Bangladeshi Alumnus Visits the IIRR Campus after 25 Years

– Josephina J. Vicencio, Communications Intern

A much younger Aminur Rahman walked the halls of the Yen Center some 25 years ago. The training experience is still sharp in his mind. “It was an excellent, beautiful and marvelous program,” reminisces Mr. Rahman of the training course he attended with IIRR in 1986. 

Mr. Rahman, who visited the campus with his colleagues on October 28, 2011, was one of the 33 participants in the International Training for Senior Managers held at the Yen Center in 1986.  In an interview during his recent visit, he remembered that three-week program as a golden time of intellectual discussion and of amazing visits to the barrios (rural villages) in the area. He recalls participants from Asia, Africa and Latin America and wonderful discussion with staff and resource persons.

 The Senior Managers' program gave him new learnings which helped him advance his career (he was then a training program officer).  He incorporated the skills and ideas he learned particularly about  participatory monitoring systems into his own training programs and began conducting evaluations for both national and international NGOs. He says that he still uses the techniques of participatory monitoring and evaluation and applies the lessons he learned in his day-to-day work.

 The Credo of Rural Reconstruction touched his heart and he brings that focus on the people with him wherever he works. Mr. Rahman is currently the Associate Director of Unnayan Shahojogy Team (UST), a national NGO in Bangladesh which mobilizes resources for the rural poor particularly women and children.  

 

IIRR proudly offers training courses internationally to development professionals, government representatives, community organizers, and leaders in grassroots organizations. Courses always include a field-based learning component where participants learn hands-on and see true participatory development in practice.

The International Trainings for 2011-2012 are listed on our website.

 

IIRR is a community development organization working in East Africa and Southeast Asia. We focus on education for marginalized communities, food security and asset building, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

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A recent agricultural conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia led by the International Food Policy Research Institute, the African Union Commission, the UN, and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa drew many committed policy makers, academics, and farmers/trade groups together to focus on the future of farming and food security. (via Voice of America)

 

One technology that has been gaining traction has been the linking of farmers to up-to-date market information. It is estimated that 70% of the population makes a living through agriculture and likewise, 70% of the population has mobile phone access/ownership across Africa. Using mobile phones to connect and educate farmers has been around for nearly 10 years but has now reached a level of sustainability and growth that it is being taken seriously by the private sector. 

 

Examples abound:

In Ethiopia, the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) provides real-time (within 2 minutes) data on sale prices to electronic signboards in local centers, by SMS to mobile phones, on a call-in voicemail system, through newspapers, tv, and radio, and online. The farmers have been making use of this information. More than 1 million calls were made to the automated phone system last year to obtain pricing updates. It is estimated that the share of the export price that now goes back to the farmer has increased by at least 38%. Visit the exchange to see for yourself!

Recently, another mobile-phone market data initiative was announced in Ghana called "Farmer First" that is a partnership between mobile operators MTN and market data provider Esoko. In the pilots for the project, farmers reported a 40% increase in revenue due to better information allowing them to demand better prices, mvoe to a better market, or sell at the high points. Esoko has similar projects in 9 other African countries including Malawi.

M-Farm in Kenya, links farmers into a mobile network that allows them to combine their products and supply larger orders or to buy fertilizers/seeds/feed in bulk by combining their orders and paying jointly.

Cocoalink in Ghana (a partnership between The Hershey Company, Ghana Cocao Board, and World Cocoa Foundation) has added not only market data but also recently announced plans to partner with Malaria no More to use the mobile farmer network to educate people about malaria prevention and to provide donated phones to women in the 15 Cocoalink villages. The program also provides solar chargers for the phones.

 

 

What will be next?

IIRR has been working to include technology and other innovations in its work in rural communities. We are focusing our efforts on:

• Food Security & Asset Building
• Education for Marginalized Communities
• Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
• & Applied Learning to teach and build capacity of other development organizations

Can you help support our efforts? DONATE NOW!

Please visit our website to learn more about how we support rural communities that are working to improve their lives and livelihoods. 

 

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18 Year Old Businesswoman, Tiringo, sells rock salt to earn money for vocational school.

 

 

 

Largely, human development improvements in Africa over the past decade are attributed to gains in the form of health education, sanitation systems, and access to water.

You can find this and other information in the United Nations Development Programme's 2011 Human Development Report! Download the full report here 

Noteworthy items:

The report asserts that without addressing environmental concerns and reducing climate-change related risks, human development could begin to backslide in sub-Saharan Africa.

The same environmental concerns also foretell additional food insecurity facing the agricultural sector in the already stretched region.

How can we help?

IIRR is doing its part by focusing on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, Bio-Intensive Gardening, and "Earn and Learn" programs especially for youth and women.

You can make a difference by getting involved, donating, and learning more. See below! 

