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. 

 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.

Please support our work by donating online.

Visit us online!

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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. 

Keep in touch with IIRR!

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

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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 

HDR_2011_EN_Cover.pdf Download this file

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! 

Support our work and learn more @ www.iirr.org

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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.

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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

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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. 

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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

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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!

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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. 

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The IIRR campus in Cavite, Philippines is teeming with activities this July!

• 2nd -17th July - The Yen Center, IIRR Philippines is hosting delegates for the Peace Corps Pre-Service Training (Initial Orientation and Center-based Technical Training).

• 4th - 29th July - In partnership with IIRR Regional Center for Asia, the Loma Linda University’s Service Learning Activity is again being held in the Philippines. This year, the students will focus on assessment of the efficiency of school feeding programs in public elementary schools in five municipalities in Cavite and; assessment of competencies of Barangay (village) Health Workers of Rosario, Cavite in disaster risk reduction and management.

• 6th -11th July– IIRR Regional Center for Asia provides a customized course on Bio-Intensive Gardening (BIG) for the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA) based in Ethiopia.

• 18th - 29th July –IIRR Regional Center for Asia holds an international training session on Participatory Local Governance: Finding Meaningful Engagement between Government and its Citizens. 

For more information about IIRR trainings, please visit the International Training page of our website.

For more information about the IIRR Conference Facilities in the Philippines, visit the Yen Center page. 

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“The training is eye-opening in many ways, especially in community development.  The training itself was a living example of how there can be learning through practice.  I believe we’ll go back with a meaningful purpose.”

-Lipongse Thongtsar, Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency, India 

 
Documentation of project learnings and field experiences has always been a challenge for development workers who are usually busy doing the work and have no time to tell the tale. In response, IIRR developed the Writeshop, a participatory writing, editing, and compiling of information into books or other dissemination materials. We're not just a pioneer of the Writeshop process, IIRR has now enhanced its courses and is offering a training for other NGOs and institutions on how to organize and run a Writeshop to document project learnings and field-based experiences.

(To read more about IIRR's innovative Writeshop process, click here)

The first formal Writeshop training for other organizations, "Capturing Lessons from the Field: The Writeshop Process" was held June 13-24 2011 at the Yen Center, Headquarters of IIRR in the Philippines. Twelve development practitioners from five countries: Africa, India, Indonesia, The Philippines, and The Netherlands were trained in designing, organizing and managing a Writeshop, improving their personal writing and analytical skills, and taking ownership of and effectively communicating project experiences for dissemination. 

As part of the hands-on, experiential course, participants produced eleven case stories and one "case-let". These stories were compiled into the soon-to-be released book, 12 Community Development Experiences: Capturing Lessons from the Field as a final output of the training.The e-book will be available on the IIRR website soon.

(Click here to see other publications and e-books produced through IIRR Writeshops)

For more information, please contact:

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Global climate change has increased the number and magnitude of natural disasters within the past decade, and developing countries are the most affected by their unforgiving force. Thus, one of IIRR’s key initiatives is Disaster Risk Reduction.  With this initiative, IIRR has taken preemptive measures to reduce the impact of catastrophes in highly-vulnerable communities.  Making disaster-preparedness a cultural norm in these communities is a key objective of the program. As of this month, IIRR has expanded its Disaster Risk Reduction work to include youth. In June, IIRR successfully conducted and completed the first Junior Community Emergency Response Team(CERT) Training for twelve children ages 6-13 at the Yen Center in the Philippines. 

The youth participants were trained to identify frequently occurring disasters in the Philippines (i.e. typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and landslides). They were also taught to make head-to-toe assessments of individuals wounded in disasters, and how to treat them using basic first aid.  They learned everything from CPR, to shock assessment, to the dealing with impaled objects. Along with first aid, the children were taught basic fire safety and Light Search and Rescue (LSAR) techniques.  The kids then applied their learning with a role playing game.

 “IIRR will be offering this new customized training course in Junior CERT to schools, local organizations and other institutions in order to build the resilience of children against the impact of disaster and climate change.” - Jun Servano

The Junior CERT Training is spearheaded by Gonzalo “Jun” Servano, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Risk Reduction Project Officer, assisted by Maggie Rosimo, Learning Community Coordinator and Mark Cervantes, Program Specialist on Disaster Risk Reduction.

