MI ATTENDS MELA MEETING

Agricultural Development and Commercialization

Ms. Maria Theresa Medialdia, Director of the Agricultural Development and Commercialization (ADC) Department and Dr. Jun Acedo, ADC Senior Program Specialist, joined the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Mekong Extension Learning Alliance (MELA) on October 30 – November 1, 2017 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

Ms. Medialdia, representing Mekong Institute in MELA’s Coordinating Committee, served as session moderator, while Dr. Acedo presented a poster titled, “Agri-Food Safety Extension Strategy and Outcomes in the GMS.” The poster presents regional and country initiatives on food safety facilitated through the MI Food Safety Project supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAP). 

The MI team joined about 50 other guests from the public and private sectors, non-government organizations and donor agencies working in agricultural extension for the three-day knowledge sharing and network-building event. The meeting also discussed the MELA action plan and fundraising strategy. 

MELA is a gathering of stakeholders working in agricultural extension and rural advisory services in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. Inaugurated in 2015, the alliance seeks to advance regional cooperation and promote the interests of smallholder farmers through the exchange of knowledge and creation of networks. Mekong Institute’s participation in the alliance attests to its expressed commitment to improving agricultural productivity in the region.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.