Fifty-three fisherfolk associations (FA) in Caraga Region have completed social preparation activities to empower marginalized fisherfolks through series of meetings and trainings, including needs assessments, in order to ensure that fisherfolk beneficiaries were prepared to accept and manage their livelihood sub-projects that they will be receiving from the DA-BFAR SAAD Phase II.
To recall, only two (2) out of the five (5) provinces of Caraga region were covered under the implementation of DA-BFAR SAAD Program Phase I in 2019–2021, which consisted of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. In its second phase, all five (5) provinces in the region are included, covering thirty-six (36) municipalities as program beneficiaries.
Accomplished through document analysis, interviews, and site validation, the BNA strives to collect fundamental data from the beneficiaries necessary to match present and future goals for the particular FAs. The outcomes of the BNA approach will serve as a starting point for program implementers as they develop the appropriate next steps for the food production and livelihood component of the SAAD project, including the marketing assistance and enterprise development component, which aims to progress fisherfolk producers as community-based enterprises (CBE).
After the ‘socprep’, FAs will undergo specialized training to improve their knowledge on fundamental management skills relative to the projects that will be given to them. Additionally, some Provincial Fisheries Offices, which completed their ‘socprep’ early, have already conducted trainings to some FAs, while others are still currently on-going.