UPLBFI trains DA-RFO 5 staff on gender and climate change

CAMARINES SUR, Bicol – On 29 March 2023, the last #PurpleWednesday of the National Women’s Month celebration, the UPLBFI team conducted a training workshop on Gender and Climate Change at the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 5 (DA-RFO 5) in San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur.

The activity was participated by the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) program technical staff and representatives of banner programs of DA-RFO 5.

Mr. Sandy Bobier, DA RFO 5 AMIA Program Assistant Coordinator, opened the activity with a message of gratitude towards UPLBFI for its continuous support to the region in developing projects that will cater the needs of the agency and its farmer beneficiaries.

Through a video conference, Ms. Dorcas Trinidad, UPLBFI’s Project Management Specialist, gave an overview of the foundation’s initiatives in the Bicol region including the pioneer gender-related project in six selected AMIA Villages, and expressed her appreciation to the participants of the training workshop.

Mr. Jonathan Austria, UPLBFI’s Junior Gender Specialist, together with Ms. Marteena Kyla Panopio, UPLBFI’s Science Research Assistant, led the one-day training workshop with the theme “Integrating Gender into Planning for Inclusive Climate Change Projects and Programs in Agriculture”.

The participants were trained on various gender-related concepts, tools for gender analysis, and on how to mainstream gender into planning and development of Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) projects and programs.

Also present during the activity were Mr. Lorenzo Alvina, Chief of DA-RFO 5 Integrated Laboraties Division, and Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriguez, Chief of DA-RFO 5 Field Operations Division. They have reiterated that gender is a vital consideration to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.

The training workshop is part of the ongoing UPLBFI-led project titled “Integrating Gender Considerations into the Development of Projects for Vulnerable Sectors in Selected AMIA Villages in the Bicol Region” which will end in June 2023.

by: KJPlopinio and JDCAustria