New Year Greetings 2011

Dear friends,

In this New Year, may humanity be blessed with peace and development that will be enjoyed by every family and community, in every nation.

AWCF wishes you a happy and prosperous 2011.

AWCF attends multi-event affair in Ligas

To show solidarity and support to a gender equality (GE)-friendly primary co-op, AWCF representatives led by Executive Director Ms Salome Ganibe attended the “Harvest Festival cum Blessing and Inauguration of the ARC (Agrarian Reform Community) Ligas Farmers’ Training, Information and Marketing Center” held December 20, 2010 in Ligas, Malolos City, Bulacan province, Philipines. AWCF was invited to this event by the Ligas Kooperatiba ng Bayan sa Pagpapaunlad (LKBP), one of its partner-co-ops in the “Promoting Gender Equality Among Co-operatives in the Philippines” Project being implemented with the Swedish Co-operative Center (SCC) from 2010 to 2012.

The well-attended affair in Ligas, which is a barangay or village, highlighted the need to promote organic farming as a way to empower farmers and help preserve the environment. Aside from the unveiling of the ARC Ligas marker and the blessing of the training center, the event also paved the way for the distribution of emancipation patents to selected farmers and the induction of officers of ARC Ligas Farmers’ Association. The occasion gathered notable personalities from Malolos and Bulacan, and from particular banks, schools, and government offices working with farmers.

AWCF-SCC project holds first monitoring forum

After seven months of implementing the second phase of the “Promoting Gender Equality Among Co-operatives in the Philippines” Project, a joint activity of AWCF and the Swedish Cooperative Center (SCC), AWCF convened the “1st Monitoring Forum” for the Project’s co-op stakeholders. Held November 26-27, 2010 in Sarrosa International Hotel, Cebu, Philippines, the national-level Forum gathered together 31 co-op lea

ders and key management staff—14 men and 17 women—representing 15 primary co-ops that are participating in the Project, five each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao regions of the country.

In this Forum, the participants shared their gender equality (GE) journey activities and learning, and also gained new insights from the intervention strategies that had presented by their co-implementers. The Project commenced with the signing in April 2010 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the participating co-ops and AWCF, followed by the conduct of the gender-sensitivity training (GST) for the co-ops from June to September 2010, the GE planning and implementation, and the conduct of the first capacity-building workshop in October 2010.

Other highlights of the Forum in Cebu were the presentation of the consolidated GE baseline survey results of the 15 co-ops that showed the initial manifestations of GE among the concerned co-ops; the input on human resource development (HRD) retooling or strategic HRD for co-ops; the review of GE plan of action and accomplishments; the GE impressions of the Forum participants; and the GE journey sharing of the three pilot co-ops from the Project’s phase 1 vis-à-vis their personal testimonies on what GE had brought to their lives and to the other co-op staff and officers.

Resource persons for the Forum were Ms Salome Ganibe, AWCF Executive Director; Ms Angelita Valdez, AWCF Program Coordinator; Mr. Ranie Catimbang, AWCF Project Assistant; Mr. Alexander Raquepo, Vice Chairperson of Sta. Cruz Savings and Development Cooperative (SACDECO); Mr. George Tadena, General Manager of Sto. Domingo Development Cooperative (SDDC); and Ms Minda Umali, Executive Director of Semantrix Inc, a consultancy firm for human resource management.

The Project is being implemented as part of SCC’s Philippine country programme for 2010-2012, which is the “Advancing Civic Capacities for Effective and Sustainable Services to the Poor (ACCESS to the Poor)" Programme.

More on it@coops shared in Berlin

AWCF always welcomes opportunities to share among co-ops and other development groups its experiences and learning from its activities undertaken toward its advocacy on gender equality in and through co-ops. Another such opportunity came on November 18-19, 2010 in Berlin, Germany, when AWCF Executive Director Ms Salome Ganibe spoke to the development community on the impact and learning gained by AWCF from its “it@coops Project.” This Project was implemented 2004-2007 in member-countries of AWCF in Asia. Ms Ganibe attended the “ICT (Information and Communication Technology) for Rural Economic Development” conference in Berlin, organized by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

With participants from donor organizations, NGOs (non-government organizations) and the private sector, the conference convened 99 experts to discuss the support mechanisms to be provided to project implementers that will enable projects to reach the rural poor.

