8. CASE STUDIES OF SECTORAL PROJECTS USING GENDER BEST PRACTICES

E. Coastal Water Resources/Fisheries: Integrated Coastal Resources Management (Philippines)

(NB: To read more about gender, coastal water resources/fisheries and CCA, see Sectoral Module D.)

Project Name:

Integrated Coastal Resources Management (ICRM)

Country:

Philippines

Sector(s):

Coastal Management

Implementing Organizations:

Executing Agency:
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Implementing Agency: Municipal Development Fund Office

Funding Partners:
ADB

Budget (US$):
 33,800,000 (Loan, Grant)

Timeframe:
 2007–2013

Project Objectives:

Enhanced coastal resources and reduced poverty among municipal fisherfolk

Notable Gender-Related Activities and Processes:

  • The ICRM project applied baseline social gender information into a GAP and followed through with commitments for ongoing systematic gender data collection via routine project monitoring, as well as planning for gender-focused studies and gender elements for other types of analytical studies for planning and policy reform.
  • The project applied the same approach to training—using gender-focused trainings and weaving gender elements into technical and managerial trainings.
  • The project set women’s participation targets for both clients and staff.
  • The project recognized women’s economic and governance roles and aimed to improve women’s level of participation in both types of activities.
  • The project tracked employment opportunities for women, as generated through new enterprises.

Notable Gender-Related Results:

  • Project is still under implementation and midterm evaluation is not available publicly.
  • Implementation results are available but do not detail gender outcomes:
  • A total of 352 enterprises have been developed, of which 271 are being implemented. The rest are in various stages of preparation. Livelihood projects consist of abalone/tilapia/
    bangus
     culture, chicken/poultry, hog raising, seaweed farming, and
    bagoong
     making. Some of these have completed the first cycle of production.
  • A total of 54 ecotourism subprojects (reef discovery, forest adventure, river expedition, arts and crafts, and nature village) have been identified with estimated funding of Php9.3 million;21 of these have been established, 17 are undergoing procurement and 22 are awaiting funding.
  • Fourteen subprojects geared to improve the health and social conditions in the coastal communities have been identified, of which 11 are being implemented with one expected to have been completed in April 2013. Procurement of the remaining three subprojects are ongoing. An additional three infrastructure subprojects are expected to be implemented by end of 2013.


Sources:

Asian Development Bank. 2006b. Report and recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors, proposed loan and administration of grant from the Global Environment Facility, Republic of the Philippines: Integrated coastal resources management project. ADB, Manila, the Philippines.
http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/projdocs/2006/33276-PHI-RRP.pdf

———. 2007a. Project administration memorandum. PHI: Integrated coastal resources management. ADB, Manila, the Philippines.

———. 2013b. Project data sheet. Integrated coastal resources management. ADB, Manila, the Philippines.
http://www.adb.org/projects/33276-013/main

Contacts:

Responsible ADB Officer:
Bui Minh Giap


Government of the Philippines:
Analiza Teh (Attorney, Assistant Secretary, Project Management Unit/FASPO, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City;Phone: (632) 926-8074

1. Introduction

The coastal and marine resources of the Philippines are under severe threat due to human actions and climate change. Owing to their biodiversity and economic value, these resources are of national and global importance. The stresses on coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass, and other important coastal habitats have resulted in a decrease in the production of coastal fisheries. Poor fisherfolk are already living in poverty, and their livelihoods are affected by this resource depletion.

Coastal women in the Philippines are extensively involved in both the collection and marketing of fish and other aquatic products as well as in both subsistence and commercial activities. However, they are not well represented in coastal resources management, or in training, meetings, and other related activities (ADB 2006b).

In response to diminishing fisheries and biodiversity destruction, the Government of the Philippines has implemented a number of coastal resources management projects since the mid-1980s. Most were technical assistance projects from multilateral and bilateral agencies. Others were part of major investment and policy initiatives in the sector. Most of the emphasis was on marine protected areas. However, there were positive biophysical, local governance, law enforcement, and attitudinal changes among local officials and coastal communities on the need for conservation and protection of coastal ecosystems (ADB 2013b). Building on the experience of past programs, the proposed ICRM project was designed to help the government adopt a holistic approach to coastal resources management to reduce pressure on coastal resources. Activities integrated terrestrial and coastal environments for coastal zone planning, addressed the policy and institutional framework, developed local government capacity, and diversified and increased income for coastal households in 80 municipalities in seven priority marine biodiversity corridors in the provinces of Cagayan, Cebu, Davao Oriental, Masbate, Romblon, Siquijor, and Zambales (ibid.). The project aimed to maximize impacts on women, as well as their impacts on coastal resources management.

The project's four components (ADB 2013b) were:

  • Component A: Policy and Institutional Strengthening and Development
  • Component B: Integrated Coastal Resources Management and Biodiversity Conservation
  • Component C: Enterprise Development and Income Diversification
  • Component D: Social and Environmental Services and Facilities.

2. Summary of Project

General description of proposal preparation

The project preparation and design process included a stakeholder analysis. The stakeholders identified as additional stakeholders coastal communities, fisherfolk, civil societies, municipal and provincial governments, and national government sector agencies (ADB 2006b).

