The Midterm Review Mission of the Project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (Project ConVERGE) notes significant progress following the observations of the supervision and implementation support mission in 2017.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Country Director Alessandro Marini, who leads the mission, cited that despite this progress, the project has to do a lot on transforming agrarian reform beneficiaries and small farmers become entrepreneurs.
Per the mission, the project has to improve also on the strategic use of project grants, achieving the project outreach, outcome monitoring and sharing of practical knowledge, among others.
National Project Director Faisar Mambuay appreciated the remarks of the mission and took the challenge towards a more meaningful project.
“Thank you for taking notice of how we have moved the project in the span of one year. If we have made this fast and this far, altogether we can achieve our objectives”, Mambuay said.
“But while much has moved, there are a lot more that needs to be done in bringing out the best of our farmers and their organizations/towards becoming entrepreneurs”, he added.
Other members of the mission are IFAD Country Programme officer Jerry Pacturan, Yoalndo Arban, Jens Kristensen, Engr. Clovis Ike Payumo, Zidni Marohombsar, Atty. Arthur Tantuan, Gomer Tumabali, and Mark Justine Gatdula of the National Economic and Development Authority.
The mission was also attended by Carmina Marquez of IFAD-Washington DC, Julie Dunskin of IFAD-Rome and IFAD Senior Officer Irene Li.
The two-week mission was held last November 12-26, 2018.
