AIMS Agriculture and Food, 2(3): 290-309 DOI: 10.3934/agrfood.2017.3.290 Received 7 February 2017, Accepted 31 August 2017, Published 04 September 2017 http://www.aimspress.com/journal/agriculture Research article A multi-stakeholder partnership for the dissemination of alternate wetting and drying water-saving technology for rice farmers in the Philippines Florencia G. Palis 1,2 *, R. M. Lampayan 1,2 , R.J. Flor 2 , and E. Sibayan 3 1 University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines 2 International Rice Research Institute, College, Laguna, Philippines 3 Philippine Rice Research Institute, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines * Correspondence: Email: florenciagpalis@gmail.com; Tel: +63495362440. Abstract: To address issues of water scarcity and food security for sustainable rice farming and increasing production, a water-saving technology called alternate wetting and drying (AWD) was disseminated in the Philippines. This study assessed the impact of facilitating a network of stakeholders on disseminating AWD in irrigated rice systems in the Philippines. It used both qualitative and quantitative data collected from 2002 to 2012 in study sites in the country. Engaging multi-stakeholders in adaptive research, training, and dissemination facilitated the process of more interaction by partners. All partners joined a knowledge and dissemination alliance for scaling out AWD activities. This in turn effected a policy outcome, and the synergetic interactions of each partner within and outside the current network fast-tracked the dissemination process and adoption of AWD by farmers. The AWD practice resulted in an increase in irrigated rice area but not necessarily in rice production and farmers’ income. It also reduced labor and fuel consumption, especially in deep-well irrigation systems. Keywords: rice production; alternate wetting and drying; water-saving technology; Philippines; multi-stakeholder partnership 1. Introduction Rice is the staple food of more than half the world’s population and the common source of livelihood for many, most of them located in Asia [1,2]. Thus, maintaining a sufficient supply of rice is crucial. However, sustaining the rice supply is threatened by global water scarcity due to competing