Pathways to Income Improvement in Asia: Addressing Barriers and Unlocking Opportunities
The upcoming virtual workshop, hosted by the Living Income Community of Practice, will bring together key stakeholders to examine the evolving landscape of smallholder livelihoods, identify systemic challenges, and explore practical strategies for fostering income growth. As Asia plays a pivotal role in global agricultural supply chains, addressing the barriers that prevent small producers from achieving sustainable incomes is essential to driving meaningful change.
This workshop will provide a structured space to tackle region-specific challenges and opportunities, enabling stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue, share knowledge, and co-create solutions tailored to the Asian context. By fostering collaboration and cross-sector engagement, participants will gain valuable insights into actionable strategies that strengthen economic resilience and advance income improvement efforts.
Through this interactive exchange, the workshop aims to equip stakeholders with the tools and strategies needed to overcome barriers, align with broader living income initiatives, and drive long-term, sustainable impact for smallholder communities across the region.
This workshop will be conducted in English, with live Bahasa Indonesia interpretation available.
Content
Opening & context setting
Across the region, various initiatives have been developed to improve smallholder incomes. This session will explore how the living income concept can add value to current efforts, foster greater alignment, and help identify gaps or new opportunities for impact. Grounded in local context and voices, the discussion will focus on key questions: What are the current challenges smallholders face in achieving sustainable livelihoods? What approaches are being used to improve producer incomes? And how is the living income concept already being used in practice?
Speakers:
- Carla Rodriguez, Senior Coordinator, Impacts and Innovations at ISEAL
- M V Iresha Sanjeewanie, Fairtrade Programme Manager For Sri Lanka and Climate Focal point at Fairtrade NAPP
Panel Discussion: Applying Living Income in Practice
This session will explore how income improvement and living income strategies have evolved and been tailored for smallholders and producers in Asia. We’ll examine why context matters—comparing strategies in Asia with those in regions like Latin America—and how companies have adapted their approaches accordingly. The session will also reflect on the respective roles of the public and private sectors.
Moderator: Christina Archer, Strategic Advisor, Livelihoods, Sustainable Food Lab
Speakers:
- Lauren Weiss, Senior Manager Countries and Partnerships, Global Coffee Platform
- Ade Budi Kurniawan, Cocoa & Coffee Programme Director in Southeast Asia & Indonesia, Rikolto
- German Riveros, Head of Coffee Sustainability APAC at ofi
- Billie Elmqvist Thurén, Head of Cocoa Sustainability APAC at ofi
Breakout discussions: Challenges to income improvement
Breakout Session 1: The use of the living income concept and it's value in an Asian context
This session will aim to understand how the concept of living income can be applied to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by smallholder farmers throughout Asia.
Moderator: Sandra Pfülb, Advisor for Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains
Speakers:
- Bagus Prassetya, Agricultural Advisor, SASCI+
- Ari Sutanti, Program Director, IDH Indonesia
Breakout Session 2: Linking Economic Resilience to Environmental Outcomes
This session will identify and promote strategies that improve the economic resilience of farming communities while simultaneously driving positive environmental outcomes, such as sustainable land management and reduced deforestation.
Moderator: Sheila Senathirajah, Head of Social Impact, ISEAL
Speakers:
- Arif Kurniawan, Indonesia Country Manager, PUR-
- Taufiq Alimi, Regional Director, Proforest
- Jildemarie Brouwer, Agricultural Lead & Data Expert, AKVO
- Mochammad Subkhi Hestiawan, Thematic - Livelihood Specialist, Earthworm
Breakout Session 3: Farmer Inclusion
This session will identity why farmer inclusion is essential for improving smallholder incomes and what key barriers are preventing their participation in designing and implementing effective strategies. This session will also explore how inclusive business models and policies can help smallholder farmers achieve sustainable income growth and economic resilience.
Moderator: Anny Stoikova, Manager, Sustainability Systems and Livelihoods
Speakers:
- Melanie Landthaler, Sustainability Consultant - Gender Equality & Human Rights
- Michel Riemersma, Policy Advisor, Solidaridad Europe
- M V Iresha Sanjeewanie, Fairtrade Programme Manager For Sri Lanka and Climate Focal point, Fairtrade NAPP
Closing
Living Income Resources
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