Best Practices in the Implementation of Livelihood Training Program for Indigenous Peoples

This case study aimed to determine the best practices as well as the challenges and overcoming mechanisms in the implementation of the Livelihood Training Program intended for the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) who enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in the Province of Davao del Norte (PDDN). Using the purposive sampling technique, seven (7) IMs for the Key Informants Interview (KII) and seven (7) DALSCs for the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were identified. A qualitative research instrument was used to capture all relevant data to explore their best practices, identify the challenges, and overcoming strategies. Thematic analysis by Creswell (2009) was employed to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that the best practices in the implementation of the Livelihood Training Program were centered on innovativeness, sustainability, client impact, multiplier effect, and people’s participation which contributed to the general welfare of the community in the provision of livelihood and skills for their eventual employment, be it either in the form of regular wage or self-employment. The lack of financial assistance, minimal intensification of product promotion and marketing means, scarcity of resources and facilities, weak stakeholders’ partnership, minimal people involvement, and absence of monitoring and evaluation tool were among the challenges encountered in the program implementation. To overcome these challenges, strategies were identified as follows: maintaining and sustaining multi-stakeholder partnerships and establishing a creative approach.