The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) joined forces in 2019, leveraging a combined 65 years’ experience in research on the role of forests and trees in solving critical global challenges.
The world stopped when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. With continuing restrictions on mobility, how can development projects monitor progress or lack of it?
It might seem that the world has been preparing for the likely loss of movement between localities brought about the wave of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the 1980s, data-collection software has been addressing the limitations of paper-based surveys. With continuous innovation, remote data collection, even in the absence of an internet connection, has become possible. Features such as geopoints determination and photo and video capture have been integrated. Quality control and real-time validation can also be placed throughout a questionnaire to minimize data entry errors. Moreover, data does not need to be transcribed by humans to computers; analyses can proceed faster.
Even better, data collection software can be installed in ‘smart’ gadgets. The opportunity presented by offline-and-online monitoring apps is already being tapped by different agencies in the Philippines. For example, the Department of Agriculture launched the Philippine Rice Information System in 2013, which collects nationwide data on area planted, yield estimates, planting dates, and extent of area affected by extreme weather. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has LAWIN, a community-based forest and biodiversity protection system that collects data on forest condition, threats and wildlife.
Community-based monitoring
However, time-bound projects like the Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project (INREMP) of DENR, to which World Agroforestry (ICRAF) is providing technical assistance, do not rely solely on such data-collection software. Data still need to be collected face-to-face using paper and pencils by field staff working with upland farmers. Unfortunately, this vital practice has been restricted because field staff have been stopped from visiting farmers because of lockdowns.
In this regard, offline–online monitoring is a viable alternative. But how will it be run? The answer is participatory or community-based monitoring. In this approach, a farmer collects data related to their farm and livelihood — including indicators such as tree survival and growth rates, pests and diseases, household incomes and their personal insights — within a specified period. These data are input by the farmer to the app and sent to the monitoring officer of the project or Government agency. The monitoring officer interprets the data and provides recommendations.
ICRAF’s experience in data collection in the uplands
ICRAF Philippines is in the initial stage of using the technology at its demonstration sites. The free, open-source app, KoBoToolBox is being deployed. It was developed by Harvard Humanitarian Initiative specifically for difficult settings, such as humanitarian emergencies and post-conflict environments.
Field staff use KoBoToolBox on their handheld devices to collect baseline biophysical and socioeconomic information from farmers, as well as for monitoring monthly progress of farms and livelihoods. It is also used to collect highlights, such as gender-disaggregated data and challenges experienced when conducting training.
As noted by field staff, there are benefits and limitations in using the tool.
‘It’s helpful in gathering data because the form is concise,’ said Marichelle Nabol, ICRAF’s field assistant in Apayao. ‘It is also convenient since instead of bringing pens and paper, we just bring the tablet.’
As for the monitoring officer, they have found it particularly useful when creating progress reports. For example, it is easier to visualize the extent of adoption (area, number of farmers and challenges on farm before adoption of the sustainable land-use system) of the commercial forestry investment sub-projects run by ICRAF.
However, this kind of monitoring still has its limits. According to ICRAF field staff, record-keeping of any sort is already a difficult task for most farmers, who usually only note highlights and only when facing a serious shortfall or when surpassing average harvests. Also, adult illiteracy is still prevalent in some upland communities and farmers may need the assistance of their children to record progress. Hence, moving to an electronic format might be particularly challenging. ICRAF scientists and DENR staff should continuously encourage farmers to appreciate the purpose of monitoring their farm and livelihood. Field staff and members of households and people’s organizations should also be supported in this.
It is also important to note that a large percentage of the upland communities in the Philippines still have limited access to the internet.
While the use of online–offline data-collection tools will not 100% address the challenges of data monitoring in the ‘new normal’, it can pave the way for revolutionizing monitoring and evaluation by development projects.
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Case DD. 1990. The community’s toolbox: the idea, methods and tools for participatory assessment, monitoring and evaluation in community forestry. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Danielsen F, Burgess ND, Balmford A, Donald PF, Funder M, Jones JPG, Alviola P, Balete DS, Blomley T, Brashares J, Child B, Enghoff M, Fjeldså J, Holt S, Hübertz H, Jensen AE, Jensen PM, Massao J, Mendoza MM, Ngaga Y, Poulsen MK, Rueda R, Sam M, Skielboe T, Stuart-Hill G, Topp-Jørgensen E, Yonten D. 2009. Local participation in natural resource monitoring: a characterization of approaches. Conservation Biology 23(1):31–42.
World Agroforestry (ICRAF) is a centre of scientific and development excellence that harnesses the benefits of trees for people and the environment. Knowledge produced by ICRAF enables governments, development agencies and farmers to utilize the power of trees to make farming and livelihoods more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable at multiple scales. ICRAF is one of the 15 members of the CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. We thank all donors who support research in development through their contributions to the CGIAR Fund.