Central to the Research Needs Assessment (RNA) has been the need to enhance civil society’s involvement in identifying action oriented research ideas, questions or topics on food policy and food security issues. These cover the main dimensions of food security, namely availability, access, and utilization of food for nutrition as well as cross cutting issues of gender, governance, and environment. One of the outputs of this RNA is the Research Needs Digest (RND) that is to serve as a reference for researchers and provide a basis for inviting research proposals under the NFPCSP Research Grants Initiative.

The RND will contribute to the knowledge available to the Food Policy Working Group (FPWG) and the Thematic Research Teams (TRTs) of the NFPCSP that support the implementation of the National Food Policy. NFPCSP collaborated with experts and institutions in the South East Asian Region for the preparation of the RND. A Benchmark Survey of Food Security research will be elaborated as a continuation of the RND.

As part of the RNA’s consultative process, the NFPCSP organized two workshops- in November 2006 and February 2007. These occasions provided a platform to elicit views from a broader audience and wider perspective. Close to 200 participants from across various sectors attended the workshops.