With the days dwindling down, and April fast approaching, there’s this mushroom of dread growing within me—with the realization that all this would end at some point. Then it got me thinking about the things that I’ve been doing here, and how much more work I have to do. Here’s a peek at the past and a look ahead…
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind experience as two major events fell in the same week. First, I clocked in a lot of hours in preparation for the Climate Change Action for Local Economic Development Conference (CCA4LED) held at the Heritage Hotel. In my previous posts, I was talking about attending conferences as a participant, but this time, I was on the other side of the fence, involved in the behind-the-scenes as part of the LGA Materials and Development Committee. The team conceptualized the CCA4LED branding and logo, and produced the brochures and materials for the toolkits for the participants. Essentially, we are the “Packaging/Marketing” team, and I must say I wrote quite a bit on this project. It was definitely a learning process to be involved in a large scale conference, from its inception to completion. And speaking of completion, we have yet to develop the materials for the CCA4LED journal. Coming soon!
Then off to Mactan Island, Cebu for the 4th Annual LGSP-LED Workplanning Session. In between scarfing down seafood galore and night swimming by the pool or beach, the interns had to do the very important job of documenting the 3-day sessions. But really, what else do I do here?
…Knowledge Building: Research, documentation and benchmarking of best LED (local economic development) practices
So why benchmark LED? Ultimately, building knowledge on what LED is all about, where it’s practiced, how it’s done is important because this information-sharing allows LGUs to replicate those best practices. So this specific part of my work plan aims to document best LED practices employed across the Asia Pacific Region, with special attention given in the Philippines. The direct output is an inventory of those practices and strategies that may serve as a useful tool/reference for LGA’s Awards and Incentives Program for Local Government Units; the LED curriculum; and LGSP-LED’s website. The research is focused on six areas: organic rice/organic agriculture, green LED, value chain analysis, agri-tourism, and eco-tourism and infrastructure development. I’ve designed a research matrix that compiles all the relevant data in specific regions, including a summary of each of their economic development processes, and how it fits across any of the three windows in the LED framework.
The final report will address or highlight public-private-partnerships to achieve LED. It will also discuss any recommendations for further research. I anticipated in collecting a higher number of case studies to review; however there were limitations, both on the accessibility to online databases and other reference materials; and also on the lack of written information/materials on local economic development. While there are numerous practices of LED across the country, and outside of it, very few have been written about it.
…Knowledge management support to OPAL LED initiative
LGSP-LED, LGA and in partnership with the LGRRC 1 are working together to showcase Pangasinan’s two promising tourism sites: – the Bird Watching program of Bangrin Marine Protected Area of Bani and the Spelunking program of Cacupangan Cave system of Mabini. Culling out the tacit knowledge of tourist guides, residents and government officials and transforming them into various knowledge management products is very important, not simply to generate information, but to use such information to market, promote, and improve these sites, consequently spurring economic development activities, and enhancing collaboration and partnerships with other sectors. In support to KM4LED initiatives and programming, I will be working with both LGSP-LED and LGA in the written and video documentation of those two sites. Our field visit runs from February 7 to 9.
…Knowledge transfer to LGA and LGRCs through video production and content development workshops
I have developed a video production guide/manual for LGA’s use. This guide will be disseminated across Local Government Regional Resource Centers (LGRRCs) in the country, as it will serve as their training manual. I will be conducting a series of training workshops (knowledge café?) on video content development, filming and production techniques with LGA. At the end of the workshops, the participants should be able to conceptualize story ideas and transform them into storyboards; understand visual concepts, framing guidelines and composition; be familiar with the mechanics of the camera and lighting; learn how to effectively write scripts for TV; and obtain interviewing techniques.
OK, the countdown begins!
