Strengthening Household Nutrition and Food Security in Palawan
Noried Jean Sobron, Karen Madarcos, Lota Creencia, Lutgardo Alcantara
In this fast-changing world, inadequate food nutrition and food insecurity persist as prevalent problems in most countries, including the Philippines – a country with rich natural resources yet still grappling with these issues. To provide holistic insight, the NIHR Global CFaH Philippines gathered baseline data on dietary diversity and quality, food sourcing, and agroecological approaches to community food production (CFP) in selected municipalities in Palawan. The initial results demand a bespoke intervention to bridge the gaps in CFP.
As part of the Work Package 3 plan, stakeholders from various community sectors were invited to participate in a Group Model Building (GMB) Workshop on October 11 and 12, 2024. The workshop aimed to identify and map the challenges contributing to inadequate household nutrition and food security. This was achieved by creating causal loop diagrams (CLDs) based on stakeholder suggestions.
Following the workshop, a symposium took place on October 14, 2024. Students from Puerto Princesa and Aborlan schools in Palawan, Philippines, attended this event. The symposium allowed experts, stakeholders, and participants to share insights, experiences, research findings, and best practices. The goal was to advance understanding and collaboration in global community food production, household nutrition, and planetary health within the Philippine context.
The Group Model Building Workshop
The GMB Workshop started with stakeholders introducing themselves, which helped build connections. They then engaged in discussions and activities to identify important factors affecting the local food system. These discussions resulted in the creation of causal-loop diagrams (CLDs), which allowed participants to visually map the complex relationships among the factors contributing to inadequate household nutrition and food insecurity and its consequences. In the afternoon, stakeholders continued working on their CLDs, merging similar causes and effects, exploring their interconnections, and refining the structure to make it easy to understand. They highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach that considers economic, social, psychological, and environmental aspects for sustainable solutions. By the end of Day 1, the stakeholders identified three key intervention areas from their diagrams. The group compared their CLDs, discussed differences, and facilitators highlighted commonalities. Major differences were discussed with the whole group to work towards a unified vision of the food system's role in inadequate household nutrition and food insecurity. Facilitators then created a harmonized model, establishing a unified structure to identify factors influencing inadequate household nutrition and food insecurity.
On Day 2, the unified systems model was presented to the stakeholders. The Global CFaH team guided the participants in evaluating the potential impact of each proposed intervention, considering factors such as local needs, resource availability, and stakeholder involvement. The priority interventions were refined and finalized based on the discussion, ensuring their alignment with the referenced problem. The day concluded with presentations of the selected interventions, feedback sessions to fine-tune the strategies, and a wrap-up discussion to ensure that the final proposals were both realistic and impactful.
Throughout both days, interactive activities such as real-time polling, group discussions, and feedback loops were incorporated to maintain participant engagement and ensure that the workshop outcomes were grounded in community knowledge and perspectives. The diversity of the group and their expertise helped map the problems, their causes, their effects, and possible solutions. Participants collaborated for one cause: to solve inadequate household nutrition and food insecurity.
The NIHR Global CFaH - Philippines Symposium
Students from various schools in Puerto Princesa and Aborlan were invited to participate in a symposium to raise awareness on critical issues relating to community food production and consumption affecting communities based on data collected from Palawan. The day began with interactive games, quiz bees, and spoken poetry about health and local food production. These energized the participants, showcased talents, and fostered collaboration. The friendly competition developed student camaraderie and enhanced their collaboration and teamwork.
During the afternoon session, the students gathered for discussions about the current state of food security and nutrition in Palawan. Prof. Nigel Unwin, from the University of Exeter and the University of Cambridge in the UK, emphasized the need for interdisciplinary strategies to tackle these pressing issues along with climate change, among others. Engr. Lutgardo Alcantara, the Project Manager of Global CFaH-Philippines, also presented the initial findings and the project's current progress, including the community-based interventions and the challenges faced in ensuring food access and sustainable agricultural practices. Ms. Melissa Theodora Macasaet, the Agriculturist of the City Government of Puerto Princesa, also shared information about the CGPP’s efforts to support small-scale farmers and improve local food production. Dr. Romeo Cabungcal, the Agriculturist of the Provincial Government of Palawan, discussed the FAITH (Food Always In The Home) initiative, which promotes household-level food security through sustainable practices. Lastly, Dr. Eunice P. Herrera, a rural health physician, provided an overview of nutritional strategies implemented at national and local scales, focusing on improving health outcomes in underserved communities.
After the presentations, an open forum allowed participants to engage directly with the speakers, raising questions and sharing ideas on enhancing food system resilience and sustainability. The session facilitated a rich exchange of perspectives, highlighting the value of multi-stakeholder collaboration. To conclude the event, Dr. Lota Creencia led a reflective session to share future directions and commitments for advancing the goals of the Global CFaH initiative, laying the groundwork for continued efforts toward sustainable food production and enhanced community health in the Philippines. She also commended the active participation and expressed optimism for ongoing partnerships.
Looking Ahead: The Path to Sustainable Household Nutrition and Food Security
The successful completion of the Group Model Building (GMB) workshop and the symposium is one of many initiatives in tackling food insecurity and inadequate household nutrition in Palawan. These initiatives have set in motion a process of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and community engagement, demonstrating the power of multi-stakeholder involvement in creating meaningful change. By using innovative systems models like causal-loop diagrams (CLDs), the Global CFaH Philippines has helped participants visualize the complex relationships within the food system, from economic constraints to environmental challenges, and identified sustainable interventions tailored to local situations.
One of the key takeaways from the symposium was the recognition of the KADIWA project, praised by the City Agriculturist as a model for transforming local food systems. This initiative has empowered local farmers, by equipping them with the tools, resources, and opportunities to evolve into "AgriPreneurs" (agricultural entrepreneurs). Through direct sales to consumers—facilitated by the local government purchasing their produce—farmers can bypass middleman, increasing their profit margins and financial independence. By fostering direct trade, KADIWA ensures consumers access fresh, nutritious produce and strengthening community-level food security.
Yet, the success of KADIWA is just one piece of a broader effort. The Global CFaH Philippines is dedicated to creating a model that can help address the causes of inadequate household nutrition and food insecurity. Through the continued promotion of sustainable agricultural practices and capacity-building initiatives for small-scale farmers, the organization aims to foster long-term resilience within communities. The goal is to not only boost food production but also to create a more equitable and inclusive food system where everyone has access to nutritious food.
In this context, sustainability is at the heart of the initiative. The Global CFaH Philippines recognizes that addressing inadequate household nutrition and food insecurity requires a holistic approach that goes beyond short-term interventions. For lasting change, it is essential to enhance agroecological knowledge and promote socio-economic inclusivity. By fostering collaborations between local governments, community-based organizations, and private sector stakeholders, the Global CFaH Philippines is ensuring that solutions are grounded in local knowledge while remaining adaptable to global challenges.
Through continued collaboration across sectors—from government to local farmers to academic institutions—the Global CFaH Philippines is paving the way for systemic change that addresses both the immediate needs and the long-term sustainability of the food system in Palawan and beyond.
