CHONBURI, THAILAND – SEAMEO RECFON has reinforced its position as a regional leader in food and nutrition during the SEAMEO Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) 2026, held from July 14 to 15, 2026, at the Amari Bangsaen Hotel. Taking center stage during SEAMEO’s 60th-anniversary milestone, the Center successfully presented its long-term strategic vision and secured a significant regional collaboration grant.
Charting the Future: The 2026–2031 Strategic Roadmap
A primary highlight of the Center’s participation was the presentation of the working paper titled “SEAMEO RECFON Flagship Program Roadmap 2026–2031”. This document serves as a comprehensive guide to strengthening the Center’s contributions to regional food and nutrition priorities over the next five years.
The presentation, led by Dr. dr. Herqutanto, MPH., MARS., Sp.KKLP (Acting Director) and supported by Prof. Dr. dr. Rini Sekartini, Sp.A. (Director-elected?), aimed to garner strategic feedback from the SEAMEO Secretariat and other Centre Directors. By showcasing this roadmap, SEAMEO RECFON seeks to refine its flagship programs and expand partnership opportunities to ensure a sustainable regional impact.
Securing the SEAMEO ICC Grant for Inclusive Children
In a significant achievement for its collaborative efforts, SEAMEO RECFON was officially announced as a recipient of the SEAMEO Inter-Centre Collaboration (ICC) Grant for FY 2026/2027. Out of six eligible regional proposals, RECFON’s initiative was selected following a rigorous evaluation by an independent technical panel. The grant supports the programme “Transcultural Adaptation of Early Childhood Care, Nutrition and Education (ECCNE) Module for an Inclusive ECCNE Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Southeast Asia”. led by SEAMEO RECFON in partnership with SEAMEO SEN and SEAMEO RETRAC.
The programme will promote the adaptation and implementation of the Local Specific Food-Based Recommendations (LC-FBR) for young children with ASD across Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Bringing together SEAMEO Centres and academic partners including Universitas Indonesia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, the National Institute of Nutrition (Vietnam), and the National Institute of Public Health (Cambodia) the initiative reflects a shared commitment to advancing inclusive, culturally relevant nutrition and early childhood development through regional collaboration.
A Legacy of Excellence
Beyond these milestones, SEAMEO RECFON actively engaged in sharing its “best practices” and innovations with other centers, contributing to the collective success of the SEAMEO network during its 60th year. The Center also presented an accomplishment video to the Secretariat, highlighting its major achievements for the 2025/2026 fiscal year and its enduring contribution to the organization’s legacy.
Through its proactive participation at CDM 2026, SEAMEO RECFON continues to demonstrate its readiness to lead and innovate, ensuring that food and nutrition remains a top priority in the Southeast Asian developmental agenda.