The Value Chain Innovation for Sustainable Transformation in Agrarian Reform Communities (VISTA) Project is a joint mission between the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the government of the Philippines through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) with support and participation from different executive agencies. 

In the recently concluded VISTA Project Design Mission last February 28 to March 12, 2023, IFAD with the support of the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO) and the DAR Regional Office (DARRO) of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Offices (DARPO) of Benguet, Mt. Province, and Abra, and the DARRO of SOCCSKARGEN (Region XII) with their DARPO in South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani, conducted data gathering and interviews of target participants namely the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and Agrarian Reform Clusters (ARCs), and smallholder farmers and cooperatives, more specifically with coffee and cacao producers. 

The team had consultations with different government agencies mainly with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP). In addition, the IFAD consultants had meetings with private sectors, academe, microfinance investors (MFIs), and the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working with our ARBs. All of these have better understanding of the processes the ARBs and ARCs undertake in producing their goods and delivering them to their market, and how value chain and natural resources management can help alleviate poverty in ARC areas.