Ms Ganibe’s presentation at the conference used the it@coops Project as model, wherein she stressed the importance of using information technology (IT) to empower people, especially women, in rural areas, such as what the Project sought to do. Because co-ops abound in rural areas, and knowing that women compose half or more than half of many co-ops’ total membership, Ms Ganibe encouraged the conference participants to help women by supporting the capacity-building activities of co-ops as well as by establishing business development centers (BDCs), particularly because women are, by nature, entrepreneurs. Emphasizing that IT can bring increased economic empowerment to co-ops and their members, Ms Ganibe reiterated the need to allocate resources for IT-related activities.

The it@coops Project or the “Information Technology for Southeast Asian Co-operatives Project,” was a collaborative effort of AWCF and the Capacity Building International, Germany (InWEnt)—an organization that seeks to provide advanced ICT knowledge to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East—with funding support from BMZ.

Philippine co-op leaders visit Vietnam

On November 4-6, 2010, 12 co-op leaders from Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC) of Cebu and Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ADTEMPCO) of Abra, both in the Philippines, made a study visit to Hanoi, Vietnam. On their visit to the offices of the Center of Agricultura

l Extension Volunteers

(CAEV), the Ph

ilippine co-operators were welcom

ed by CAEV Executive Director Dr. Bui Quang Toan. Dr. Toan briefed the group on the agricultural extension services of CAEV. Accompanying the group were Ms Salome Ganibe and Ms Angelita Valdez, Executive Director and Program Coordinator, respectively, of AWCF.

To be able to observe the agricultural situation of Vietnam, the Philippine co-operators had an actual exposure to the VAC Farming System in Phuc Thanh and Vinh Phuc provinces of Hanoi. The group was joined in this visit to the provinces by Ms Ganibe

, Ms Valdez, and four CAEV staff. VAC stands for Vuon (gardening or maintaining an orchard, Ao

(fishpond or raising fish), Cuong (provision of animal care and shelter or livestock raising), which is a farming system designed to ensure food security of an agricul

tural household, and to alleviate poverty.

The Philippine co-operators saw for themselves how Vietna

mese farmers practice the different forms of VAC, and, at a visit to a vast green tea plantation, witnessed the actual processing of green tea. They also had the chance to visit a large-scale fishpond and livestock area, all operated by households using the VAC Farming System.

CAEV is a non-profit and non-government organization (NGO) established in 1991 by key officers and staff of the Nation

al Institute for Agricultural Planning and Projection (NIAPP), an agency under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) which oversees and regulates agricultural co-operatives in the country. CAEV is a member of AWCF. The study visit was organized by AWCF exclusively for the two Philippine co-ops, in coordination with CAEV.

Gender experts build capacity in AWCF-SCC workshop

Identifying techniques in forwarding advocacies and mainstreaming gender in co-ops. Knowing the importance of storytelling as an essential tool in advocacy. Developing training modules and identifying methodologies useful in the conduct of training.

These were among the learning for 35 gender focal persons (GFPs), and gender trainers and advocates who took part in the “1st Capacity Building Workshop” held under the “Promoting Gender Equality Among Co-operatives in the Philippines” Project, October 19-21, 2010, in Hidden Valley Resort, Lamac, Pinamungajan, Cebu province. The Project is being implemented by AWCF and the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC) as part of SCC’s Philippine country programme for 2010-2012, which is the “Advancing Civic Capacities for Effective and Sustainable Services to the Poor (ACCESS to the Poor)" Programme. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) provides funding support. The Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC) owns and manages the Hidden Valley Resort.

The Project contributes to the Programme clusters on organizational development/capacity building and on advocacy and networking. The Project objective is to strengthen local capacities and create favourable policies for the promotion of gender equality (GE) among co-ops in the Philippines, to benefit 15 co-ops in the Philippines’s three island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The October Workshop was the first of the Project’s series of capacity-building activities to enable participating co-ops’ GFPs, and gender trainers and advocates to deepen knowledge and skills on GE, and also to enhance their communication and facilitation skills in conducting gender training in their respective co-ops; and to develop gender training modules suitable to co-ops’ needs.

Ms Bonnie Bërnstrom, Gender Consultant of SCC from Sweden and one of the Workshop facilitators, introduced various techniques in forwarding advocacies and mainstreaming gender in co-ops.

She informed the participants about some legally binding international declarations that promote and sponsor GE as a cause, such as the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The learning from this session will strengthen the participants’ platform or basis in forwarding the GE advocacy.

Ms Bërnstrom also made the participants compare the Gender Gap Index between Sweden and the Philippines, and to assess the areas of strength and weakness of the two countries in terms of politics, economics, education, education and training, and maternity and childbearing.

