Welcome to ANGOC Gotong Royong, the e-newsletter of the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC).

This issue features events which the ANGOC network and/or its members spearheaded or took part in in the year 2007.

We welcome your feedback on any of the articles that appear here. We also invite you to send country-specific updates, such as news on the socio-political situation, and developments in agrarian reform, sustainable agriculture, and participatory governance, among others.

In the next Gotong Royong, we will start a section called SOUND OFF, which would feature national news of importance to the NGO sector, and to which we would be pleased to receive your opinions and reactions.

World Development Report Civil Society Organization Consultation

25-26 January 2007
Hotel Holiday Inn On King, Toronto, Canada

The World Development Report for 2007 of the World Bank (WB) focused on the theme agriculture.

ANGOC, as one of the panelists, started by challenging the writers that the report should highlight the fact that despite the various international summits and conferences, Asian agriculture is still in crisis. There is a need therefore to restructure lobal governance mechanisms and to promote institutional reforms of organizations dealing with agriculture.

Agricultural and Rural Development for Reducing Poverty and Hunger in Asia: In Pursuit of Inclusive and Sustained Growth

9-10 August 2007
Asian Development Bank Headquarters, Manila, Philippines 

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) organized a high-level policy forum "Agricultural and Rural Development for Reducing Poverty and Hunger in Asia: In Pursuit of Inclusive and Sustainable Growth" in Manila in August 2007. 

The forum brought together about 100 leaders and stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society from all over Asia and around the world to examine the role of agricultural and rural development in reducing poverty and hunger in today's Asia. Participants examined the scale and nature of poverty and hunger in rural Asia and explored growth and structural changes in Asian agriculture and rural non-farm activities. Strategies for economy-wide and trade policies to encourage inclusive rural growth were discussed, and key emerging risks such as climate change and instruments for mitigating and managing risks were examined.

The Forum identified the following priority action areas for achieving inclusive agricultural and rural development: 

• Increasing technological innovation capacity in new agricultural supply chains;
• Investing in infrastructure and communications systems to reduce spatial disparities and foster rural-urban linkages;
• Developing ecosystems services through public-private cooperation for meeting the challenges of water scarcity and climate change;
• Facilitating the health benefits of agriculture and reducing the risks, especially the transmission of animal diseases;
• Encouraging development of finance and insurance interventions for the poorest;
• Providing effective safety nets and nutritional improvement in rural areas.

Future policy research questions that need attention include: 

• What policies and services are needed to provide asset-poor farmers with access to emerging market opportunities. This work should include attention to new forms of cooperation and contract farming as well as information services regarding prices, quality, and standards.
• What types of nonfarm activities (especially those undertaken by the poorest) comprise the rural nonfarm sector, and what types of policies encourage the growth of these activities? This work should include new ways of strengthening rural-urban linkages as well as rural services and innovative rural financial institutions that embrace remittances and rural small- and medium-sized enterprises.
• What types of opportunities may evolve for biofuels in different settings in Asia, and what policies and regulations are needed for a balanced approach that may include smallholder farmers and small-and large-scale biofuel producers?
• What policies exist for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Asian agriculture? This work would include studies on carbon trading regimes and related programs and policies.
• What new policies are there for making water and irrigation systems in Asia more sustainable and pro-poor? This work would focus on the need for enhanced supply response in irrigated agriculture in different settings in Asia and emphasize water quality in the context of irrigation, which is so critical for the poor.

World Food Day 2007

16 October 2007

For this year, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) selected the theme The Right to Food to demonstrate the increasing recognition by the international community of the important role of human rights in eradicating hunger and poverty, and hastening and deepening the sustainable development process. It is deemed that the right to food is the inherent human right of every woman, man, and child on this planet.  

Recognizing the important role of access to land and agrarian reform in ensuring the right to food of Asian communities, the ANGOC's theme centered on Access to Land and Common Property Resources of the Poor - The Key to Food Sovereignty. 

Regional Implementation Meeting (RIM) for Asia and the Pacific for the 16th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-16)

26-27 November 2007

In preparation for the CSD-16 (May 2008, USA), a regional implementation meeting was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and other regional UN bodies to identify issues and prospects on the implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Agenda 21, and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, in the thematic areas of agriculture, land, rural development, drought and desertification.

In the spirit of the CSD process, civil society organizations forwarded their views, reviewed relevant background papers and provided feedback during the RIM deliberations.

