ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (ENDEV) AND INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (IEC) FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FORESTLAND MANAGEMENT PROJECT
(2020 - 2022)

Client: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Funding Source: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Contract duration: 2020 - 2022
Themes: Life on land (SDG 15); community-based forest management; sustainable watershed management; livelihood/enterprise development; information, education and communication; training and capacity-building

The ten-year Forestland Management Project (FMP) seeks to protect forest resources in Philippine watershed areas such as Jalaur Watershed in Iloilo, Upper Magat and Cagayan River Basin in Ifugao, and Upper Pampanga River Basin in Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. As part of the project’s community-based forest management strategy, grants funds (seed capital) were awarded to its 149 partner people’s organizations for the establishment of livelihood enterprises. Seven years into the project, however, the partner organizations are challenged to sustain the livelihood projects, demonstrating the need for technical assistance on enterprise development.

The objective of this technical assistance project is to strengthen the technical and managerial capacities on enterprise development and information, education, and communication (IEC) of concerned project stakeholders. For enterprise development, the improved capacities of the key stakeholders are expected to redound to the enhanced and sustainable operations of the livelihood enterprises, with improved product development, value adding/processing, and marketing. The Project Team will assist each partner people’s organization in crafting their own enterprise sustainability plan, and will pursue linkaging or negotiation with potential partners, investors and support institutions. The Team will also assist in the development of scaled-up commodity/economic subsector value chain clusters and showcases per province that are built around the sustainably harvested and commercially viable produce of forest fruit trees, agroforestry plantations and/or silvo-pasture. In the long-run, the FMP-supported enterprises/livelihoods are seen to provide a sustainable source of income and employment opportunities in priority forestland communities.

As the FMP draws to a close in 2022, there is need to raise the commitment of the stakeholders so that the multi-sectoral watershed management bodies will be able to manage the rivers basins sustainably. For IEC, the Project Team will develop and implement a multi-pronged communication strategy, adopting the Advocacy, Communications and Social Mobilization (ACSM) approach. This strategy will enhance ownership, commitment and support of the key stakeholders in the watersheds and sub-watersheds. It will also mobilize greater private sector participation and investment in the covered areas and watersheds. Among the outputs of the IEC strategy are knowledge materials and collaterals in popular forms.