To focus on what is and how GE advocacy should be promoted, Ms Bërnstrom discussed the value of the core message, the use of “handbreaks” or learning when and when not to say something, and process questions that create better understanding of people with different worldviews and to explicate the underlying reasons of a person’s belief or disbelief of a concept or an issue.

Ms Bërnstrom also stressed the importance of storytelling as an essential tool in advocacy. How stories, as a combination of facts and emotions, send the message across and how they appeal to people of different culture and orientation.

Meanwhile, the Workshop’s session on developing training modules and identifying methodologies useful in the conduct of training was facilitated by Ms Salome Ganibe, Executive Director of AWCF. The session’s outputs were a) development of different training modules on GE; b) enhanced use of different training methodologies, such as role plays, buzz sessions, group discussions, and storytelling; and c) listing of various unfreezing activities and their description.

As the Workshop exemplified participation and teamwork, daily host team-members co-managed the day and evening social activities to perk up the learning sessions.

Important guests accentuated the Workshop’s significance. Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha graced the opening program, and LMPC Chairperson Delfin Tuquib and Lamac Parish Priest Fr. Dennis Acedo were present in the closing program.

The next capacity-building workshop of the AWCF-SCC GE Project is slated for the first quarter of 2011.

AWCF shares its FK project learning in Singapore

AWCF, through its representatives Ms Salome Ganibe (left in photo below), AWCF Executive Director, and Ms Natchamon Thali (right in photo below), from the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), an AWCF member-organization, were among the resource persons in the “FORUM IVCO (International Volunteer Cooperation Organizations) 2010” conference held October 3-6, 2010 in Furuma City Centre Hotel, Singapore. With the theme “Innovations and Challenges in International Volunteerism and Development–an Asian Perspective,” the conference discussed key contemporary issues besetting volunteer-driven development projects. The conference was organized by the International FORUM on Development Service (FORUM)—the most significant global network of IVCO, and the Singapore International Foundation (SIF), a non-profit organization in Singapore. The FORUM aims to share information, develop good practice, and enhance cooperation and support between its members. In this annual conference, heads of IVCOs and delegates from agencies across the world gather to discuss key and current issues in international volunteering and development, and share good practices in a supportive environment.

In two forums (plenary session and world café) of the October conference, AWCF expounded on its learning and experiences from its exchange program partnership project being implemented since 2008 with Fredskorpset (FK) Norway.

In the plenary session, Ms Ganibe together with Ms Nita Kapoor, Director of FK, talked about FK Norway’s exchange program as the reciprocal model to volunteer work wherein volunteers/exchange participants exchange knowledge and skills through learning and teaching. Ms Ganibe and Ms Kapoor emphasized that this exchange approach encourages national and regional networking because partner organizations themselves administer the project and the funds. Thus mutual accountability and equitable partnership are promoted in volunteer work. Benefits derived from this approach will redound not only to the exchange program participants but also to their host and home organizations.

These concepts were reiterated in the world café of the conference, as benefits derived by the participating organizations and individuals were further explained by Ms Ganibe and Ms Thali, the latter having been an AWCF-FK participant in the first round (2008-2009) of the exchange program, now on its third round. Ms Thali stressed in her sharing at the conference that skills acquired and shared during the exchange program can be stepping stones to future career advancement.

AWCF joins FK activities: Phase 3 of project underway

The AWCF network joined two major activities of Fredskorpset (FK) Norway from September 29 to October 20, 2010, aimed at developing the capacity of FK partner-organizations. AWCF took part in the activities in the belief that young professionals play an important role in the development of any organization. AWCF has been implementing since 2008 the “Capacity-Building for Gender and Co-operatives in Asia” Project funded by the “South-South Exchange Programme” of FK. The Project, which is an exchange activity among staff of AWCF member-organizations, is now on its third phase to be held from October 2010 to August 2011.

The first FK activity was the “Homecoming Seminar (Debriefing)” held September 29-30, 2010 in Rajamangala Pavilion Beach Resort, Songkhla province, Thailand. AWCF was represented by eight participants from the exchange Project’s phase 2, and six representatives from the Project’s partner-organizations in the AWCF network. In the Seminar, AWCF and other FK project participants and partners from CAI (Clean Air Initiatives), Asia and POURAKHI conducted a project review that included a presentation of partners’ and participants’ experiences, learning, and challenges; and a sharing among the previous and new project participants (for phase 3).

The Seminar was followed by the “16th Fredskorpset Preparatory Course” held September 30-October 20, 2010 in the Prince of Songkhla University (PSU), Hat Yai Campus, Songkhla. In this activity, AWCF partner representatives were joined by seven participants for phase 3, representing Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. The Course was a prelude to the participants’ 10-month deployment to their host-organizations. The Course aimed at letting participants be introduced to FK and its vision; be prepared for living and working in Asian countries; be provided with information regarding development issues in the Asian region; and be enabled to learn through collaboration and peer discussion.

