MANAGING PLURALISTIC EXTENSION UNDER A DEVOLVED ADVISORY SYSTEM

1. MANAGING PLURALISTIC EXTENSION UNDER A DEVOLVED ADVISORY SYSTEM VIRGINIA R. CARDENAS GFRAS Focal Person for Asia-Pacific APIRAS Network Coordinator Professor Institute of Governance and Rural Development College of Public Affairs and Development University of the Philippines Los Banos

2. CBPEM Approach • Research was funded by BAR (2000-2003) • Considered mature and ready for dissemination (2003-2004) • Conducted National Training for CBPEM Trainers (October 2004) • Coordinated and Monitored Transfer of the Approach from ATI Regional Centers to LGUs (BAR funded 2004-2005 with extension to 2006.

3. What is CBPEM? • A key approach towards people empowerment, which enhances effectiveness, relevance and efficiency in the management of devolved extension services.

4. What is CBPEM? • It provides participation at various phases of extension management: - Community-based Action Planning - Implementation of issue- based/need-based action plans - Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation

5. CONTEXT Devolved extension, pluralistic in a centralized Research system • Capacity-Building • Participatory planning tools • Participatory action planning • Need-based/problem-focused training & implementation Effective Extension Management System CBPEM • Stakeholders Participation • Participation of LGUs, SCU, NGAs, NGOs, POs) INPUT Institutional Collaboration Monitoring & Evaluation Figure 1. The CBPEM Operational Framework

6. Project Implementation • Site Selection and Identification of collaborating institutions • Orientation of LGU officials, extension workers and collaborating institutions. • Entry to the Community • Baseline Survey • Stakeholders training on CBPEM • Community-based participatory action planning • Legitimization of action plans • Implementation of action plans • Continuing local capacity building • Linking locals with government and nongovernmental agencies to provide required assistance • Process monitoring and evaluation • Action plan review and replanning

8. Institutionalizing CBPEM at the LGU Objectives: For the institutionalization and scaling-up, important actors are: DA-Agriculture Training Institute, SCUs, PAPCA, LGUs and the National Corn Network. The aim of institutionalization was to: • Influence the management of devolved extension service by strategically training first the local trainers and extension managers, and community leaders. • Strengthen the network of stakeholders and their participation.

9. Extent of Institutionalization • Whole province of Ilocos Norte ; 23 municipalities • Whole provinces of Samar and Leyte • Initial 2 Batches of CBPEM training for the LGUs had just been completed in Negros Occidental • Initial plans for training has been initiated by Bulacan PA • Mindoro, Davao and other provinces had indicated interest to follow • DOST Regions 2 and 5 TechnoGabay (FITS) mangers and technicians had been trained and other regional sites are to follow. • Just completed CBPEM training in Sorsogon.

10. Lessons learned: • .Rules of the game are different; as different as the capability and willingness of local chief executives • success of any participatory program depends largely on whether any team can be formed, • new alliances and commitments could be executed to bring in new ideas, • establish new working relationships institutionalized according to a new philosophy such as participatory development, partnership,/synergy/ collaboration and resource sharing.. • Bringing in new ideas to some outdated institutional practices could push and encourage them to learn through experimentation

11. Thanks for this opportunity !!!