 

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As part of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) of the United Nations International Strategy for Risk Reduction, an 8-feet art installation made of recycled plastic containers and nylon strings surrounding a white figure rotated from the ceiling of Espasyo Siningdikato Creativenue last October 15, 2011 in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines. 

Entitled “The Re-Awakening”, the white figure symbolizing the innate resilience of the human soul to any hazard event represented by the plastic containers, was the centerpiece of the “Aksyon sa Pagpapalakas ng Kabataan sa Disaster Risk Reduction” or APAK SA DRR organized by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), Espasyo Siningdikato Creativenue and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).  

Kigao Rosimo, the artist who did the installation, opened the event by introducing the artwork. Participants and guests lit candles and placed them around the foot of the installation signifying hope amidst disasters.  Arth Ayson of Espasyo Siningdikato then did a poi performance (fire dance) during the opening. Jun Servano of IIRR provided the rationale of the APAK SA DRR event. He shared the five priorities in the Children's Charter for DRR that was discussed during the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva. These are:  

(1) Schools must be safe - education must be uninterrupted,

(2) Child protection must be a priority, before, during and after a disaster,

(3) Children and young people have the right to participate and to access the information they need,

(4) Community infrastructures must be safe, and relief and reconstruction must help reduce future disaster risk, and

(5) Disaster risk reduction must reach the most vulnerable. 

May Ann Salvador of Espasyo Siningdikato in her message asserted the important role of artists in building resilience through the arts. She added that their group is very active in environmental and other social issues and that the theme of this year’s International Day of DRR is relevant to their own outreach program centered on children and youth. 

Emily Monville Oro, Country Program Manager of IIRR shared that IIRR is committed to building resilient communities through the implementation of DRR as part of its Philippine, regional and global programs. She added that DRR is a significant strategy to ensure that development efforts are protected against the impacts of disaster and climate risks. 

Ciony Eduarte, Country Director of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) also shared the relevance and significance of the activity focusing on youth. She noted that as a humanitarian organization, building resilience of children is UMCOR’s global priority. She also added that the said event hopes to strengthen the partnership between the organizers in pushing for DRR.

An acoustic performance by Salvador Eduarte of UMCOR then followed.  Lerio Salvador of Elemento/Espasyo Siningdikato also performed using the instruments he personally invented which he calls sandata (weapons) creating a unique repertoire of music he calls “experimental sound art”.  Other artists who performed during the APAK sa DRR event included Cosmopolitan, Smoke Stabs, Gentle Universe, Jay Cris and Dreaming Jimer.

The Philippines’ geographical location within the “ring of fire” and astride the typhoon belt makes the country vulnerable to almost all types of natural hazards. The country experiences an average of 20 to 24 typhoons with four to five of them, destructive. The Philippines is also host to 22 active volcanoes. In 2010 alone, a total of 202 natural and human-induced disasters were reported in the Philippines affecting more than 1.29 million families and causing over Php25 billion (about 575M USD) in economic damages.

In response to these challenges, the Philippine program of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) is pushing for Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) as a strategy in building community resilience.

As part of this year's “Step Up for Disaster Risk Reduction" International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction, IIRR together with Espasyo SiningDikato Creativenue and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), will be organizing an open-stage music, art and poetry solidarity event.

An installation art called "The (Re)Awakening” will be made to symbolize the resilience of the Filipino people against the impacts of disaster and climate risks.
The event will be held on October 15, 2011 at the Espasyo SiningDikato in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines.

For further information, please contact: mark.cervantes@iirr.org or gonzalo.servano@iirr.org or
call +63 46 4143216 Mark or Jun. www.iirr.org

The municipality of Rosario, Cavite in the Philippines is currently implementing a two-year project on “Modeling Climate Smart and Resilient Communities” in partnership with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

Recently, all 20 barangays of Rosario were trained by IIRR on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation. This training was meant to prepare the barangays to comply with the Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act of 2010 and the Climate Change Act of 2009. Under these new laws, all of the barangays of Rosario are expected to have their disaster and climate risk assessments and plans completed before the year ends. 

As part of their environmental education and action, the people of Rosario headed by the Municipal Government are planning a day of climate awareness on September 24 as part of the 350 Moving Planet Climate Action Day. On September 24, citizens will assemble in front of the Municipal Hall by 6am to be followed by a mass walk and bike along a designated route ending at SM City, Rosario for a short program. The Honorable Jose Ricafrente of Rosario will give a solidarity message to be followed by the reading of the Moving Planet 2011 Declaration. 

 

 

 

IIRR hails the committment of thirty Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (BDRRMCs) in the Municipality of Naic, Cavite, Philippines to prioritize Disaster RiskReduction (DRR) in their respective barangays within 2011! 

 Mayor Edwina Mendoza of Naic, Cavite asserted that building resilience is one of the primary roles of the barangay local government units. She stressed that all barangays need to set up structures, mechanisms and systems to deal with the impacts of disaster and climate risks. Mendoza also emphasized that independence among the barangay units is key to a successful Disaster Risk Reduction program.