Socioeconomic surveys were conducted in the potential project areas. These coastal communities were characterized by a much higher rate of poverty (76 percent) than in inland areas within the same provinces (42 percent) or nationwide (34 percent). These areas have limited social infrastructure. Nearly three quarters of the households lack household toilets, access to potable water is unreliable, and there is poor community management of solid waste (ibid.).

The socioeconomic surveys included gender-related information. Women in coastal communities were more disadvantaged compared with their male counterparts. The prevailing gender division of labor, together with traditional practices in coastal communities, hindered women’s access and control of community resources. There were few opportunities to use or improve their coastal management skills or tap into the potential for coastal fisheries development and resource management. Women’s contribution to the household and community services remained largely under-valued (ibid.).

Gender integration during project design/formulation and proposal preparation

A GAP was part of the covenants in the loan agreement with the ADB. The Government of the Philippines committed itself to fully implementing the GAP in a timely manner and with adequate resources and gender-related reporting. The GAP promoted women’s participation in, and equal benefit distribution from, project activities (ADB 2006b). Measures included:

  • Collecting gender-disaggregated data via household socioeconomic studies as well as other types of studies for biodiversity and related ICRM research and policy and legal studies
  • Integrating gender analysis into the municipal ICRM planning and M&E
  • Capacity building for government staff via national and municipal gender sensitization training
  • Capacity building for community members with a gender and development orientation
  • Including women as a major stakeholder for the enterprise development and income diversification component of the project under Component C
  • Ensuring women’s membership in self-reliant groups and involvement in the identification, establishment, and demonstration of viable enterprises and livelihood activities
  • Including women as primary stakeholders in the identification, planning, construction, and O&M of social and environmental infrastructure and facilities under Component D.

Participatory approaches for the collection of baseline data and livelihood projects were used and included inputs from men and women in the affected communities (ADB 2013b).

Gender integration during project implementation
(Source: ADB 2006b)

  • Activities to improve women’s livelihoods: The project worked through women’s groups to build capacities related to livelihoods. It included women as role models for demonstration enterprises.
  • Activities to improve women’s participation in coastal resources management planning and plan implementation, as community members and professionals: The project engaged women’s interest groups in consultations on ICRM policy issues. It designed information, education, and communication campaigns tailored to include women’s roles in ICRM. It increased the numbers of women members on marine protected area boards. Enforcement and technical trainings included aspects related to gender. There were also activities to increase women’s roles in the maintenance of social and environmental infrastructure. More women staff were recruited for the executing agency (DENR).
  • Activities to sensitize project implementers: The project integrated gender issues and skills into ICRM and biodiversity training for staff.
  • Activities to track gender-disaggregated data on men’s and women’s participation in all stages of ICRM development. The project performance management system was established at national and regional DENR operations. It monitored the level and adequacy of participation of various stakeholders in planning and implementing project activities, collection of gender-disaggregated data in benchmark surveys and policy and legal studies, and monitoring of the project’s socioeconomic impacts (ADB 2007a):
  • For membership of ICRM and marine-protected area planning bodies, staff and client training participants, and self-reliant group membership and leadership, and incremental staff recruitment for the project, the project set minimum targets of 33 percent.
  • For indicators focused on new enterprises, the project added a minimum target of at least 30 percent women who would obtain the supplemental employment opportunities.
  • For indicators focused on information, education, and communication campaigns, the project targeted a minimum of 33 percent women among the audience of health workers and 25,000 community members in 68 municipalities.

Key gender-related results

  • Project is still under implementation and midterm evaluation is not available publicly.
  • Implementation results are available (ADB 2013b) but do not detail gender outcomes:
  • A total of 352 enterprises have been developed, of which 271 are being implemented. The rest are in various stages of preparation. Livelihood projects consist of abalone/tilapia/
    bangus
    culture, chicken/poultry, hog raising, seaweed farming, and
    bagoong
     making. Some of these have completed the first cycle of production.
  • A total of 54 ecotourism subprojects (reef discovery, forest adventure, river expedition, arts and crafts, and nature village) have been identified with estimated funding of Php9.3 million;21 of these have been established, 17 are undergoing procurement and 22 are awaiting funding.
  • Fourteen subprojects geared to improve the health and social conditions in the coastal communities have been identified, of which 11 are being implemented and one is expected to have been completed in April 2013. Procurement of the remaining three subprojects are ongoing. An additional three infrastructure subprojects are expected to be implemented by end of 2013.

3. Conclusion

Strengths

  • ICRM projects are a common priority for CCA country strategies and funding proposals.
  • The ICRM project applied baseline social gender information into a GAP and followed through with commitments for ongoing systematic gender data collection via routine project monitoring, as well as planning for gender-focused studies and gender elements for other types of analytical studies for planning and policy reform.
  • The project applied the same approach to training—using gender-focused trainings and weaving gender elements into technical and managerial trainings.
  • The project set women’s participation targets for both clients and staff.
  • The project recognized women’s economic and governance roles and aimed to improve their level of participation in both types of activities.
  • The project also tracked employment opportunities for women, as generated through new enterprises.

Lessons learned and missed opportunities

  • Gender-related outcomes and impacts were not discussed in implementation reports online.