The Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSA) is a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), based in Bogor, Indonesia. CAPSA was founded in 1981 as the CGPRT Centre (The Regional Co-ordination Centre for Research and Development of Coarse Grains, Pulses, Roots and Tuber Crops in the Humid Tropics of Asia and the Pacific). To reflect on the shift of its mission, during the sixty-sixth Commission session in May 2010 ESCAP member states adopted the decision to rename the Centre to Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSA).
Vision
CAPSA’s vision is an Asia and Pacific region free of hunger and poverty, where policymakers base their decisions and investment allocations on sound science that reflects the needs and perspectives of the rural poor, especially those who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Goal
CAPSA’s goal is to reduce poverty and enhance food security in Asia and the Pacific by promoting sustainable agriculture.
Objectives
- Enhanced national capacity for socioeconomic and policy research on sustainable agriculture for poverty reduction and food security
- Enhanced regional co-ordination and networking to successfully scale up and scale out research findings that have implications for policy design and implementation related to sustainable agriculture and rural development
- Enhanced capacity of policymakers and senior government officials to design and implement policies to achieve rural development, poverty reduction and food security through sustainable agriculture in Asia and the Pacific
CAPSA’s mission is to strengthen South–South dialogue and intraregional learning on poverty, food insecurity and sustainable agriculture through research, advocacy and networking, capacity development, and policy advice. Specifically, CAPSA engages in four activities
- Identify, co-ordinate and promote research across the region on issues related to CAPSA’s mandate and of relevance to member states;
- Synthesize research findings from across the region (and beyond) and translate them into policy recommendations;
- Develop capacity of governments and civil society for introduction and implementation of policy recommendations and good practices; and
- Disseminate policy recommendations and good practices to policymakers, opinion leaders and civil society.
The Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSA) is a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). In accordance with its statute, CAPSA has a Governing Council (GC) consisting of one representative nominated by the Government of Indonesia, the host country, and nine representatives of members and associate members of ESCAP elected by the Commission: Bangladesh, Cambodia, France, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Republic of Korea and Thailand.
The Council meets at least once a year, reviews the administrative and financial status of the Centre, and monitors the implementation of its programme of work on an annual basis. The Executive Secretary of ESCAP submits an annual report, after adoption by the Council, to the Commission at its annual sessions.
CAPSA’s overall work programme is guided by the efforts of the Commission and the Secretariat to promote inclusive and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. Work plans are developed for 3-year cycles. These follow the format and standard used by ESCAP for the overall programme of work, and link into the work plan of CAPSA’s substantive backstopping division at ESCAP, Macroeconomic Policy and Development Division (MPDD). CAPSA also consults with and receives technical advice from a Technical Committee that represents experts from the region.
