across the 54 countries in the Africa region. The establishment of a new Global South Hub Asia, based in Bangladesh, builds on the increasing success of Farming Future Bangladesh to reach a wide range of stakeholders across the region with powerful science communication and advocacy tools. It will further strengthen the ability to work with partners across Southeast Asia, to apply broader perspectives and compare best practices which enhance science communication about climate change, food and nutrition security, global health, and to collaborate on challenging misinformation on biotechnology. This is a growing movement to amplify voices of stakeholders across different continents which promotes locally led activities, and listens to communities whilst sharing empowering messages, to encourage evidence-based choices for improving lives and livelihoods.
Dr. Sheila Ochugboju, Director of the Alliance for Science said, ‘’I am excited to be part of this collaborative process that is increasing the visibility of extraordinary leaders in science and biotechnology across the Global South. Unity becomes strength when we intentionally apply shared wisdom and ingenuity to tackle global challenges.”
Arif Hossain, CEO & Executive Director of Farming Future Bangladesh said, ‘Farming Future Bangladesh is extremely excited to be part of the Global South, and we hope the lessons and expertise we have garnered over the years will be helpful for future partners and members.’
Over 85% of the world’s population lives in the Global South and contributes nearly 39 percent of global GDP. It is which is made up of countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Pacific Islands, and the developing countries in Asia, including the Middle East.
The Alliance for Science Global South Hub supports scientists, community leaders, decision-makers, and others to build capacity to recognise locally led science initiatives that are helping communities to become more climate resilient. The hub also seeks to create biosafety and governance frameworks that ease the deployment of agricultural technologies to increase food availability and build resilient food systems. The hub additionally offers training and policy support for structural transformations, such as increasing access to improved agricultural inputs and markets, enhancing gender equality, and supporting youth education in science, technology, and mathematics (STEM).