For more information or to inquire about Junior CERT Training, please contact: Jun Servano @ gonzalo.servano@iirr.org 

-Mary Ireland, IIRR Fundraising and Communications Associate

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How can the UN maintain or obtain legitimacy for its operations? Go to the people!

(Mary Ireland, IIRR)

On June 8, 2011, IIRR attended the United Nations University’s Conference on Legitimacy and Peacekeeping. UN Peacekeeping Operations goals are to end violence and to enable communities to rebuild their lives and societies. The operations have had substantial success, however, they have also had very public failures. The critiques are endless, and most focus on the UN’s loss of legitimacy as a key issue. The UN, looking to avoid further failures, held an open discussion with NGOs, journalists, scholars, and students about how to better maintain or perhaps further obtain greater legitimacy for its operations. The speakers made an interesting point that the perception of legitimacy completely depends on the audience leading to the question: whose perception of UN legitimacy matters the most? the West’s perception? the media’s perception? One speaker, Roland Paris, the University of Ottawa Research Chair in International Security and Governance, proposed a solution that dovetails with IIRR's mission. He suggested that the UN should do what it takes to gain legitimacy with local communities on the ground in these war-torn areas, which is a more “bottom-up” suggestion than the typical peacekeeping “top-down” approach to success. The idea sparked fervent discussion. His exact quote was, “Human security demands that public policy must be directed at enhancing the personal security, welfare, and dignity of individuals and communities”. The audience at the conference agreed that this new way of thinking was indeed…legitimate.

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LOWO is an innovative method for creating community conversation, sharing, and attitude change about Family Planning and Reproductive Health in international development settings. The method is spearheaded by Jane Boorstein, a member of the Board of Trustees of IIRR and Director of the Partnership for Sustainable Families and Communities.

You can learn more about LOWO from Jane in the video below!

If the video above doesn't load, you can click here to see a video summarizing the lecture she gave at Columbia Teachers College on the Learning Our Way Out Program.

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Perhaps it is the Geography-lover in me, but I find this map fascinating!

See where food aid is being provided and by which organizations.

(The list is not definitive. Only InterAction members are listed which excludes many small organizations).

http://foodsecurity.ngoaidmap.org/

It appears that the countries with the most food aid projects are Bangladesh, Haiti, and Ghana.

You can click on the country to see details about the projects underway by the different organizations.

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Tomorrow is the US launch of the FAO State of Food and Agriculture Report 2010-2011 

"Women in Agriculture: Closing the Gender Gap for Development"

Read the press release from FAO  

My favorite part - "If women in rural areas had the same access to land, technology, financial services, education and markets as men, agricultural production could be increased and the number of hungry people reduced by 100-150 million." (from FAO press release 3.7.11) 

I wish I were still in DC!

Here is a great online presentation running through key points from FAO's report 

A few related recent posts from our blog - 

Agricultural Participation by Rural Women is Key to Reaching MDGs says UN

The 4 Steps to Eliminating Hunger & Poverty

To support the work of IIRR in educating women and helping them build successful businesses, please donate now.

IIRR Online Giving

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The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) has over 90 years of history in participatory, integrated, and people-centered development. The Institute has enhanced the capacity and confidence of over 100,000 development practitioners and community leaders throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America and is recognized for documenting and disseminating field-based experience through its innovative Writeshop methodology. We envision a world of equity, justice, and peace where people achieve their full potential and live a life of quality and dignity in harmony with the environment.

African Regional Director Position

The African Regional Director is responsible for providing overall leadership and supervision in the planning and implementation of the Institute’s strategy and its rural development programs and operations in Africa.  The primary functions include but are not limited to resource generation, mobilization, and development initiatives to support program and management goals, and program and Human Resources management and growth. The African Regional Director will be based in Nairobi, Kenya but will provide leadership and oversight for a staff of professionals located throughout Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Sudan, (along with 2 new countries over the next 5 years). The Director reports directly to the President and is a senior member of the Institute’s Global Management Team. 

Key Duties & Responsibilities

1.    Provide strategic direction and leadership for the regional programs.

2.    Lead in the formulation of strategies, mid- and short-terms plans and budgets and ensure their smooth implementation.

