Mindanao State University at Naawan continues to contribute to local development by working with local government units, communities, and partner organizations in planning and implementing programs that address livelihood challenges, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. Through technical expertise, stakeholder consultations, capacity-building activities, and participation in local development mechanisms, the University helps strengthen policies and programs aimed at alleviating poverty and improving economic opportunities in surrounding communities.

One of these initiatives is the GROW Talabaan Program Phase 2, which promotes the sustainable conservation and integrated management of the Talabaan Watershed. Implemented in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Naawan and other stakeholders, the program combines environmental management with community participation and livelihood development, recognizing the close relationship between natural-resource protection and the economic well-being of communities dependent on the watershed.

A significant component of the program is MSU at Naawan's involvement in local planning and decision-making processes. Through collaboration with the Naawan Talabaan Watershed Management Council, the University contributes scientific and technical knowledge that can support the formulation and implementation of strategies for watershed management, resource protection, and community development. Faculty members and researchers provide expertise in areas such as environmental monitoring, water quality, carbon assessment, agroforestry, and other interventions relevant to sustainable resource management.

The University also works with Indigenous and local communities in developing approaches that consider both scientific knowledge and community priorities. Engagements with the Higaonon KATRIBU community, for example, provide opportunities for technical inputs to be incorporated into community development and resource-management planning. Through these collaborative processes, livelihood considerations can be integrated alongside environmental protection, helping communities develop more sustainable sources of income while maintaining the resources on which they depend.

Complementing these efforts is the work of the MSU at Naawan Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (MSUN ATBI), which engages local governments in strengthening entrepreneurship, innovation, and livelihood development. As part of its outreach, MSUN ATBI conducted courtesy visits and orientation activities with the neighboring municipalities of Naawan, including Manticao and Lugait, to introduce the services and opportunities available through the University's technology business incubation program.

These engagements provide a venue for MSUN ATBI and local government officials to discuss community needs, local enterprise development, available technologies, and potential areas for collaboration. By introducing municipal governments to incubation services, technology-transfer opportunities, mentoring, and business-development support, the University helps connect local development priorities with research-based technologies and innovation resources available within MSU at Naawan.

The courtesy visits and orientations also help build closer coordination between the University and municipal offices involved in agriculture, fisheries, livelihood, entrepreneurship, and local economic development. Such coordination can support the development of programs that respond more directly to the needs of farmers, fisherfolk, community enterprises, start-ups, and other local stakeholders.

Through the GROW Talabaan Program, MSUN ATBI engagements, consultations with LGUs, community participation, and technical assistance, MSU at Naawan contributes knowledge and expertise that can inform local policies, development plans, and programs. These initiatives demonstrate how a university can participate in policy-related processes not only by providing research evidence, but also by helping communities and local governments translate knowledge into practical interventions.

By connecting environmental management, livelihood development, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and local planning, MSU at Naawan supports community-based approaches to alleviating poverty. Its continuing engagement with local governments and communities helps create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, strengthen local enterprises, improve access to technologies and technical assistance, and build more responsive development programs for surrounding municipalities.