LOS ANGELES, Butuan City – Fundacion CODESPA and Action Against Hunger proposes partnership with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) for the project entitled “Advancing Climate and Disaster Resilience Transformation Project” or ProACT.

ProACT is a 4-year consortium project of Fundacion CODESPA and Action Against Hunger in the areas of Risk Governance, Resilient Livelihoods and Inclusive Business and Public-Private Alliances as its project components. It will be implemented in the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur and Compostella Valley. The implementing organizations are Fundacion CODESPA, an international non-profit organization that helps provide opportunities that alleviates poverty and Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian and development organization that is committed to end world hunger.

As part of its exploratory activities, a meeting and planning with the consortium and the technical staff was held at the ATI-Regional Training Center 13 last April 16, 2019. In his message, Mr. Samuel L. Calonzo, OIC-Center Director of ATI-Regional Training Center 13 gladly welcomed the team and signified willingness to be a partner in this extension endeavor through its farm and business advisory services. Mr. Calonzo emphasized that the proposed undertaking will only be possible with the consent of the ATI Central Office. However, he guaranteed that ATI will readily provide technical assistance in the preparatory activities of the consortium such as selecting extension strategies, module development, and identification of resource persons for the proposed conduct of Climate Field Schools under the Resilient Livelihood component.

Ms. Delilah A. Chua, head of Base of Action Against Hunger sub-office in Tandag City ensured that all stakeholders and proposed partner agencies are well-informed and that series of consultations have been conducted. She added that the consortium is currently crafting the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which is hoped to be finalized before May of this year.

Engr. Matt Andrew Baquiano, Agriculturist II presented the approaches and best practices of the Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) project of the ATI-RTC 13 located in Pinamanculan, Butuan City to serve as guide of the consortium in developing the module and strategies in implementing the project.

Initial agreements during the meeting include: delineation of roles and responsibilities; crafting of MOU; preparation of Training Design and Logical Framework.

ProAct aims to reduce loss of lives, damage to infrastructure and socio-economic assets by building resilient local government units and communities in the most hazard-zone provinces.