ANGOC was represented by Chairperson Francis Lucas and Executive Director Nathaniel Don Marquez. Fr. Francis acted as one of the panelists on the discussion on key findings of the thematic reports in relation to agriculture, land and rural development. On behalf of the NGO major group present in the meeting, ANGOC presented the concerns and recommendations put forward by the NGO participants in relation to the following: (a) implementation of genuine agrarian reform, (b) mainstreaming sustainable agriculture, (c) recognizing and rewarding farmers as the main source of intellectual innovations in agriculture, (d) leveling the playing field at both domestic and international markets to address inequities, (e) recognizing and building community based capacities to facilitate recovery from and mitigate the impacts of disasters and climate change, (f) agricultural education, (g) create and ensure enabling policy environments that recognize and build the rights of farmers, and (h) revisiting the framework and systems of microfinance to make it work for the poor farmers. 

Land Watch Asia Planning Meeting

28-30 March 2007
Tagaytay City, Philippines 

Land Watch Asia held a planning meeting from 28 to 30 March to: (a) Identify and come to agreement on campaign outputs; (b) discuss and revise the framework and process for mapping campaign activities; and (c) formulate country action plans and build a regional Land Watch platform. 

Land Watch Asia is a regional campaign to ensure that issues of access to land, agrarian reform, and equitable and sustainable development in rural areas are addressed in the national and regional development agendas.  

The Land Watch meeting in Tagaytay City, Philippines was participated in representatives from NGOs in six Asian countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines. The ANGOC members that took part in the meeting were AVARD, Bina Desa, PhilDHRRA, Star Kampuchea, and SARRA. Also present were organizations from Peru and Burkina Faso that are engaged in regional network activities. 

The key outputs of the meeting are as follows:

• Approval of the Land Watch Campaign framework;
• Revision and finalization of the content of and process for the formulation of country- and regional-level campaign mapping studies;
• Identification of focal points for the campaign in six Asian countries;
• Commitment to omplete country studies within first quarter of 2008 ;
• Agreement to share quarterly updates on campaign activities, land policies, case studies and other relevant materials via an electronic platform; and
• Agreement to conduct a regional dialogue on these themes by 2008.

International Land Coalition Global Assembly of Members

24-27 March
Entebbe, Uganda 

The ILC Global Assembly of Members held in Entebbe, Uganda carried the theme "Land, Dignity and Development: Putting a Pro-Poor Land Agenda into Practice". It aimed to: (a) increase awareness and understanding among ILC members of the plan of action for institutional change; (b) derive a clear direction and decisions from ILC members to guide the Coalition Council and Secretariat on policy and management issues for the coming biennium; and (c) increase understanding of critical land issues from a global and regional perspective, including a particular understanding of African issues. 

The Assembly adopted the following documents: (a) strategic framework; (b) amendments to the governance framework; and (c) measures to be taken towards transforming ILC into a more membership led network.

ANGOC, SARRA and Star Kampuchea participated in this event.

26th Executive Committee Meeting of CIRDAP and CIRDAP's Second Regional Policy Dialogue Focusing on Agrarian Reform in the Philippines

30 May 2007
Traders Hotel, Manila, Philippines 

The Inaugural Session of the 26th Regular Meeting of CIRDAP's Executive Committee was held on 28-29 May 2007 in Manila, Philippines. This was followed by a Regional Policy Dialogue on 'Agrarian Reform and Rural Development: The Case of the Philippines'.  

ANGOC Boardmember Antonio Quizon presented a paper titled "Bridging Issues on Access to Land through Land Partnerships in the Philippines". The paper tackled the broad, enabling policy environment in which GO-CSO cooperation and partnership have taken place on issues of access to land. The study pointed out how the numerous legislations have often brought about policy conflicts, questions about land use classification, overlapping functions of government agencies, and competing interests among the various sectors affected. The various forums and institutional mechanisms of engagement that have been instituted between government and CSOs on land-related issues over the past 16 years were highlighted.  

Some of the emerging issues and challenges on land-related reform policies and programs were categorized into five (5) broad thematic areas that require multi-stakeholder consultation, consensus-building and joint action. These themes and sub-themes could well constitute the focus of a potential land partnership. Case studies related to such issues on indigenous peoples (IPs) and ancestral domain claims were presented to substantiate the discussion. 

An overview of the status of agrarian reform and rural development in CIRDAP member countries (CMCs) based on the Rural Development Report (RDR) of 2007 was presented by CIRDAP. The paper suggested that while the CMCs have generally made significant strides over the last two decades in terms of GDP growth and rise in per capita incomes, they still need to go a long way towards reducing poverty, achieving the MDGs and fulfilling the aspirations of the population in improving their living standards and quality of life.

