Two project proposals submitted by MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology in partnership with the Southern Philippine Research & Extension Foundation have been selected as among 7 Philippine Finalists in the World Bank Development of the Marketplace Global Competition for 2008 with the theme “Development of Sustainable Agriculture”.
This was learned from Director Alongan A. Mangorsi of the Department of Extension who said out of 1,768 entries submitted to the World Bank by 114 countries, 100 entries from 42 countries were selected as finalists with nine countries besting others as follows:
| Country | Number of Entries |
|---|---|
| 1. India | 10 |
| 2. Kenya | 8 |
| 3. Philippines | 7 |
| 4. Brazil | 5 |
| 5. Ecuador | 4 |
| 6. Ghana | 4 |
| 7. Nepal | 4 |
| 8. Tanzania | 4 |
| 9. Vietnam | 4 |
| Total | 50 |
The Development of the Marketplace (DM) is a competitive grant program of the World Bank that identifies and funds innovative and early stage projects with high potentials for development impact. It attracts ideas from a range of innovators including civil society organizations, social entrepreneurs, academia and businesses. Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other partners, the competition is seeking innovations in three sub-themes: 1) linking small-scale farmers to input-output markets, 2) improving land access and tenure for the poor, and 3) promoting the environmental services of agriculture in addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation.
All finalists are invited to the World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C. in September 22-26, 2008 to present their ideas to a distinguished jury composed of 40 senior level international development experts and vie for grants at the DM2008 Marketplace event. They will also participate in a series of knowledge exchange sessions and workshops aimed at strengthening their capacity to implement their proposed project idea. By the end of the Marketplace, 20 or more projects will be declared winners.
The 7 Philippines’ finalists are the following:
7 DM 2008 Philippine Finalists
| Entry No. | Project Title | Proponent |
|---|---|---|
| 4948 | Harvesting the Full Value of Coconut Water: Linking Farmers and Street Vendors in Northern Mindanao | MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology/MIND-BIOS |
| 5226 | Biofuel and mangrove-Friendly Aquaculture Production system for Coastal Rehabilitation and Development in the Philippines | Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau |
| 5463 | Improving Farm Tenure for Seaweed Production in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi | ISFI-Ateneo del Davao University |
| 6167 | Linking Indigenous Food-Makers to Export Markets (LIFEMART): Phase 1 Meranao Heritage Recipes | SOPREX Foundation/MSU-IIT |
| 6473 | Mobile Meat Processing and Training Center: Bringing Knowledge, Technology and Market Right at the Doorstep of Poor and Marginalized Livestock Raisers | University of the Philippines at Los Banos |
| 6566 | Community-Based Aquaculture: Addressing the Issues of Food Security, Poverty Alleviation and Conservation Through Small-Scale Farming of High Value but Overexploited Fisheries Resources | Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC-AQD) |
| 6837 | Treasures in Wastes: Producing Fuel Blocks from Discarded Duck Beddings | University of the Philippines at Los Banos |
The two project proposals submitted by MSU-IIT and SOPREX have a combined DM Funding request of approximately P17M. By September 2008, Chancellor Marcelo P. Salazar, Director Alongan A. Mangorsi, Prof. Rosello C. Macansantos and Dr. Esperanza L. Macansantos will be leaving for USA to make the project presentation.
Topics : contest world bank development of the marketplace global competition southern philippine research & extension foundation