AUSTRALIA'S COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LAUNCHES KEY PUBLICATION ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Australia today launched two publications that will serve as important resources in improving community development in the Philippines.
The Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program, with over 20 years of community development experience in the Philippines, organised the publication of the Microfinance Technokit and the Proceedings of the National Forum on Community Development.
The Microfinance Technokit is a tool aimed to guide development organizations on how to do microfinance projects in the most effective, efficient and productive manner. In particular, it hopes to be a useful resource for NGOs and communities in developing their own proposals and find ways of funding and implementing them. The Technokit includes information on how to make a project proposal, do an appraisal, and even legalities on microfinance.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Tony Hely (2nd from right) led the launch ceremony held at the Australian Embassy Manila. He was joined by (L-R): PACAP Program Coordinator Lody Padilla, National Economic and Development Authority Supervising Development Specialist Ramon Falcon, and AusAID Counsellor Peter Jensen.
The publication: Proceedings of the National Forum on Community Development is a collection of best practices and learning taken from the Program and its partner non-government organizations. The national forum was held last year to celebrate the Program’s 20th year in the Philippines and served as a venue for knowledge-sharing among communities that the Program has assisted over the years.
His Excellency Tony Hely, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, led the launch ceremony held at the Australian Embassy Manila and which was attended by the Program’s government and non-government organisation partners.
“One of Australia’s longest-running programs in the Philippines, the Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program has been providing direct assistance to Filipino communities for over 20 years and has already benefited hundreds of thousands of Filipinos. The current phase of the program, valued at Php 1.15 billion (A$30 million), will run to 2010,” Ambassador Hely said.
Since it started in 1986, the Program has provided assistance to community-initiated development efforts, through financial, technical and training support to more than 700 NGOs, people’s organizations and local government units all over the Philippines. The Program focuses on activities that will not just improve communities’ access to basic services but also spur economic growth and development in the rural areas.
The Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program supports the broader goal of Australia’s aid program to assist the Philippines in enhancing prospects for economic growth. Australia and the Philippines have been partners in development for over 50 years.
The Philippines is now Australia’s fourth largest development partner, with about Php 4 billion (over A$100 million) in official development assistance for 2007-08. Australia is one of the top three bilateral grant aid donors to the Philippines.
Organisations interested to get a copy of the publications should contact the Program at (02) 631-7549/631-7943 or email [email protected].