Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (CSPPS)

CPAf Units

The Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (CSPPS) is one of the units of CPAf focused on generating timely, objective, and science-based policy research programs concerning public policy and decision making. As an academic and research institution, it is envisioned to nurture the holistic and non-partisan approaches and methods to research, reflect, and report on social challenges and opportunities which are of importance to public policy and governance of the country.

The CSPPS aims to:

serve as a venue for intellectual discourse and unbiased debate on critical public policy challenges towards their resolutions through round table discussions, seminar-workshops, conferences, and colloquia;
undertake policy research programs that identify, clarify, and provide timely and appropriate recommendations to address public issues and problems on agriculture, energy, natural resources, environment, and on social institutions;
render public outreach and community service in policy development and governance through policy, and advocacy, technical assistance, and dissemination of relevant policy information that will professionalize and build up the capability of public and development workers and personnel as well as local and national institutions.

The CSPPS has three main thrusts:

Social Policy and Institutions. Social issues and the interplay of institutions are all involved in the myriad process of uplifting the overall well-being of an individual. Because of this, it is pivotal that research be undertaken to guide future interventions, streamline implementation of programs, and harmonize initiatives. Along with this, the structural and behavioral underpinnings of initiatives and interventions must be studied in aid of strategic planning and evidence-based decision making discernible in these research areas.

Areas of Research: Poverty Alleviation, Education, Social Protection, and Good Health and Well-being

Water and Development. Water and development are mutually reinforcing issues. Water, a basic and essential resource, impacts all aspects of development in as much as development patterns affect water. It is therefore inevitable for research as well as extension efforts to highlight issues such as the importance of water governance, and policies and institutions. This will complement science and technology in attaining sustainability of water resource amidst development challenges.

Areas of Research: Water and Climate Change, Water and Land Use, Water and Agriculture, and Water and Society

Agricultural Policy and Sustainability. Agricultural policies are courses of action by a government, institution, community, business, or individual to guide present and future decisions to achieve certain goals and objectives. It is essential that policies be able to sustain the beneficial effects/impacts of these courses of action in agriculture for food and other human needs, and other socio-economic gains. In light of the developments over the past decades such as the globalization of the supply chain, the challenges posed by climate change, and emergence of other complex problems, agricultural policies should address both the producers’ and consumers’ welfare.

Areas of Research: Food and Security, Marketing and Trade of Agricultural Produce, Value Chain Analysis of Agricultural Commodities, Coastal Resource Management, Socio-economic Evaluation and Impact Assessment Studies in Agriculture