To help achieve the Course goals, the participants and their respective partner representatives attended a participants-partners meeting to clarify matters concerning the Project, the participants’ agreement, and the results-based reporting. They also participated in the indoor teambuilding activities that had hoped to foster camaraderie with the other FK partner representatives.

The next activities were the exchange participants’ attendance to lecture sessions on development topics like poverty alleviation, participatory approach in community development, and gender responsiveness. Other sessions were personality awareness such as personality and self-understanding; effective cross-cultural communication practices; and conflict management and resolution. To enhance the participants’ video-making skills, there was a digital story preparation activity. And to facilitate their understanding of the Asian countries’ culture, there was a country information presentation. Adaptability with Thailand’s culture and customs was also enhanced through the socio-cultural visits and two-day homestay with selected families in the provinces of Trang (Buddhist community) and Satun (Muslim communities), both in Southern Thailand.

Aside from AWCF, also present in the Preparatory Course were 17 young professionals representing four other FK project partners, which are CAI, Asia; Sunlabob, Prosperity Initiatives (PI), and ESCENIC. These young professionals will serve as volunteers—learning and/or sharing their knowledge and experiences—in their host-organizations/-countries from October 21, 2010 to August 20, 2011. After that, they will return to their respective organizations to share their newly acquired knowledge, skills, and orientation as a follow-up activity, from August 21 to September 20, 2011.

Phase 3 participants bared

The following young professionals from the AWCF network are taking part in the AWCF-FK exchange project’s phase 3. They will join the other 15 participants from phases 1 and 2 in the AWCF Resource Pool of experts.

Ms Lilibeth “Beth” Liguden is employed as Business Development Officer of AWCF, Philippines, and will be posted at the Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia) in Indonesia also as Business Development Officer. Most of her 16 years of work experience were devoted to the co-op sector, particularly, assisting co-operators on business development, project planning, development and management; co-op and community organizing; and involvement in enterprise, finance, and investment. She also worked with international non-government organizations and a municipal-level local government unit in the Philippines. Beth’s immense experience on business development will be put to good use when she assists FORMASI Indonesia in establishing a business development center (BDC) structure and policy, setting up business initiatives, and promoting the BDC and its services. She will also coach selected FORMASI Indonesia officers and staff in developing and planning project proposals. For her learning activity during her deployment, she expects to learn the agri-based microfinance program and model used by FORMASI Indonesia members.

Ms Piranrut “Poo” Thoykham works at the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), Thailand, as Credit Union Development Officer. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics of Cooperative Science. She also has some Master of Business Administration units on Co-operative Management from some of Thailand’s prestigious universities. Poo will be deployed to the Socio-Economic Development Organization of Cambodia (SEDOC), Cambodia. As Credit Union Promotion Specialist in SEDOC, she will teach SEDOC staff about promoting, setting up, and managing a credit union. She will also assist SEDOC staff in identifying programs and services to attract primary credit unions to be members of SEDOC. As her learning activity in Cambodia, she will get to know about the credit movement, and gender mainstreaming in credit unions.

Another phase 3 participant is Mr. Somantri, currently working as Information Technology (IT) Specialist in FORMASI Indonesia. His knowledge and skills on Informatics Management and Information System will be useful on his assignment as IT Specialist in CUPC. He will be conducting computer training and providing technical support, troubleshooting computers, and monitoring and evaluating a management information system (MIS). He is also expected to assist in producing financial records and data using the MIS application. He also looks forward to learning CUPC’s programs at the grassroots level, particularly, savings mobilization, loan services, children’s savings, and gender training.

Ms Pakialakshmi “Pakia” d/o Maniam, is a General Clerk from Koperasi Kredit Pekerja-Pekerja (KKP), one of the two major grassroots-based credit union organizations of the Credit Union Promotion Club (CUPC), Malaysia. Pakia can converse in English, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil, and Hindi languages, and knows a little Mandarin. Assigned to be a Communication Specialist in AWCF, Pakia’s main task will be to gain knowledge and skills on documentation and publication. She will study how to compile, write and edit reference materials in English; catalogue documents; and prepare a documentation inventory. She will bring this knowledge back to CUPC, especially since the organization intends to set up a documentation center.

