Twenty-three project leaders and researchers flocked to Cebu City on April 17, 2017 for a five-day training initiated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Titled as “Outcomes-Based Research Monitoring and Evaluation for Industry Strategic S&T Plans (ISP) as well as programs and projects,” the training aimed to enhance the skills of the participant-stakeholders of the ISPs.
The ISPs describe the targets for each industry within the agriculture, aquatic and natural resources sector, and pinpoint the aspects where S&T can make a difference.
Furthermore, the training aimed to equip the participants with the ability to track and measure the performance of the programs in terms of their interventions and strategies as well as their contributions to outcomes pathways.
Outcomes-based approach enable project implementers to win the support of their stakeholders. Using this, they will be able to show how resources and inputs are delivered and used; how activities are implemented; and how results are achieved from output to outcome and ultimately to impact.
Speaking before the participants, Dr. Juanito T. Batalon, Director of PCAARRD’s Institution and Development Division (IDD), talked on the Council’s capacity building programs as a tool towards invigorating and sustaining the Council’s partnership.
PCAARRD’s IDD coordinated the event as part of its human resource development (HRD) interventions in the National Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Network.
“PCAARRD’s HRD program is being mainstreamed as a potent factor in generating quality research and development outputs for their intended beneficiaries,” Batalon explained.
Prof. Wilfredo B. Carada of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), College of Public Affairs and Development, who is known for his project management expertise, here and abroad, served as the resource speaker.
As part of the training, the participants developed a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan for S&T projects including the forms for the purpose, which they could use in actual activities.
Menandro M. Loresco of UPLB’s Dairy Training and Research Institute, one of the participants, said that the training would be very useful in project implementation and he was eager to share it with his colleagues.
On the other hand, John Xavier B. Nepomuceno of Cavite State University, Naic Campus, said that the training would help them in the implementation of their project, which they had for the first time with PCAARRD.