Round Table Discussion on Indigenous Peoples

24 September 2007
Partnership Center, Quezon City, Philippines 

The Round Table Discussion on Indigenous Peoples (IPs) was participated in by 28 representatives from various NGOs and POs. A situationer on the condition of IP groups in the Philippines, including the diminution of their ancestral domains, was first presented, followed by a review of the status of ongoing land claims conflicts between IPs and beneficiaries of the government's agrarian reform program. This roundtable has been organized by ANGOC with PhilDHRRA, PAFID, AR Now! and SALIGAN.

This was followed by a discussion of the National Land Use Bill, which is intended to provide a solution to conflicting land claims. Another bill, drafted by the People's Advocacy for Land Use Reform (Alarm)-- a coalition of people's organizations, NGOs and civil society groups-is the Comprehensive Land Use Act. It provides for: 

• A National Physical Framework Plan based on consolidated and harmonized regional physical framework plans and land use plans of cities and municipalities;
• Four (4) categories of land uses for planning purposes - protection, production, settlements development and infrastructure development
• A Land Use Policy Council which acts as the highest policy making body on land use; standing committee under NEDA;
• Board representation (four of 15 members) from the basic sectors - peasant, urban poor, IPs, and fisherfolk; with two out of four representatives being women;
• A moratorium on all applications for conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses shall be observed pending completion of mapping activities;
• Allocation to municipal fishers of areas accessible to the sea and identified for fisherfolk settlement and housing;
• Restoration of all mineral lands with exhausted mineral resources to their original land classification - forest or agricultural lands;
• Restoration of all exhausted indigenous energy resource lands not covered by proclamations to the category of forest lands or agricultural lands open to disposition, which ever is appropriate;
• Designation of lands for socialized housing and resettlement areas for the immediate and future needs of the underprivileged and homeless citizens by each city or municipality in urban, urbanizable and rural areas; and
• Penal provisions for any person abetting illegal conversion and reclassification of protected agricultural lands.

Round Table Discussion on Agrarian Reform

26 September 2007
Partnership Center, Quezon City, Philippines 

Twenty one participants from NGOs and POs attended the Roundtable Discussion (RTD) on Agrarian Reform in the Philippines on 26 September 26 2007 in Quezon City, Philippines. This roundtable has been organized by ANGOC with PhilDHRRA, PAFID, AR Now! and SALIGAN. 

The RTD started with an assessment of accomplishments under the CARP as well as of the challenges posed by different sectors. The biggest concern among AR advocates is the expiration of the CARP in June 2008. The RTD identified three possible scenarios happening at that time: 1) CARP is extended but goes on as "business as usual"; 2) CARP is extended and major reforms are introduced into the law; and 3) CARP is not extended and the program ends. 

The possibility of extending CARP and the extent of reforms that could be negotiated would depend on the level of pressure that peasant groups and AR advocates could bring to bear on Congress.  Thus, the RTD participants agreed that the most important challenge and intervention would be the organization of a strong "rural reform movement." Post 2008, the biggest opportunity for "negotiating" reforms would be the 2010 national elections.  The "rural reform movement" should be ready to "negotiate" with "winnable" presidentiables for reforms in exchange for political/electoral support. 

The RTD also looked into the "Unity Bill" that has been drafted following a series of consultations among farmer organizations, and subsequently filed in Congress (i.e., as House Bill No. 1257). Among others, the Unity Bill calls for:

• Acceleration (7 years target completion) of the Land Acquisition and Distribution component of CARP; with enough funds from the General Appropriation to be automatically appropriated;
• Strengthening of credit and support services to farmer beneficiaries, even after the completion of the Land Acquisition and Distribution component;
• Resolution of implementation problems that are obstacles to the completion of the program;
• Categorical declaration that Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) and other titles issued under any agrarian reform program shall be indefeasible after one (1) year from registration;
• A mandate for direct and physical distribution of all agricultural lands, as opposed to non-distributive schemes;
• Establishment of the needed implementation structure for the completion of the program;
• Recognition of women as program beneficiaries, with the mandate for gender responsive support services; and
• Recognition of the rights of all other qualified beneficiaries, and the beneficiaries' legal standing in cases involving their land.

The participants likewise agreed to sharpen the definition of AR to include the indigenous peoples (IPs)'s perspectives pursuant to IPs' rights under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).

Round Table Discussion on Forestry

27 September 2007
Partnership Center, Quezon City, Philippines 

Twenty four participants from various NGOs and POs took part in the Round Table Discussion (RTD) on Forestry. This roundtable has been organized by ANGOC with PhilDHRRA, PAFID, AR Now! and SALIGAN.

