Intersections between my discipline and climate change

My discipline is in agronomy and I am project leader of an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project, CamSID which focusses on the intensification and diversification of lowland rice areas of northwest Cambodia to improve smallholder livelihoods. This project empowers smallholders to increase their resilience to climate change by providing them with appropriate technologies such as planting machinery. This project has demonstrated good proof of concept in our target villages and will be completed by the end of 2021.

My vision is by 31^st December 2021, I would have secured at least one large grant in order to leverage greater climate resilience impact by continuing to employ my staff/team and extend benefits to smallholder farmers by scaling the outcomes across multiple villages.

To achieve my first visibility goal of developing my communication skills, I have built my reputation in demonstrating impact in my ACIAR-project scaling. I have made the case for further follow-up research and scaling work and have been invited to submit a proposal for a new commissioned ACIAR project (for scaling). I would have convinced the Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, Mr Pablo Kang and his Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) team that I can help them improve the livelihoods and food security of Cambodian farmers and that they are going to seriously consider my funding application. My communication to DFAT and ACIAR would include Blogs and various conference communications. I shall also evaluate and refine my communication strategy with my independent reference group.

To achieve my second visibility goal of developing my leadership skills, I have motivated and inspired my ACIAR project team to work effectively and efficiently (despite being under COVID-19 pandemic conditions) in evaluating and demonstrating impact in project scaling. I have consolidated my team and developed new partnership networks needed for the new invited commissioned ACIAR project. I have convinced my project team that I shall support and empower them as they continue to work through this project and the new scaling project to improve livelihoods and food security of Cambodian farmers through improved resilience to climate change. This is done through weekly Zoom meetings and team newsletters.  I shall also evaluate and refine my communication strategy with my independent reference group.