NSFI Supports Local Capacity Building Through Participatory Reviews And Training Workshops For Forest Restoration
Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. (NSFI) recently concluded a series of Project Implementation Reviews (PIRs) and Project Capacity Strengthening Workshops held from May to July 2025, in collaboration with its partner People’s Organizations (POs) for the WATER Reforestation Project. These partner POs—primarily farmers’ associations—serve as the main implementers and stewards of the project, which aims to restore and protect forestlands in watershed and protected areas through community-driven reforestation and agroforestry.
The PIRs provided a platform for NSFI and its partner POs to jointly assess progress, identify challenges early, and realign project strategies. Through open and participatory discussions, partners were able to review key milestones, address implementation gaps, and outline action plans to keep the project on track.
In addition to the PIRs, Project Capacity Strengthening Workshops were conducted to build the knowledge, skills, and systems of the POs. Highlights included sessions on Participatory Risk Management Planning and Contingency Planning, which equipped participants to anticipate and respond to potential risks that could hinder project success.
The workshops also introduced the basic concepts of Partner and Stakeholder Mapping and Resource Mapping, providing POs with practical tools to strengthen their networks and mobilize available resources within their communities and partners. These approaches are designed to promote deeper engagement, optimize local resources, and support the long-term sustainability of their reforestation efforts.
PO members shared that the workshops deepened their understanding of project resilience, documentation strategies, and the importance of proactive planning. Teodoro Rudaje, Chairperson of the Magsaysay Marketing Cooperative—NSFI’s PO partner in the Suawan-Kulafu Sub-watershed in Barangay Magsaysay, Davao City—shared his insights:
“Diha pud namo na-realize nga daghan mi nakalimtan na process (kabahin sa pagpalambo sa among organisasyon). Diha pud mi nakahibalo nga ang disaster, di diay siya natural lang na mahitabo. Kay moabot man gyud (for example) ang typhoon or man-made fires (which are hazards), pero mag-agad gyud na sa atong kahuyang ug kapasidad sa pagpangandam… Sama sa pagpananom, kinahanglan atimanon ang tanom aron makaani og prutas, og makabenepisyo ta sa atong tanom. Daghan mi nakat-onan nga bag-ong stratehiya, sama sa risk management plan, partnership mapping, og partnership engagement plan. Mahimo ni silang importante nga plano nga mabalikan namo para ma-address ang risgo sa project ug mas makapalig-on pa sa among grupo.”
[We realized that there are many processes we overlooked in developing our organization. We also learned that disasters don’t just happen naturally. Typhoons or man-made fires, for example, are hazards—but whether they become disasters depends on our vulnerabilities and our capacity to prepare and respond. Just like in growing the fruit trees, you need to take care of what you have planted if you want to harvest fruits and benefit from your crops. We have learned many new strategies, such as creating a risk management plan, mapping partnerships, and developing a partnership engagement plan. These are important plans we can always go back to in order to address project risks and further strengthen our organization.]
A round of PIRs and workshops was conducted across NSFI’s project sites nationwide, with participation from the following partner POs:
📅 May 21 & July 22–23, 2025 – Alegria, Cebu (Compostela Farmers Association, Guadalupe Farmers Association, Lepantohanong Hugpong sa Kalamboan, and Valencia Inghoy Farmers Association)
📅 June 5–6, 2025 – Davao City (Magsaysay Marketing Cooperative)
📅 June 10–11, 2025 – Opol, Misamis Oriental (Makaluesa CBFM Farmers Association)
📅 July 5–6, 2025 – Siniloan, Laguna (Upland Organic Farmers Association)
📅 July 9–10, 2025 – DRT, Bulacan (Dumagat Tree Growers Association)
The workshops were conducted in close coordination with key partners from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Local Government Units (LGUs). The LGU of Alegria in Cebu was particularly instrumental in providing technical guidance to help POs gradually build the capacity needed to manage their organizations and sustain long-term project commitments. These joint initiatives underscore NSFI’s conviction that strong alliances and empowered local communities are important to realizing lasting environmental outcomes.
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