Following a review of the evolution of forestry laws in the Philippines and of the different tenurial instruments governing forestry and upland areas, three case studies were presented. The following insights were drawn from the case studies:

• Tenure security affords upland communities to plan for future;
• Support mechanisms (capacity building, financial) should be in place and must go hand in hand with the tenurial instrument;
• Lifestyle and value systems improve with the implementation of a conservation-oriented livelihood project;
• Security of tenure with a conservation-oriented livelihood project promotes more investment from farmers on their lands;
• The role of local government units (LGUs) in forest management and protection is crucial in implementing tenure security programs;
• Tenure security programs must be developed using participatory and "locally-fit" strategies and plans;
• Devolution of forest management functions allows for greater sharing of resources and responsibilities;
• Tenure security should consider both conservation goals and human welfare and economic needs of upland communities;
• Formulation of development plans in tenurial instruments should recognize intricacies of customary laws, beliefs, practices and traditions that must be reflected in the plan; and
• Effective forest management considers the smallest management unit which is the tenure holder.

The following recommendations were put forward to respond to issues concerning the forestry sector: 

• There is a need to provide long-term tenurial security to upland communities to ensure sustainable management of forests;
• Tenure holders need to be genuinely organized prior to awarding of usufruct rights;
• Tenurial instruments should be flexible and must take into account conditions/situations at the  village level;
• There should be a complete devolution of forest management  functions to LGUs;
• Technical and financial support mechanisms should accompany tenurial security programs;
• Tenure security must consider both conservation goals and improvement of human welfare;
• Formulation of development plans must be based on customary laws, beliefs, practices and traditions to ensure effectiveness and compliance; and
• Management plans must consider the tenure holder as the smallest management unit.

ILC African Regional Workshop

30-31 October 2007
Nairobi, Kenya 

The Regional Workshop of the International Land Coalition held in Nairobi, Kenya on 30-31 October aimed to:  

• Identify key emerging issues and trends as well as challenges and opportunities in the area of access to land by the land poor (on a per country basis, and on a sub-regional clustering basis);
• Define optimum strategic roles for ILC in Africa;
• Formulate the framework for a 3-year action plan to align with regional priorities and ILC Strategic Framework; and
• Develop operational modalities for functioning of ILC in Africa region.

The Workshop also tackled the "regionalization process" of the ILC. The Strategic Framework for ILC 2007-2010 proposes an important shift in the way in which the Coalition operates. The basis for this shift is that the membership, rather than the secretariat, becomes fully central to the decision making and prioritization within the Coalition. By early 2008, it is anticipated that each region will have defined regional strategies, which are intended to allow each region to determine priorities and modalities for regional operation as a coalition. Regionalization is expected to create the following advantages for operation of the ILC:

• A greater ability to define the focus of ILC activities and analysis according to specific land contexts in the region;
• Closer and more regular follow-up to national/regional processes and contact with decision-making institutions at national/regional level;
• A more appropriate face to the ILC as an institution with regional relevance, rather than representation primarily by a "remote" secretariat;
• Improved ability to respond quickly to requests and opportunities as these arise in the region;
• Stronger links to inter-governmental institutions at the country/regional level; and
• Better information and improved information flow, at the different levels that ILC operates.

EC UNDP SGPPTF SEARCA Natural Resources Knowledge Management Executive Forum and Round Table Discussion on Lessons Learned from Small Grants Programme Philippine Tropical Forestry (SGPPTF)

07-10 November 2007
Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines 

A small Round Table Discussion gathered partners to discuss about lessons from the EC UNDP SEARCA SGPPTF on community forestry.  Partners who attended came from the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN), ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), Asian NGO Coalition (ANGOC), Asia Forest Network (AFN), SEARCA and SGPPTF from 7 to 10 November 2007 in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.

Part of the discussion involved participating at the Executive Forum on Natural Resources Knowledge Management (http://www.searca.org/web/training/courses/2007/nov/index.htm) sponsored by Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). SEARCA is also the Executing Agency of the SGPPTF.

ANGOC Chairperson Fr. Francis Lucas participated in the executive forum round table discussions as Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Philippine Tropical Forestry Small Grants Programme (UNDP-SGP-EU-PTF) funded by the European Commission. The Asian NGO Coalition was invited to be part of this regional project to expand participation and networking on the NGO side. As a regional NGO network working with grassroots communities (through its network as a regional platform of pro-people community based) and natural resource focused coalition, ANGOC would have much to contribute to the success of the program. 

ANGOC was recognized by the group mainly dealing with forestry given its wider scope and strategies on rural development beyond agro-forestry. Fr. Francis was acknowledged for his leadership in the Philippines' successful implementation of the PTF program. Under Fr. Francis's helm, more than 40 community projects were successfully funded with many clear lessons learned. Knowledge management was also an output of the project. It is now a clear belief that to address the forestry problem, a multi stakeholder and multi disciplinary approach in a community based process taking into account a holistic strategy for rural development.

