Capacity Development Program on Knowledge Management

Funding Agency: Department of Agriculture-Bureau Agricultural Research (DA-BAR)

Project Duration: January 2012 to April 2013

Beneficiaries:

Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Centers (RIARCs)
Regional Fisheries Research and Development Centers (RFRDCs)
State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
Local Government Units (LGUs)

Rationale

Republic Act 9729 (An Act Mainstreaming Climate Change into Government Policy Formulations, Establishing the Framework Strategy and Program on Climate Change, Creating for this Purpose the Climate Change Commission, and for other Purposes) recognizes “the vulnerability of the Philippine archipelago and its local communities, particularly the poor, women, and children, to potential dangerous consequences of climate change such as rising seas, changing landscapes, increasing frequency and/or severity of droughts, fires, floods and storms, climate-related illnesses and diseases, damage to ecosystems, biodiversity loss that affect the country’s environment, culture, and economy, the State shall cooperate with the global community in the resolution of climate change issues, including disaster risk reduction.” The Act further stipulates that “it shall be the policy of the State to enjoin the participation of national and local governments, businesses, nongovernment organizations, local communities and the public to prevent and reduce the adverse impacts of climate change and, at the same time, maximize the benefits of climate change.”

Section 18 of this Act enjoins that “all relevant government agencies and LGUs shall allocate from their annual appropriations adequate funds for the formulation, development and implementation, including training, capacity building and direct intervention, of their respective climate change programs and plans. It shall also include public awareness campaigns on the effects of climate change and energy-saving solutions to mitigate these effects, and initiatives, through educational and training programs and micro-credit schemes, especially for women in rural areas.”

Toward this end, DA-BAR has formulated its Research, Development and Extension Program on Climate Change. This program aims to contribute to the country's efforts to combat the impacts of climate change to the agriculture and fisheries sectors through research and development.To effectively implement this program, DA-BAR, RIARCs, and RFU staff shall be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to mainstream climate change in the agricultural development in the country. Thus, DA-BAR’s current initiative on Capability Building on Responding to Climate Change through Research and Development in Agriculture has been sustained.

Objectives

The project aimed to strengthen the capacity of DA-BAR in addressing research and development (R&D) issues and problems related to climate change. Specifically, the project intended to:

• train DA-BAR, RIARCs and RFRDCs staff on climate change vulnerability assessments and on mainstreaming climate change adaptation in agriculture at the local levels;
• enhance knowledge and skills of DA-BAR on climate change adaptation through overseas training and educational observation of various climate change adaptation and mitigation programs in the agriculture sector;
• strengthen local and international partnerships among researchers and managers working on climate change R&D in the agriculture sector;
• showcase successful local climate change adaptation and mitigation practices/programs in the agriculture sector.

Project Components

The project covered three major components: (a) in-country training; (b) support for attendance to international conferences; and (c) National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program (CChAMP) in the Agriculture Sector. Participants included representatives from DA-BAR, RIARCs, and Research Outreach Stations (ROS) of DA-Regional Field Units (RFUs), RFRDCs of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), SUCs, and LGUs.

• In-Country Short-term Trainings

To provide updated knowledge on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, particularly on Environmental Leadership, a short term training course was designed. The modules of the training include:

Module 1. Climate Change Science: An Introduction. The module provided the discussion on the basic science behind climate change and climate change scenarios including a brief discussion on the concept of climate risk management (CRM).

Module 2. Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: Basic Concepts and Principles. The module focused on the basic concepts and principles of adaptation and mitigation. General strategies in climate change adaptation in various agro-ecosystems and climate change mitigation approaches were also covered. Workshops on adaptation and mitigation strategies in various locations and sectors were conducted after each lecture-discussion.

Module 3.CChAMP Implementation: Relevant Institutional Frameworks. The module presented the readiness of the Philippines in addressing the challenges brought about by climate change. Country-level framework, how it functions, and the issues related to the sound implementation of action plans and programs were also covered.

Module 4.Transformative Leadership in Adapting to and Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change. Through a combination of lecture-discussion, workshops and case study presentations, concepts and principles of leadership in environment and climate change adaptation and mitigation were covered. The module aimed to enhance specific leadership skills needed (i.e., negotiation, fund raising and knowledge management/networking) to effectively ensure that key result areas of an environment and climate change adaptation and mitigation plan are implemented and accomplished.

• Support for Attendance to International Workshops and Conferences

Given the importance and knowledge gained in attending international conferences by keeping abreast of the various technologies and best practices abroad, Phase 2 supported participation in relevant international learning events.

• National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Programs (CChAMP) in the Agriculture Sector.

Updates, knowledge and issues on climate change adaptation in agriculture for policy and program development were discussed during the two-day culminating activity of the project. Best practices on climate change adaptation projects and initiatives across the country were also highlighted during the conference. Likewise, LGUs, SUCs, NGOs, cooperatives, farmers’ organizations and DA’s climate change adaptation strategies were exhibited during the conference.

Highlights of Accomplishments

• The first in-country training-workshop Environmental Leadership in Climate Change Adaptation, was conducted from 24 to 28 July 2012. This was held at SEARCA, Los Banos, Laguna with 22 participants from RFUs, SUCs, LGUs, and the National Climate Change Commission.

• The training-workshop was able to produce commitment plans from four categories: LGUs, SUCs, RFUs, and policy makers. The proposed program of action aimed to integrate climate change adaptation in development planning within their respective areas of responsibility. The said plans also indicated how they will use knowledge sharing platforms to attain country-level objectives.

• Attendance to international conferences and trainings to various government, research, and private institutions was also arranged for selected officials and staff from DA-BAR and its partner agencies. These events provided participants updated knowledge on how other countries adapt to climate change.