In late 2006, Phase 2 of the project was independently reviewed. As a result, an ACIAR review committee, in consultation with AusAID, recommended that the project be extended by two years. The review committee recommended that implementation of a defined Landcare institutionalisation strategy be coupled with continuing community level Landcare activities consistent with the Australian Government’s new Development Assistance Strategy for the Philippines, particularly the emerging Rural and Private Sector Development (RPSD) strategy. It was also recommended that the geographic focus of the project extension be maintained in Mindanao and the Visayas.

The broad aim of the project extension is todeliver sustainable economic benefits for rural communities through application of Landcare processes. For the Philippines, this will be achieved via the following two objectives:

1. Enable the Landcare Foundation of the Philippines Inc (LFPI) to evolve and take on the defined roles and responsibilities for the broader development of Landcare in the Philippines.
2. Implement community-level Landcare activities that will lead to economic growth.

The LFPI was selected as the most appropriate agency to take on the roles and responsibilities of developing Landcare institutionally within the Philippines, based on the assessment of the project review team as well as subsequent analysis and consultation between the project partner agencies and LFPI. Factors supporting this assessment include its status as a formally registered and legal entity, its broad Landcare mission, its experience as an independent Landcare support organisation including sourcing and implementing Landcare projects, its experience with the Landcare Trust Fund, and its broad-based ownership of the Landcare ethos through its member organisations and Board of Trustees (BoT).

1. Analyse existing institutional issues for the development of Philippines Landcare as a precursor to implementing an institutional development plan for LFPI.
2. Implement an institutional development plan for LFPI, including a plan for engagement with National Government Agencies (NGAs).
3. Monitor and evaluate the performance of LFPI in developing Landcare institutionally in the Philippines.
4. Establish a regional/site network of Landcare Coordinators and Facilitators and implement a program of site activities that will lead to economic growth.
5. Monitor and evaluate the economic and other impacts of the site activities.

The project extension will build on the platform of the previous three-year phase (2005-2007), which has had a focus on improving farmer livelihoods in partnership with farmers, local government, scientists and other stakeholders. As a result, it has achieved outcomes and impacts at both the farm and broader community levels, as well as in the area of local governance. It is proposed that these outcomes and impacts will be enhanced through a more targeted (towards economic growth) and consistent approach (drawing upon relevant technical expertise in agroforestry, vegetable production and marketing) across project sites.

The existing project partners, ICRAF, CRS and SEARCA will begin to handover their project responsibilities to the LFPI from the commencement of the project extension, and this devolution will continue over the two year project extension period. However, during this period, the project partners will continue to advise, support and mentor the evolving LFPI through involvement in the institutional development processes, project review workshops and LFPI advisory structures.

The project team for the current two-year phase of the project at its August project planning and orientation meeting in Cagayan de Oro City.