This activity is part of continuing efforts to share the lessons learned from SGPPTF to development organizations and networks in the ASEAN as a contribution to promoting good practices and policy dialogue.

SGPPTF regional program hosted the event in collaboration with SEARCA and AFN with the following objectives:

• Review key lessons learned from SGPPTF and its implications on government programs and policies that enable community forestry in ASEAN;
• Review key knowledge management strategies that may be used to disseminate SGPPTF lessons learned;
• Discuss next steps for turn over of knowledge products from SGPPTF to ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN), ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), ANGOC and future collaboration with KM partners (AFN, SEARCA and other organizations); and
• Building on the Program on Tropical Forestry substantive lessons and knowledge management strategies, agree on priority actions to further support ASFN activity plans to strengthen knowledge management work on social forestry/community forestry particularly within ASEAN member Forestry Agencies.

Among the key government /regional leaders working on Social Forestry and participating in regional/national knowledge management joined the roundtable discussion:

• Indonesia Ministry of Forestry;
• Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources;
• Thailand Royal Forest Department;
• ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN);
• ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB);
• Asia Forest Network (AFN);
• Asian NGO Coalition (ANGOC);
• Delegation of the European Commission in the Philippines (EC);
• EC UNDP Small Grants Program for Operations to Promote Tropical Forests (SGPPTF);
• Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia-Pacific (RECOFTC);
• Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA); and
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-Philippines.

The different institutions who met were all gung-ho for the program for ASEAN. They will continue to communicate and network with one another. SEARCA will lead the follow up until such time as the PTF regional program goes on its second phase. ANGOC shall invite members and partners to participate in the knowledge management systems both as contributors, community of practice, discussant as well as recipient of knowledge exchanged in the web.

ANGOC members and partners in Southeast Asia can promote in-country the PTF approaches, share experiences in agro-forestry modeling as well as lobby their governments to support the PTF implementation. It should be noted that forestry is one of the lowest performance for the MDGs both for the South and South East Asia.

Regional Experts Consultation on Overcoming Obstacles to Agricultural Microfinance in Southeast Asia

1-3 March 2007

The regional experts consultation on agricultural microfinance organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) aimed to (a) review the development and implementation of regulations and policies on agricultural microfinance; (b) recommend measures to improve risk management, regulation and supervision, governance and sustainability of agricultural microfinance institutions (MFIs); (c) provide options for widening the frontiers of agricultural microfinance; and (d) initiate a regional network of countries that will push for the advancement of agricultural microfinance.

The meeting, participated in by heads of microfinance institutions, government financial regulators and policymakers, and agricultural economists and administrators, identified gaps in regulations and policies relevant to agricultural microfinance. It yielded an action plan to improve risk management, regulation and supervision, governance and sustainability of MFIs; options for expansion of agricultural microfinance frontiers; and agreements on the regional microfinance network including goals, structure, mechanics, etc.

Regional Consultation towards the Formation of an Asian Information Network on Sustainable Agriculture

25-27 March 2007
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines 

The Asia-Japan Partnership Network for Poverty Reduction (AJPN) Regional Consultation held in Cagayan de Oro provided an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas on the framework for reducing poverty through sustainable agriculture (SA) and ideas on how to promote SA policies and programs. Among the principles agreed by the participants in achieving such goals were: 

• There should be bias for marginalized and vulnerable sectors, and owner operated family farms should be encouraged through agrarian reform and other similar schemes applicable to other countries;
• Farmers should be empowered economically by creating local enterprises to enhance local economy and ensure food and nutritional security;
• Diversified and integrated farming system should be encouraged, including the use of local and renewable inputs to promote biodiversity and local culture and indigenous knowledge systems;
• Alliances, multi-stakeholder partnerships and participatory processes for policy advocacy anchored on field experiences must be well established; and
• There should be information and knowledge sharing through documentation.

Four key strategies have been identified to attain the goal: a) improvement and promotion of farming methods and local technologies, b) empowerment of local farmer groups/organizations, c) institutionalization of support systems, and d) enhancement and diversification of economic activities.

ANGOC was represented at this consultation by AVARD, Bina Desa, SARRA and PhilDHRRA.

3rd APHD Pan-Asia Farmers' Conference

17-25 October 2007
Tagbilaran City and Talibon, Bohol, Philippines

ANGOC through its local partner ICDAI (Infanta Community Development Assistance, Inc.) participated in the third regional farmers' gathering supported by the Asia Partnership for Human Development (APHD) through its Pan Asia Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers' Rights (SAFaR) Program. The conference focused on mainstreaming sustainable agriculture among the small-scale farmers organizations of the network. Delegates from 13 Asian countries shared their experiences in various sustainable agriculture technologies such as effective microorganism nature farming, system rice intensification, alternative pest management, and organic farming. Other topics discussed were climate change, biofuels, GMOs and hybrid seeds, and country updates. A two-day field exposure and immersion with farming communities in Talibon, Bohol was also arranged to impart and highlight the province's best sustainable agriculture practices.