3.    Participate and coordinate resource generation efforts including generation of proposals with the President, Country Director/Program Managers, and the Regional Programs Director to ensure secure and adequate funding for programs and operations.

4.    Develop and maintain strategic partnerships/linkages with donors, government agencies, partner organizations and necessary stakeholders.

5.    Actively participate in Applied Learning and capacity development including travel for international and customized trainings, documentation and other technical assignments.

6.    Provide leadership and supervise a team of professionals with diverse expertise and responsibilities across the region.

7.    Ensure that systems (Finance, Human Resources, Internal Controls, Communication, Reporting, etc) across the region are functioning efficiently and effectively.

8.    Represent IIRR in all relevant forums including with government agencies, bilateral and multilateral organizations and others in the region.

9.    Play an active role in the Global Management Team and contribute to the development of IIRR global strategy and programs. 

Qualifications

• Masters or PHD in nonprofit or NGO management, international development, economics, social sciences or other related field.
• At least ten (10) years of relevant experience in program development and management and proven experience in fund raising and resource mobilization.
• Practical experience in planning, facilitation, and leading training and capacity building sessions at institutional and community levels.
• Evidence of a strong network with donor agencies and the development community in the region.
• Strong visionary leadership, team building, and people management skills.

Kindly submit your cover letter and detailed CV indicating your expected remuneration and contact information for 3 work-related references to the undersigned by 18^th March 2011:

The Regional Human Resources Manager

IIRR Africa Regional Center, Nairobi, Kenya

Email: Regional.Director@iirr.org

Website: www.iirr.org

**IIRR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes all qualified applicants**

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The new United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) will be launched tonight (February 24, 2011)

You can watch it from 6:30-8:00pm live on their website - link to UN WOMEN 

IIRR focuses its work on women and youth as key populations in the fight against poverty and applauds the creation of UN Women. 

We will be watching tonight and hope you will be too!

Click here to DONATE NOW in support of education and asset building for women

For more infomation, please visit IIRR's website 

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NEW PROGRAM SPECIALISTS JOIN THE ASIA TEAM AT IIRR

signal the rebirth of the Regional Center for Asia

We are pleased to announce the appointment of the following new program specialists at the Regional Center for Asia!

SHEILAH S. VERGARA, Program Specialist, Training and Capacity Development 

Sheilah served a three-year stint with IIRR in 2006-09 as Project Manager, Community Agricultural Technology Project (CATP). Sheilah has 22 years of work experience in the government, corporate and non-government organizations. With 13 years focused on implementing and handling international development projects all over the Philippines. She served as Training Officer for the AP Renewables Inc. (APRI) (Power Generation), Makati City, mainly responsible for designing, directing and managing a company-wide process of organizational development through superior workforce development, key employee retention, organization design and change management; direct a process of organizational planning that evaluates company structure, job design and personnel forecasting throughout the company; evaluate plans and make recommendations to HR Manager and executive management; oversee development of training programs, contracts, and budgets; perform needs assessments of the types of training needed; determine the best means of delivering training; responsible for the entire learning process to ensure that the course meets its objectives;  and evaluate training courses to understand how learning impacts performance.

Sheilah has a Bachelor of Science degree in Development Communication major in Development Journalism, a Masters degree in Management major in Agribusiness Management and Ph.D. units in Environmental Science and Management from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. 

FERNANDO J. BALMACEDA, Program Specialist, Agriculture and Natural Resources Management 

Prior to IIRR, Ferdie was a Field Program Coordinator (Bicol Region) of the Millennium Development Goal Fund (MDG-F) Joint Program, focused on ensuring food security and nutrition for children jointly funded by the UNICEF, WHO, World Food Program (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), ILO and the Spanish government.  Ferdie also served as a consultant to the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP2) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and to Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Studies and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). From 2008 to 2009, Ferdie worked with Children International as Programs Manager, an international NGO focused on planning and implementing community-oriented initiatives on education, livelihood, health and nutrition.

Ferdie obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, major in Plant Pathology from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He has Master of Public Administration units from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. 

The new hiring reflects the rebirth of the Asia team and the move towards a new and more dynamic program with our partners to overcome poverty and improve the lives of our learning communities.

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