If we are ever going to solve the problems of hunger and poverty, it must be through innovative solutions. These solutions include strategic combinations and applications of multiple technologies, along with research and education to create true unprecedented results. 

But first, we must look within to discover the root causes of poverty, combined with pressing concerns that meet basic human needs, so we can design effective methods for positive change and inclusive economic growth. On the one hand we are presented with the challenges ahead; but on the other, it creates vast opportunities.

Ultimately, the disenfranchised peoples of the world must be empowered in order to build a peaceful, productive, prosperous future for themselves and their families. The challenges of humanity are daunting, but if enough brilliant people can converge to create conversations and collaboration for change, there is great hope for the future. This is the vision of Global Action Platform and Indigi.

Indigi brings responsible companies, institutions, and investors together into emerging markets for sustainable development. We bring the world’s best technologies and innovations to maximize significant economic impact linked with positive social, environmental, and governance benefits to empower millions of indigenous people; thus creating community models for scalable, sustainable shared value solutions and development, starting with the Philippines.

In 2015, at the Global Action Summit, the Caraga Initiative was launched to begin constructing a balanced model of economic, educational, social, and environmental development intended to benefit millions of indigenous peoples on 500,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) of land. 

ANALYSIS

Years of observation and experience compared with data from various government and developmental agencies reveals root causes of the poverty, malnutrition, illegal logging and mining, and social decay in the indigenous Caraga areas.

• Over the past 100 years, 97% Of the primary Forests in the Philippines have been denuded, destroying the biodiversity in the Caraga Region. resulting change in climate and rainfall has cut the three annual planting cycles for rice and Corn down to Which in turn has doubled the rate of poverty and malnutrition.
• The indigenous peoples of Mindanao have traditionally burned the forests to plant upland rice and cassava, and do not have a deep knowledge of agricultural practices. During the last few years, their rice harvests have decreased due to insects that they do not know how to control. This has led to a further increase in malnutrition and poverty.
• Timber companies that previously worked in the Caraga region taught the indigenous peoples how to cut down their trees. Even though it is now illegal to cut mahogany and other precious trees from the primary forests, the indigenous people continue this practice and sell them to unscrupulous traders so they can buy food for their families in the mountains to survive.
• The Caraga Region is comprised of contiguous tracks of land owned by the indigenous peoples. The soil on this land is incredibly rich, as well as filled with valuable raw materials, but the people don't know how to develop it, nor do they understand the intrinsic value of what they've been blessed with in Caraga.
• The indigenous people of Caraga have asked Indigi to facilitate their training and create sustainable development of their land. This work has been advanced with a major grant from Rotary International.

COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Our highly qualified Caraga team, in cooperation With the DENR, is gathering data from every major agency in the Philippines, in addition to international sources, to create a land development master plan for indigenous areas that comprise the 1.2 million acres. To create this comprehensive development plan, we must integrate data in relation to topography of the land, soil mapping, weather and rainfall statistics, irrigation, minerals, health, education, infrastructure, population, and more. 

DEVELOPING A PARTNERSHIP WITH PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

The government in the Philippines is committed to assisting development in indigenous area. They support  our efforts in Caraga as a priority, and the future of development in the Philippines. Because of this, it has enabled our group to develop close partnerships with key government agencies that must approve and monitor investable projects in the Philippines. The government has even expressed interest in creating joint ventures and PPP’s (Public Private Partnerships) to provide greater security to corporate partners and investors. 

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PLANNING FOR INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS

Indigi has worked with indigenous peoples to allocate specific sections of land for particular crops. We're currently working with several partners, domestic and abroad, to develop comprehensive planning for larger scale agricultural projects featuring:

• Abaca
• Cocoa
• Coffee
• Coconut
• Cassava
• Bam b O
• Sugar Cane
• Fruit Trees
• Organic vegetables 

These projects will supply lifelong work and steady income for the indigenous people of Caraga. 

It will also provide a balanced approach to inclusive economic growth, as well as create programs with traced, verified product. The indigenous people are not only employed, but they are actual stakeholders with GPSS in a multi-stakeholder model, which is a radically different & honest approach for the true entitled land owners.

PLANNING FOR AQUACULTURE PROJECTS

Increasing global population, coupled with increased per-capita seafood consumption, result in a constant growing demand for seafood. Wild fisheries can’t sustain this growing demand. An estimated 30 million metric tons will need to be produced in order to maintain the present level of per-capita consumption by the year 2030, and it will come almost entirely from the aquaculture industry. We need solutions! 

Inigi is working with top aquaculture experts and owners of fisheries in Mindanao, The United States, Latin America, and Asia to create joint ventures and investments in our designated areas.

Our list of species include:

• Tilapia
• Eel
• Tuna
• Grouper
• Shrimp
• Seaweed
• Crabs
• Scallops

FOCUS ON ENTIRE VALUE CHAIN‍

Indigi and our partners are focused together on the entire value chain in all of our projects, producing energy from wood waste, ethanol from sugar cane, NCC from abaca, advanced post-harvest operations with cocoa, coffee, and other crops, and developing other innovative sources for additional jobs and streams of revenue. This is the future of renewables.

PROMOTION AT THE UN, WORLD BANK, AND GLOBAL ACTION SUMMIT

Idigi is constantly showcasing the Caraga Challenge on key platforms in order to promote this world changing model, build our network of corporate partnerships and nonprofit support, and widen our investor base. With growth each day, we must share what we’re learning in real time with other nations and regions of the world. As the philanthropic arm to Indigi, Global Action Platform has promoted this initiative and these projects at the UN, World Bank Forum, and at the Global Action Summit.

The Caraga Challenge is a once in a century opportunity, and it is a microcosm of what is needed and what can be done in every region of the world where poverty is one of the few commodities that is sustainable. 

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