Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 29 April 2026 — Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are leveraging policy brief development to advance regional agrifood systems transformation. At a technical meeting organized by the GMS Knowledge Network, government representatives, academia, and think tanks jointly produced three policy briefs addressing regional priorities and emerging challenges through actionable recommendations.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and coordinated by the Mekong Institute (MI), the technical meeting is part of the Knowledge for Innovation (KFI) Program, which responds to increasing government demand for concrete, knowledge-based policies. It also adopts an integrated approach to support agrifood systems transformation through a combination of capacity building, policy development, and knowledge exchange.
“We need high-quality policies and joint action from all stakeholders to achieve the goals we have set for the region,” said MI Executive Director Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn at the meeting’s opening program. “The GMS Knowledge Network was established to generate evidence, translate knowledge into action, and ensure innovation leads to greater impact.”
The meeting brought together over 40 representatives from government agencies, knowledge institutions, and regional networks across the GMS. They contributed evidence, expertise, and policy insights, and collaboratively developed policy briefs addressing priorities identified by the GMS Working Group on Agriculture, including sustainable value chains for inclusive and competitive agrifood systems, low-carbon and emission reduction strategies in the agrifood sector, and knowledge and innovation for sustainable agrifood transformation.
Participatory process
The policy brief development process was highly participatory, with the GMS Knowledge Network collaborating with policymakers from the outset—from identifying and prioritizing policy brief topics to operationalizing Communities of Practice (CoPs). This involved government representatives and knowledge institutions seeking inputs from relevant ministries and agencies throughout the drafting and development process.
Each stage of the process ensured that the policy briefs remained relevant and demand-driven. The technical meeting, conducted in a Knowledge Café format, served as a key milestone to refine draft policy briefs through multi-stakeholder dialogue and expert input from governments. This approach enabled participants to exchange insights, validate findings, and co-create recommendations. It also ensured that the policy briefs reflect country-specific perspectives and respond to the actual needs of policymakers and stakeholders across the GMS.
“By involving government representatives directly, we ensure that the policy briefs respond to real demand and support informed decision-making,” said Mr. Antonio Ressano, Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist at the ADB.
The policy briefs, together with the KFI Program as a whole, are expected to contribute to the GMS 2030 Framework, which envisions a more connected, competitive, inclusive, and sustainable subregion. The GMS Knowledge Network supports this vision by linking knowledge generation with policy application and regional cooperation.
The GMS Knowledge Network is now finalizing the three policy briefs, which are planned to be disseminated to key stakeholders across the region in the coming months.
