Community-initiated development projects receive Australian grants
19 November 2014
Seventeen civil society organisations across the Philippines are receiving grants for community-initiated, economically sustainable, ecologically sound and gender-responsive development projects. Eight grants were awarded today by the Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP), an Australian Government initiative managed by The Asia Foundation, during rites held in Manila. A similar awarding ceremony will be held in Cebu on November 25 for nine PACAP grantees based in Visayas and Mindanao.
“The aim of PACAP is to build the capacity of poor and disadvantaged communities to meet their own needs by providing small grants that respond precisely to their priority development needs. This scheme also makes it possible for the Australian Government to directly reach the poor communities throughout the Philippines,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell said when he formally awarded the grants to the selected organisations.
The awarding ceremony, held at the Bayleaf Intramuros in Manila City, was attended by representatives from the Australian Government, The Asia Foundation, civil society, government, and media. The award ceremony coincides with the book launch of Philippine Association for Citizens with Developmental and Learning Disabilities, Inc. (PACDLD), a PACAP partner, entitled Parenting Children with Disabilities.
One of Australia’s longest-running programs in the country, PACAP has been providing direct assistance to Filipino communities for over 28 years, benefitting millions of Filipinos. PACAP’s priority themes for this year focus on community development initiatives related to social services, disaster risk reduction, gender equality and persons with disabilities.
Australia is currently one of the Philippines’ three largest bilateral grant aid donors, with the core of its aid program geared towards the promotion of prosperity and stability and the reduction of poverty. The strong Australia-Philippines partnership in development cooperation spans more than 50 years.
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About Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP):
PACAP, one of the official development assistance mechanisms of the Australian government, provides small grants assistance to poor communities and groups throughout the country. Since its inception in 1986, PACAP has awarded more than 2,200 grants to 1,341 civil society organizations benefiting more than 1,460,000 people in poor communities throughout the Philippines.
Awarding will be done in 2 batches, in Manila: Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV), Inc.- Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Sorsogon, Albay, Zamboanga; Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC), Zambales; Deaf Blind Society of the Philippines, Manila; International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), Cavitel; Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation, Inc. (LCDPFI), Quezon City, Caloocan City, Valenzuela City and Quezon; Nagkakaisang mga Tribu ng Palawan, Inc. (NATRIPAL), Palawan; Socio-Pastoral Action Center Foundation of Daet, Inc. (SPACFI), Camarines Norte; Women’s Education Development, Productivity and Research Organization (WeDpro), Antique.
In Cebu: Association of IIT Alumni Association, Inc.- Mindanao State University (AITAFI-MSU), Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Mis Occidental; Bohol Alliance of Non-Government Organizations (BANGON), Bohol; Bohol Integrated Development Foundation, Inc. (BIDEF), Bohol; Participatory Research, Organization of Communities and Education towards Struggle for Self- Reliance (PROCESS), Bohol; Social Action Center- Archdiocese of Zamboanga (ARCAZ), Zamboanga del Sur; Sentro Ha Pagpauswag Ha Panginabuhi, Inc. (SPPI), Northern Samar; Tribal Leaders Development South Cotabato (TLDFI), South Cotabato; Tribes and Natures Defenders, Inc. (TRINAD), Misamis Oriental; Venue for Initiative and Genuine Development Foundation, Inc. (VINE), Cebu.
Contact PACAP:
Maribel Buenaobra, PACAP Team Leader, Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program
#36 Lapu Lapu Avenue Magallanes Village, Makati City Philippines
Ph: (632) 851 1466 | Fax: (632) 853 0474 | [email protected]