The Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT) of the Central Cordillera Region, Northern Philippines is one of the pilot system of the FAO’s global project Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS1/). Its objective is to promote the dynamic conservation and adaptive management of globally significant agricultural biodiversity harbored in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.  The Philippines became a part of the FAO-GIAHS global initiative in 2004. The first stakeholders’ consultation and workshop was held in April 2005 and followed through in 2006 and early part of 2007 to frame up the data needed for the preparation of the project framework. The series of workshops were carried out with technical and financial support from FAO through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) designated as the national Focal Point Institution (NFPI).  The document presents the overall project framework of the GIAHS-IRT pilot system and its components presented in hierarchy from the national, regional and community level. It defines the overall implementing arrangements including mandates, roles and tasks of each level of stakeholder, organization and management structures, program of work and financial plans.  The framework is the result of the series of local and national stakeholders’ consultations and workshops previously conducted. The framework also draws lessons from the experiences in the implementation of the existing IRT master plan.