This formal commitment to Disaster Risk Reduction was among the results of the Capacity Building Training on Disaster Risk Reduction conducted August 3-4, 2011 in Poblete Farm, Naic. The two-day training was facilitated by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and the members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) of Naic, Cavite. The 30 barangays that participated in the training consisted of coastal, upland and poblacion clusters. 

Barangay Committees' participants were provided in-depth training on the policy and legislative aspects of Disaster RIsk Reduction including the Hyogo Framework for Action, salient points of Republic Act 10121, which included the roles of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils & Offices, and the nature and utilization of a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.

Additionally, the Barangay officials were taught how to conduct effective Disaster Risk Assessments and Analyses (DRAA) through hands-on exercises identifying actual hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities of their local communities. The hazards identified during the Assessment and Analysis included Black Bug infestation in the rice fields, fires, floods, sea surges, and typhoons. The results were then translated into Community Disaster Risk Reduction Plans which will form the basis for the Barangay Level Plans for Government Fund allocation. 

*Barangay is the Filipino term for village. It is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines.

 

 

For more information on IIRR's Disaster Risk Reduction, please see our website:

Disaster Risk Reduction Program Summary

 

Please support IIRR's work in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation by giving online:

Donate Now

 

 

Contact:

Mark A. Cervantes, MA-CRS (c), CERT, Sphere
Program Specialist, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
 

International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Regional Center for Asia
Y.C. James Yen Center, Silang, Cavite, Philippines 4118
Tel/Fax: (63-46) 414-3216     E-mail: mark.cervantes@iirr.org

Since November 2010, IIRR has partnered with Oxfam-Novib (the Dutch branch of Oxfam) in the implementation of Disaster Early Warning Systems for 6 Sudanese civil society organizations. The purpose of the project is to strengthen humanitarian aid delivery and disaster risk reduction capacity in order to prevent, mitigate and respond to crises in their areas.

In a session on June 13^th 2011, the organizations were trained in disaster response methods to address the two major hazards that plague East African arid lands: drought and conflict.  This project, like all of IIRR’s Disaster Risk Reduction projects, took a community-managed approach to disaster resilience, enabling communities themselves to continuously assess their risk, realize their current capacities, take effective preparedness measures, and have a timely response to disaster with no or minimal external support.  Additionally, there was an emphasis on addressing and adapting to climate change as a key piece of prevention efforts. 

 

Related Stories:

Photo Album – Hands-On Disaster Risk Reduction Training

Disaster Risk Reduction Conference, Kobe, Japan

Climate Change Impacts on Kenyan Pastoralists

IIRR highlights Continues Need for Disaster Risk Reduction

 

Our next trainings in CMDRR for development professionals, government representatives, and community leaders are scheduled for:

Philippines – September 5 to 16, 2011  

Uganda – October 24 to November 4, 2011 

 

For more information, visit our International Training Courses page 

 

 

TO SUPPORT OUR WORK IN SOUTH SUDAN,

PLEASE DONATE NOW!

 

 

Recently, IIRR partnered with the government of Guinayangan, in the Philippine Province of Quezon and local agricultural experts to initiate a special training program for farmers. The training covered a healthier, more productive and practical alternative method of rice farming commonly known as “SRI” or “System of Rice Intensification”.   It is a method of planting and growing rice that increases crop yield while avoiding the use of agro-chemicals, thus protecting the health of community members along with that of the surrounding environment. 

As part of the initiative, thirty farmers attended a training session led by an organization called SRI Filipinas. Ten of the farmers are also participating in experiments with 6 varieties of rice testing which are best suited for SRI and local conditions. The main principles of SRI covered in the training included:

1.      Water Level - Soil should be kept moist rather than fully saturated so that the seedlings can maintain optimal oxygen levels. The more oxygen, the more root growth, the more root growth, the healthier the plant, and the more rice it will yield.

2.      Spacing - Seedlings should be spaced far apart from each other to allow maximum root growth.  This configuration will not only allow the rice to get more oxygen, but also more sun – creating optimal photosynthesis conditions.

3.      Timing - Seedlings should be planted when less than 15 days old.

4.      Planting - Seedlings should be planted in shallow soil, quickly and carefully to avoid root trauma and transplant shock

SRI is known to yield more rice at a much lower cost than in the traditional method of “paddy field farming” involving full flooding of parcels of arable land. The traditional paddy method discourages the growth of weeds; however, harvest requires large amounts of strenuous manual labor, can cause irreparable soil erosion, and produces a great deal of methane gas.

IIRR pursued this SRI training in order to explore sustainable agricultural systems for local farmers who have suffered due to decreasing rice production.  IIRR hopes that this training was the first step in strengthening ties in this community and plans to continue to support on-the-ground initiatives in resource management and food security in the province of Quezon.