ANGOC shared its capacity building activities such as the conduct of Third Country Training Program on Sustainable Agriculture (which was participated by some of the APHD Members), as well as the results of the field interventions of the AJPN project in selected communities in India, Indonesia and the Philippines. 

The participants committed among others to:

• Establish an effective exchange and flow of information regarding farmer's issues and concerns among partners, cause-oriented groups and the general public;
• Strengthen efforts in the development of various sustainable agriculture technologies, and the collection, maintenance, reproduction, evaluation and improvement of local seeds and planting materials;
• Solicit the support of other faith-based groups and civil society organizations on pro-poor farmer development agenda and other agricultural issues detrimental to sustainable agriculture; and
• Maintain and further strengthen networks and linkages at the local, national, regional and international levels for effective lobbying and advocacy.

First International Convention on Natural Farming and Development of Field Manual
on Natural Farming

05-14 November 2007
Jeju Island, Republic of Korea

Dr. Cho Han Kyu, forerunner of natural farming in Korea, convened the First International Convention on Natural Farming to mainstream natural farming (NF) as a tool to reduce poverty and address unstable climate change. Around 1,300 participants from over 30 countries exchanged and shared knowledge on protecting the environment through natural farming. Rohini Reddi of South Asia Rural Reconstruction Association (SARRA) presented a paper on how such technology could be promoted and how it could improve the living conditions of small and marginalized farmers.

First Mindanao Agriculture Forum

22-23 November 2007
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines 

ANGOC and SEARSOLIN were among the supporters of the First Mindanao Agriculture Forum convened by the College of Agriculture of Xavier University (XUCA). Leaders of the different stakeholders including farmers, agri-industries, civil society organizations, academe and research institutions, local government units, financial institutions and government agencies articulated issues, formulated resolutions and adopted a declaration as a commitment towards a more sustainable and equitable agriculture development in Mindanao.

Despite the modest growth that has been achieved in Mindanao, this has not been enough to reduce massive poverty, especially in the rural areas. The participants took note of the challenges faced by the agriculture sector (i.e., negative impact of climate change, declining investments in agriculture, increasing demand for healthy and safe food, and inclusion of agriculture in international trade). As such, there is a need to ensure that the agriculture resource base and the environment are conserved, that indigenous knowledge and cultures are valued, and that the farmers/fisherfolks and indigenous peoples' rights are adhered to. These principles will be guided by the following concerns: 

• It should be directed towards improving the quality of life of small farmers/fisherfolks in Mindanao who are living in poverty. It should strive to enhance their capacities thereby improving access and control of resources, enhancing productivity and sustaining profitability.
• The needs of the small farmers/fisherfolk, however, are many and varied. No single organization or line agency of the government can single-handedly respond to their needs effectively. All support organizations and stakeholders, both public and private, should therefore collaborate.
• The participation of the civil society organizations and private sector should be encouraged, supported and institutionalized.
• For those who have already satisfied their food needs and have surplus products, the provision of marketing support especially infrastructure, information, postharvest facilities and logistics should be facilitated for them to reach the consumers both local and international.
• While enhancing support services, the receiving mechanism, that is, the farmer organizations would have to be strengthened. The Agriculture and Fishery Councils, cooperatives, farmer organizations, women associations and other similar groupings should be empowered towards increasing their participation in decision-making processes and effectively engaging the market.

Knowledge and technology generation and utilization should be localized. Academic and research institutions should address local needs of the farmers/fisherfolks. LGUs, government agencies and the academe should invest in these endeavors. Towards this objective, we envision a culture of science and development in Mindanao. 

"Strengthening Capacities of Organizations of the Poor: Experiences in Asia" (SCOPE) Meeting

19-20 February 2007
Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines 

On 19-20 February 2007 a meeting was held in Manila, Philippines among the Project Directors (PDs) of the Sunamganj Community-Based Resource Management Project (SCBRMP) in Bangladesh; the Participatory Integrated Development for Rainfed Areas Project (PIDRA) in Indonesia; the Rural Poverty Reduction Project (RPRP) in Mongolia; and the Northern Mindanao Community Initiatives and Resource Management Project (NMCIREMP) in the Philippines.  These are the five projects being supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and which are covered by the SCOPE Project.

