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World Agroforestry (ICRAF) is a centre of scientific excellence that harnesses the benefits of trees for people and the environment.

Knowledge produced by ICRAF enables governments, development agencies and farmers to utilize the power of trees to make farming and livelihoods more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable at multiple scales.

The role of the Southeast Asia Region is to support evidence-based, sustainable development programs and public-private-people partnerships through action research, participatory planning, scenario and capacity development to translate science to policy and practice to fit specific situations and contexts.

Our priorities are aligned with the Vision and Strategic Plan for ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry towards 2025, in which expansion of agroforestry is mentioned as a means to increase resilience to climate change, natural disasters and other shocks.

New areas of importance in the region are ‘green growth’ initiatives that bring together various groups, including the financial sector; the importance of trees on farms for meeting national and international commitments, including climate mitigation and adaptation, food security, and biodiversity preservation; and the use of agroforestry to restore degraded land for multiple environmental and livelihoods’ benefits. As in other regions, we provide recommendations to international forums and national and local governments to enhance guidelines, policies, laws and regulations.

We collaborate with a wide range of partners, including agencies of the United Nations, in particular, the Food and Agriculture Organization; regional governance bodies, such as ASEAN; national and sub-national governments; international, national and local non-governmental and civil society organizations; international and national development organizations; international, national and local farmers’ associations; and national and international research institutes, including the other member organizations of the CGIAR. ICRAF is one of the 15 members of the CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. We thank all donors who support research in development through their contributions to the CGIAR Fund. We also thank all donors who provide support through bilateral and multilateral funding to the region; without this support, ICRAF and partners would not be able to provide the scientific evidence needed to face the most pressing challenges of our time.

The regional office is based in Bogor, Indonesia, with country offices operating in Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam; projects in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar; and collaborative relationships with Singapore and Malaysia.