The IFAD Knowledge and Learning Market (KLM) Sharing in the Philippines is an annual two-day public event organized by IFAD that showcases IFAD projects and accomplishments. It consists of exhibits, workshops, testimonies and cultural performances. Now on its ninth year, the KLM serves as IFAD's central knowledge sharing activity in the Philippines and has evolved from a project showcase to a forum for policy advocacy. The first KLM was held in 2007 building on a knowledge sharing network established in 1987 with IFAD's first project in the Philippines. Through its editions, the KLM has increased visibility of IFAD operations and helped communities promote their work while facilitating networking among participants.

1. The IFAD Knowledge and
Learning Market (KLM)
Sharing in the Philippines
Yolando C. Arban
Country Program Officer
IFAD Country Office- Philippine

2. • An annual, two-day public event that
brings together IFAD stakeholders and the
general public and showcases the
activities, accomplishments and products
of IFAD projects and assisted communities.
• Consists of exhibits, product displays,
interactive workshops, testimonies,
cultural performances, and press
conferences.
• Now on its ninth year, the KLM serves as
the centerpiece activity of IFAD’s
knowledge network in the Philippines. It
has evolved from a mere showcasing of
IFAD projects to a forum for policy
advocacy.
The IFAD KLM

3. History
• The first KLM was held in 2007. But its
seeds were sowed way before then, 10
years before to be exact, with the
implementation of ENRAP.
• In 1987, when the newly established IFAD
Philippine country office presented a
concept note for the holding of a two-day
event that will showcase IFAD projects,
the knowledge sharing network forged by
ENRAP was more than willing to embrace
the concept, which became the KLM.
• The first KLM, held on October 16 to 17 in
Manila’s biggest shopping mall,
introduced IFAD’s projects in the
Philippines. It was a coming out party for
IFAD, so to speak.

4. History • Through eight editions in the
same number of years, the
KLM showcased IFAD’s
presence in the Philippines
through exhibits, presentation
of good practices, and
product demonstrations.
• Two editions of the KLM even
came up with policy
recommendations (KLMs 4
and 8), while one edition was
held outside Manila (KLM 7)
to celebrate the 5th year of
implementation of the
CHARM2 project.

5. KLM “add-ons”
• To engage the stakeholders and
spice up the proceedings, each KLM
was celebrated with traditional
song and dance, contests in
creativity and dramatic statements
of solidarity. Each KLM also had
press conferences to engage the
media.
• As the KLM was pegged as a means
to introduce IFAD to the general
public, the annual event was for the
most part held in shopping malls
and hotels, where “walk-in”
participants were welcomed.

6. KLM through the years
KLM edition Dates Venue Theme
KLM 1 Oct. 16-17, 2007 Megatrade Hall 1,
SM Megamall,
Mandaluyong City,
Metro Manila
Celebrating IFAD Presence
in the Philippines:
Supporting Community
Initiatives to Overcome
Poverty and Powerlessness
KLM 2 Oct. 28-29, 2008 Astoria Plaza Hotel,
Pasig City, Metro Manila
Sustaining Community
Practices for Food Security
KLM 3 Oct. 19-21, 2009 Megatrade Hall,
SM Megamall,
Mandaluyong City,
Metro Manila
Rural Poor Actions Amidst
Crisis
KLM 4
(policy forum)
Oct. 12-13, 2010 Megatrade Hall,
SM Megamall,
Mandaluyong City,
Metro Manila
Shared Resources, Shared
Development
KLM 5 Oct. 19-20, 2011 Bureau of Soils and Water
Management,
Quezon City,
Metro Manila
Gender and Youth:
Innovative Waves in Rural
Development
KLM 6 Nov. 27, 2012 Richmonde Hotel,
Mandaluyong City,
Metro Manila
A Boost to Rural
Productivity
KLM 7 Dec. 2-4, 2013 Crown Legacy Hotel,
Kisad Road,
Baguio City
The “I” of the Cordillera:
Enhancing the region’s
inherent and continuing
pursuit of excellence
KLM 8
(policy forum)
Nov. 24-25, 2014 Bureau of Soils and Water
Management,
Quezon City,
Metro Manila
Strengthening Resilient
Family-Based Agricultural
Enterprises

7. Impact
• The KLM was crucial in
creating wider public
visibility for IFAD operations
in the Philippines, and has
helped nurture a largely
informal knowledge
network of IFAD projects
and partners.
• From a “show and tell”
activity in its early years,
the KLM has emerged as a
policy forum.

8. Impact
• For middle level staff of projects, line agencies and
local government units (LGUs), the KLM helped affirm
their work and helped broaden their awareness of
other issues. A major outcome was social networking –
in meeting the faces behind the names and email
addresses.
• Most importantly, the KLM helped give recognition to
communities, increased their capacity to advertise
themselves, given community leaders confidence in
that they can give direct testimonies of their own
situations and achievements.

9. Success Factors
• IFAD Support
• Support of Projects and Partners (GO,CSOs, FOs)
• Consultative conceptualization and planning
• History of productive engagement among government line
agencies, CSOs and the people’s organizations
• The Filipino penchant for gatherings

10. Challenges
• Funding
• Presentation of best practices – ensuring that
these are indeed “best practices”
• Availability of participants and speakers
• Ensuring that each succeeding KLM is more
engaging than the previous ones

11. Thank you very much!
Maraming salamat po!