The February meeting in Manila follows on the heels of a SCOPE meeting held on June 24, 2006 among IFAD Country Program Managers (CPMs) and the five PDs, at which the latter presented their respective sustainability plans. A provisional set of sustainability indicators was thereafter drawn up, based largely on recommendations contained in the Review of IFAD Project Experiences in Asia, which was conducted in 2005. These indicators, numbering 32, were categorized and grouped under five general headings, namely: (a) Good Governance; (b) Management; (c) Financial Management, Viability and Sustainability; (d) Service Delivery; and (e) External Relations. A number of general strategies designed to help the five IFAD projects meet the indicators were also proposed.

SCOPE-ENRAP E-Consultation on RPO Sustainability

26 February 2007 to 16 April 2007

ANGOC convened an e-consultation on RPO sustainability from 26 February to 16 April. The e-consultation was supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through its Knowledge Networking for Rural Development for Asia/Pacific Region (ENRAP) Program. Over 300 participants of ENRAP, representing a variety of IFAD partners and institutions involved in IFAD projects, along with international and local government and non-government organizations, participated in this activity. 

The e-consultation identified a number of common problems faced by RPOs in the post-project period, such as: (a) lack of exit/handing over strategies; (b) ill-preparedness of RPOs for the post-project period; (c) lack of follow-up support; (d) an unfavorable policy framework; and (e) the hurdles of scaling up, among others.

The e-consultation also helped to enhance the RPO sustainability framework which had been drafted earlier, at the SCOPE Meeting on 19-20 February 2007.

NGO Forum on the ADB Annual Meeting

9-10 March 2007
Riverbend Hotel, Marikina City, Philippines

More than 60 participants attended the two-day meeting where the members discussed the ongoing Safeguards and Energy Policy update, core labor standards and money laundering, and country and campaign updates, among others. The forum strategized on the network's plans for the upcoming 40th Annual Governors' Meeting of the Asian Development Bank in the first week of May in Kyoto, Japan. 

World Bank Spring Meeting

11-18 April 2007
Washington, D.C., USA 

Among the highlights of the World Bank Spring Meeting was the release of the recommendations made by a High Level Panel to improve accountability among the Board of the International Monetary Fund. 

In light of the many calls for the reform of the IMF, the New Rules for Global Finance Coalition convened a panel with diverse backgrounds to assess how the governance and performance of the IMF could be improved.  

The Panel focused its recommendations on steps that were both feasible in the short-term and promised to contribute to significant change in the accountability of the IMF over the long-term.

Building an Asian People's Agenda on Aid: A Regional Conference on ODA

25-27 July 2007
Quezon City, Philippines 

A Conference on Official Development Assistance (ODA) organized by Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) was participated in by representatives from various organizations in the Asian region that are involved in advocacy for human rights advocacy, agriculture and rural development, debt relief, among others. The meeting resulted in the drafting of the "Quezon City Declaration", which tackled such issues as shortfalls in ODA giving by donor countries, tied aid and other conditionalities, the continuing indebtedness of poorer countries, the use of debt relief as aid, the changing priorities of aid allocations, including for military purposes, and the entry of private foundations in aid-giving.  

The Declaration offered a number of recommendations and action points as follows: 

Debt, Aid and Conditionalities:

• De-link aid and debt.
• Reject conditionalities.
• Conduct audits for debt and ODA by both recipients and donors. This should be done by: (i) national government in consultation with civil society; and (ii) third party auditors.
• Develop mechanisms to regulate aid/aid accessing and lending/borrowing.
• Explore internally driven alternative sources of financing.
• Make grants rather than loans a bigger component of aid packages.

Aid and Gender:

• Study the differential impact of ODA on women and men.
• Develop a comprehensive framework and set of indicators that measure gender justice and women's empowerment.
• Generate decent jobs at home to stem the overseas labor migration of Asian women.
• De-link ODA from fundamentalist politics.

 Aid and the Environment:

• Develop regional mechanisms for collaboration to ensure that Environmental Assessment Laws are promulgated and implemented.
• Build strong civil society coalitions for monitoring and reporting on ODA projects on the environment with emphasis on bilateral ODA, e.g., budget analysis.
• Push for accountability in the use of ODA in resource management.
• Push for ODA for climate change adaptation for relevant Asian countries.

Aid and Education, and Other Basic Social Services, and Poorest Regions:

• Popularize the roadmap to achieve 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) for ODA.
• Prioritize basic education and double aid to basic education.
• Push for increased aid to EFA Fast Track Initiative (FTI) countries to the level of 100 fair share;
• Promote harmonization through active participation in FTI processes at country level.
• Push for increased support for the recurrent costs of education.
• Expand budgetary support and program based approach.
• Align aid with the education sector development plan.
• Support the capacity building of Education for All CSOs.
• Ensure that aid to basic services comes in the form of untied aid.
• Prioritize the poorest regions and populations of the countryh in the economic and infrastructure allocation of ODA.

