Project Ideas

During the past three weeks or so, I have been in the company of friends trying to find new project ideas which we can reflect on and if we have the time, probably convert into full-blown project documents or proposals for submission to government or external donors.

Some of these ideas are as follows:

• Establishing a Center for Agribusiness and Community Development or, perhaps, converting the present Center for Agriculture and Sustainable Agriculture into one. This will focus community development in the agriculture sector in making farmers entrepreneurs. Three kinds of courses can be developed: an orientation course to introduce farmers to have an idea of how agribusiness can benefit them as and their families; a certificate course for out-of-school youth to enable them to appreciate agribusiness and prepare them for engagement in agricultural enterprises; and a diploma or undergraduate course on agribusiness.
• An  action research on the current distribution of poverty reduction projects, their coverage in terms of localities and households; the services rendered; and an assessment of their effectiveness in providing services and/or providing livelihood assistance to the poorest of the poor. 
• Establishing an ABCD (Asset Based Community Development) Institute either as stand-alone institution as private sector initiative or an undertaking between the provincial government and other stakeholders. It can also be hosted by one of the academic institution. The Institute can serve as hub for PO, NGOs and LGUs involved in projects using the ABCD approach. If successful, the Institute can open its doors to course participants outside Bohol from projects which can benefit from the unique approach. 
• Conduct of case studies on the unique experiences of carrying out the ABCD approach. 
• An inventory of outstanding local initiatives such as the 17-hectare farm of Bern Karaan of Bilar which applies a unique technology to grow cacao, coconut and bananas. Case studies on these initiatives can provide valuable materials for teaching business and agriculture. 
• A study of NGOs and see what have changed in their orientation and what is regarded as their future as perceived by current leaders. 
• Application of new technologies to solve the water problem in small islands. Hilmy, our guest from Maldives discussed with the people from Pamilacan how a simple technology in South Asia has solved the problem of water scarcity.
• In-depth study of microfinance projects in the province to compare experiences and involve stakeholders in an assessment activity to find gather specific experiences for analysis on what work and what don't work in these projects.

These ideas can be given more details in the coming days to fully develop them as project proposal which can be submitted to national and regional agencies and external donors for support.  The Provincial Government can also take the lead in further studying the project ideas and assigning a task force to develop each project idea found feasible and with potential for support by LGUs and the local communities.