B+WISER CY 2018 Annual Report (FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT)

The Program's technical assistance and service contract was awarded to Chemonics International, Inc. on 28 December 2012. The B+WISER Program broadly contributed to the Government of the Philippines-U.S. Partnership for Growth and USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy for the Philippines by focusing on inclusive and broad-based economic growth and sustainable ecosystem services. The Program contributed to the development objectives included in Chapter 10 of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016. In addition, the program was envisioned to contribute to the development objectives set in the new 2017-2022 PDP. More specifically, the Program contributed to the expected outcomes described in Chapter 20 of the new PDP, "Ensuring Ecological Integrity, Clean and Healthy Environment." The Program's performance indicators and targets were aligned with the DENR Major Final Outputs. In September 2016, USAID approved a costed expansion of program activities to support the scale-up and national rollout of the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System (Lawin) expanding the Program geographic scope to all 16 DENR regions in the Philippines. Thereafter, the Program made inroads to institutionalize Lawin within the DENR at the local, regional, and national levels. Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) Connect, a new web-based platform, was introduced to allow for data aggregation and ease of reporting and data visualization, supporting data-driven decision making within DENR. In July 2017, the administration of the system was transferred to the DENR where a national Lawin Unit was established within the Forest Management Bureau (FMB). In November 2017, USAID approved a one-year extension of the Program to further support the institutionalization of Lawin within the DENR, fostering sustained implementation beyond the Program life of project (LOP). The Program's strategic approaches included enhancement of natural resources management plans, capacity development, policy and governance, conservation financing and partnerships, technology development, information, education, and communication, and cross-cutting and other activities. The Program's performance targets and achievements are outlined in the following sections. The Program made significant progress in enhancing natural resources management plans, with a focus on the development of Forest Conservation Area Plans (FCAPs) and Forest Land Use Plans (FLUPs). The Program also supported the development of the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) and the Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF). In terms of capacity development, the Program provided training and technical assistance to DENR personnel, local government units, and other stakeholders. The Program also supported the development of a national biodiversity monitoring system and the implementation of the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System. The Program's policy and governance efforts focused on the development of policies and guidelines for the conservation and management of natural resources. The Program also supported the establishment of a national biodiversity council and the development of a national biodiversity strategy. In terms of conservation financing and partnerships, the Program supported the development of a national payment for ecosystem services (PES) program and the establishment of partnerships with local government units, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. The Program's technology development efforts focused on the development of a spatial monitoring and reporting tool (SMART) and the implementation of a web-based platform for data aggregation and reporting. The Program also supported the development of a national biodiversity monitoring system and the implementation of the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System. The Program's information, education, and communication efforts focused on the development of a national biodiversity awareness campaign and the implementation of a community-based biodiversity monitoring program. The Program also supported the development of a national biodiversity strategy and the establishment of a national biodiversity council. The Program's cross-cutting and other activities included support for the development of a national forest management plan, the implementation of a forest conservation area plan, and the establishment of a national biodiversity monitoring system. The Program also supported the development of a national payment for ecosystem services (PES) program and the establishment of partnerships with local government units, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Overall, the B+WISER Program made significant progress in achieving its performance targets and contributing to the development objectives of the Government of the Philippines and the USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy for the Philippines.