On November 26, 2024, the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) and the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) Secretariat, successfully hosted the National Dialogue Workshop on “Integrated Decentralized Food System Governance, Food Security and Nutrition: Strategies for Improving Agri-food Systems in the Cambodian Mekong Delta” at the Council of Ministers, in partnership with WorldFish (WF) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

The National Dialogue provided a vital platform for exchanging ideas, shaping policies, and implementing strategies to promote integrated decentralized food system governance at the district level by bringing together over 100 key stakeholders from various sectors, including water resource governance, fisheries management, agriculture, and irrigation systems which included government ministries, councils, academic institutions, NGOs, research and development partners, and donors.

The national dialogue highlighted key research findings on decentralized food system governance, food security, and nutrition in Cambodia, alongside nutrition and consumption behaviors impacting health. It assessed district-level pilot projects, identified gaps, and recommended expansion to other provinces for greater impact. The dialogue concluded that these insights could inform the implementation of the 3rd National Strategy on Food Security and Nutrition (2024–2028), emphasizing experience-sharing and progress reporting at national and provincial levels.