Memoir of CCAP's 30th Anniversary | Cultivating Transformations Together–Celebrating SEARCA and CCAP's Partnership for Sustainable Rural Futures

Release date：2025/07/21　　Source： CCAP

Cultivating Transformations Together–Celebrating SEARCA and CCAP's Partnership for Sustainable Rural Futures

Author: Dr. Mercy Sombilla
Former Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Agriculture，12th Director of SEARCA

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) treasures its partnerships that advance agricultural policy and rural development across Southeast Asia. Among these, our longstanding friendship with the China Center for Agricultural Policy (CCAP) stands as a model of meaningful regional cooperation, rooted in shared values and mutual respect.

Our partnership with CCAP reached an important milestone in 2017 through the joint project titled, Rural Regional Transformation: Pathways, Policy Sequencing, and Development Outcomes in China, the Philippines, and Vietnam (RRT). Under the leadership of Dr. Jikun Huang, then Director of CCAP, the project provided a dynamic platform for multi-country understanding of the critical drivers and constraints in rural transformation and how different policy sequences and transformation pathways can shape inclusive and sustainable rural development outcomes. Through workshops, policy dialogues, and joint publications, our collaborative project exemplified commitment to building a strong knowledge base to support evidence-informed policies in agricultural and rural development. 

But beyond the research outputs, what truly defines SEARCA’s partnership with CCAP is the spirit of openness and co-learning. CCAP's culture of collaboration and innovation has enriched the exchange of knowledge and experiences among scholars and practitioners from China, the Philippines, and Vietnam, cultivating an environment that encourages creative thinking and inspires a new generation dedicated to rural revitalization and policy innovation. Dr. Huang’s visionary leadership, deep expertise, and dedication to nurturing young researchers and fostering partnerships have been instrumental in ensuring that the impact of our collaboration extends far beyond the project itself.

As CCAP celebrates its 30th anniversary, SEARCA is proud to honor this remarkable milestone both as a friend and a partner, celebrating a legacy built on trust, shared aspirations, and collective action. We commend CCAP for its unwavering contributions to agricultural policy and rural development. We look forward to continuing this journey together, building knowledge, shaping policies, and empowering rural communities across the region.