Project Information

STARCM was designed as a poverty alleviation vehicle for Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) through the provision or rehabilitation of critical support infrastructure (e.g. roads, bridges, community water systems and welfare as well post-harvest facilities), conduct of trainings to facilitate ARC planning and development and improving access of ARC residents to financial services provided by government and financial institutions. It is also engaged in the agricultural production and enterprise development. The Project is envisaged to increase self-reliance, living standards and quality of life for framing households in fifty ARCs in Central Mindanao. Project components include the following: Institutional Strengthening (IS): conduct of training for implementing partners to help them facilitate ARC level planning, formation and strengthening of peoples' organizations in the management of infrastructure and livelihood sub-project. The training aims to improve the capacity of POs and LGUs in planning, implementing, managing and maintaining development projects; (2) Support infrastructure (SI): construction of rural infrastructure such as feeder roads, bridges, potable water supply systems and community buildings that will better support farmer productivity and social welfare in the targeted ARCs; (3) Agricultural Production and Enterprise Development (APED) - provision of draft animals, cultivation machinery and rice mills, and support to banana and fruit trees plantation which will contribute to an increase in agricultural production and household income through a combination of agricultural diversification, farm mechanization and development of rural enterprises; and (4) Access to Rural Finance - conduct of institutional capacity-building through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and provision of institutional credit to micro-finance institutions (MFIs) serving borrowers in the STARCM-covered ARCs which will improve the access of ARC residents to financial services provided by government and private financial institutions.

- Formulated STARCM's logical framework (log frame) and key performance indicators for drawing from the overall STARCM program log frame
- Designed an effective and efficient M&E system for the sub-projects and their individual components to be used during the implementation of the project
- Developed a monitoring and evaluation manual
- Designed baseline survey (scope, sample size, statistical approach, field questionnaires, etc.), mid-term and final impact survey for all components
- Developed the administrative and the Project's Management Information System.
- Assisted in the development of the rural credit and microfinance component of the project.
- Assessed the design and budget of communal irrigation sub-projects and made recommendations on ways to reduce the time taken between project identification and implementation.
- Validated and assessed technical feasibility and economic viability of Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIPs) proposed for implementation, includes EIA for SWIPs
- Appraised the training provided for officers and members of Irrigators' Associations
- Formulated detailed criteria and guidelines for the delivery of basic health services in the form of an Operations Manual.
- Prepared a trainer's guidebook and trainer's training modules on health sector programme planning and management (in collaboration with PMO staff and partner NGOs).
- Provided technical guidance to the NGO contracted on the conduct of community planning and training activities.