Aid and Human Rights:

• Ensure the Right to Participation; local NGOs should be involved in all phases of a project, from identification and design, to implementation, as well as evaluation of ODA funded projects and initiatives.
• Ensure more information and dialogue between CSOs and governments.
• Develop mechanisms to build the capacity of governments and CSOs.

A Regional Action Plan on ODA was proposed and would prioritize the following:

• Maximize upcoming international platforms to promote regional advocacy on ODA (e.g., for 2008, the G8 Summit in Japan, and the Financing for Development Review in Doha).
• Strengthen and build alliances with kindred advocates in the South and North.
• Set up a follow-through regional mechanism to move the process forward.

SCOPE Regional Workshop

17-18 September 2007
Bangkok, Thailand 

The SCOPE regional workshop on 17-18 September in Bangkok, Thailand was participated in by representatives from NGOs (including PhilDHRRA, SEARSOLIN, MYRADA), Project Directors of IFAD-supported projects, and by representatives from ANGOC, among others.  

Initially, the participants identified a number of issues and challenges that have constrained efforts to promote the sustainability of RPOs. These issues manifest themselves at three major stages in the project cycle, as follows: 

1. Project Design

• The top-down nature of the processes involved in the design of IFAD projects;
• Disconnect between strategies/policies adopted by IFAD and downstream processes in the project cycle;
• IFAD's inability to go the distance;
• Insufficient budget provisions for the social components of IFAD projects; and
• Governments' lack of appreciation for the need for capacity-building, especially where this is provided by NGOs.

 2. Project Implementation and Capacity Building

• Discontinuity resulting from changes in country program management;
• Lack of direct support from IFAD for capacity-building;
• Lack of government support for RPO sustainability; and
• PDs' discretion over facilitating NGO participation in capacity-building.

 3. Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• Lack of control by IFAD over the implementation of the sustainability/exit strategy;
• Lack of mechanisms to periodically review the project logframe, and lack of flexibility to make appropriate adjustments to project assumptions following such a review; and
• Lack of participatory monitoring and evaluation.

A number of recommendations directed at IFAD, Governments, and CSOs were then put forward to address the abovementioned issues and challenges.  

The major issues and recommendations of this meeting are included in the publication "Insights and Lessons on Strengthening RPOs in Asia: SCOPE Experience."

World Bank-IMF Annual Meeting

14-20 October 2007
Washington, D.C., USA 

The reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remained top of the agenda in the World Bank-IMF Annual Meeting on 14-20 October. The incoming IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn declared that the IMF needs to adapt to a new global economic order and to "downsize or die". 

However, Strauss-Kahn emphasized that in the age of globalization, "we don't need less multilateralism, we need more. We don't need less IMF, we need more IMF."  

Strauss-Kahn admitted that the IMF's sources of funding are drying up and that the IMF was considering selling some of its gold. He said that IMF's priority is to revamp the organization, and to "mend fences" with regions of the world that felt hard done by in past crises.

ANGOC and CANGO among other NGOs participated in the annual meeting and met the Vice Presidents for South Asia and the East-Asia and the Pacific to discuss further how engagement between CSOs and the Bank can improved.

Integrated Peace Missions Meeting

26-27 March 2007
Beijing, China 

ANGOC Executive Director Nathaniel Don Marquez represented the network at this meeting sponsored by the Norwegian Government to help develop integrated approaches to peace building in the Asian region. In the paper presented by Mr. Marquez, he argued that neither socialism nor capitalism has provided an answer to the Region's conflicts, and that globalization has made matters worse. Unless another model for development emerges and takes hold in these countries, he added, one that is just, inclusive, and prioritizes people over profit; one that aspires to redistribute political and economic power; one that is sustainable and does not entail the decimation of the natural environment, there can be no end to conflict in Asia.

Mr. Marquez put forward the following framework for peace-building: Peace and development are two parts of the same cycle. One leads to the other; and the absence of one closes off all roads to the other. There can be no peace without development. Development cannot be sustained in the absence of peace. Therefore, the task of building peace and keeping it should be part of the daily task of bringing development to the poor. It involves a variety of strategies and techniques promoted by Asian NGOs that may not be perceived as part of peace-building but whose cumulative effects create the enabling environment for achieving peace.  

Feel free to send in your comments. Write us at:

Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC)
6A Malumanay St. U.P. Village, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel. (+63-2)4337653-54/ Fax: (+63-2)9217498/ Email: angoc@angoc.ngo.ph

Till next issue.

Sincerely,

Nathaniel Don E. Marquez, ANGOC Executive Director