Purpose
ADB, in collaboration with the Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF), is organizing the national workshop on social accountability at the local level: citizens engaging with local government, under the Regional Technical Assistance on Support for Implementation of the Second Governance and Anticorruption Action Plan (RETA 6445): Strengthening Citizens Involvement in Mitigating Governance Risks in Local Government Units in the Philippines.
It will highlight lessons learned, good practices, and the replicability and sustainability of constructive engagement models between civil society organizations and local government units in the Philippines.
Background
The workshop will be the fourth and last under RETA 6445 subproject Strengthening Citizens Involvement in Mitigating Governance Risks in Local Government Units in the Philippines that was implemented over the last two years under RETA 6445.
The first workshop held on 9–10 December 2013 introduced the development objectives of the project and its Small Grant Facility (SGF) to 16 shortlisted civil society organizations (CSOs) and five Local Government Units (LGUs) selected by the Project Steering Committee to host 5 sub-projects to be funded by the SGF, and discussed (a) grant application and approval process and (b) the key role of social accountability as the methodology of choice for SGF-funded projects.
The second workshop held on 12–14 June 2014 launched the implementation of the 5 sub-projects approved by ADB upon recommendation of the Project Steering Committee. This workshop focused on (a) strengthening the practice of social accountability proposed in each of the 5 sub-projects and (b) the how to’s of PTF monitoring and reporting. It also included a session on Open Data Philippines, particularly on Enhancing Transparency and Citizen Engagement for Better Results.
The third workshop, a peer learning workshop held on 16–17 July, became the forum for grantee-CSOs to exchange knowledge and learning, good practices, and other notable experiences drawn from implementation of their sub-projects. This provided the occasion for the grantee-CSOs to peer review and critique each other’s sub-projects and in the process enrich them with experiences and learnings from each other, such as on how to approach, conduct and sustain constructive engagement with LGUs and other government partners.
Objectives
The workshop aims to provide the venue for the final sharing and learning event among the 5 CSOs (PhilDHRRA, Surigao Economic Development Foundation Inc. Xavier University, Culit Multi-Purpose Cooperative/Touch Foundation, and PhilDHRRA w/ Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and LGU implementing partners, together with the broader community of practice from civil society, concerned national government agencies, ADB and other funding institutions. While sharing and learning is its major objective, the National Workshop would also launch the dissemination stage of this ADB initiative supporting CSOs constructive engagement and social accountability initiatives with LGUs.
Participants
By invitation only:
- Representatives from civil society organizaitons
- Officials from the local government units of the Philippine government
- ADB staff