Ms Janjila “Kook” Nuansri currently works as Chief Education and Development Officer at CULT’s central branch office. Kook is a Mass Communications graduate and has been doing public relations work for CULT’s head office for almost 14 years before she moved to CUPC’s central branch office. Kook was heavily involved in setting up new credit unions, promoting co-op activities and events, and designing promotional materials. Kook will be posted as Credit Union Promotion Officer in AWCF. She will be visiting selected affiliate-co-ops of NATCCO (National Confederation of Cooperatives), Philippines, to learn about setting up and managing a co-op branch office, managing a BDC or a co-op enterprise, and mainstreaming gender in co-ops.

Ms Mary Dilanie “Mygirl” Llarenas is a Project Development and Documentation Officer in AWCF, Philippines. She has degrees in Nursing and Business Administration. She has extensive exposure on managing agricultural co-ops, and her project development skills were honed when she worked with a multi-purpose co-op. Assigned to the Center of Agricultural Extension Volunteers (CAEV), Vietnam, also as Project Development and Documentation Officer, she will help CAEV identify priority/potential areas for project development, and coach the staff in developing proposals as well as documenting their good practices and success stories. In Vietnam, Mygirl will also learn CAEV’s farming models and also their good practices that she can, in turn, share on her return to the Philippines.

Ms Charisse Anne “Cha” Fernandez is AWCF’s International Relations Officer. She has a five-year working experience with non-government organizations and international marketing and/or tourism organizations. Her core competencies include events management, media relations, sales and marketing, and promotions. Her expertise will be very useful during her deployment in CULT where she can help out in developing the international relations (IR) staff and also the other CULT staff especially when she starts her English writing courses. Furthermore, she can help the IR staff in implementing international relations activities. In turn, Ms Fernandez looks ahead to learning the Thai language, culture, and practices. She will also learn how gender equality is promoted at the primary credit union level.

it@coops in the Philippines (video)--Part 2

This is Part 2 of the two-part country report of the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), Philippines, at the "Alumni Workshop for Partners and Participants of the Joint Training Programme it@coops," convened by AWCF on 19-24 October 2009, supported by InWent (Capacity Building International, Germany). The event was themed "Renew, Update, Stay Connected—it@coops." In 2004-2007, AWCF and InWent implemented in three of AWCF's member-organizations the it@coops Project (Information Technology for Southeast Asian Co-operatives), with assistance from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Participating organizations were the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), Thailand; Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia), Indonesia; and NATCCO. The Project aimed at providing poverty-oriented co-ops in Southeast Asia with skills in, understanding of, and access to IT that will make them more competitive. It was oriented extensively, but not exclusively, to women who put in above-average involvement in co-ops and who provide valuable economic and social work.

it@coops in the Philippines (video)--Part 1

This is Part 1 of the country report of the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), Philippines, at the "Alumni Workshop for Partners and Participants of the Joint Training Programme it@coops," convened by AWCF on 19-24 October 2009, supported by InWent (Capacity Building International, Germany). The event was themed "Renew, Update, Stay Connected—it@coops." In 2004-2007, AWCF and InWent implemented in three of AWCF's member-organizations the it@coops Project (Information Technology for Southeast Asian Co-operatives), with assistance from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Participating organizations were the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), Thailand; Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia), Indonesia; and NATCCO. The Project aimed at providing poverty-oriented co-ops in Southeast Asia with skills in, understanding of, and access to IT that will make them more competitive. It was oriented extensively, but not exclusively, to women who put in above-average involvement in co-ops and who provide valuable economic and social work.

it@coops Thailand--a video

This is the country report of the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), Thailand, that was presented at the "Regional Forum on it@coops: Empowering Co-operatives through Information Technology," held 2007, Philippines. In 2004-2007, AWCF and InWent (Capacity Building International, Germany) implemented the it@coops Project (Information Technology for Southeast Asian Co-operatives), with assistance from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Participating organizations were CULT; Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia), Indonesia; and National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO). The Project aimed at providing poverty-oriented co-ops in Southeast Asia with skills in, understanding of, and access to IT that will make them more competitive. It was oriented extensively, but not exclusively, to women who put in above-average involvement in co-ops and who provide valuable economic and social work.

Empowering Co-operatives through Information Technology (Part 2)

(Part 2 of a two-part video) In 2004-2007, AWCF and InWent (Capacity Building International, Germany) implemented the Project "it@coops" (Information Technology for Southeast Asian Co-operatives). The Project was supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany. Participating organizations were the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), Thailand; Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia), Indonesia; and National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), Philippines. The Project's overall objective was to provide poverty-oriented co-ops in Southeast Asia with skills in, understanding of, and access to IT that will make them more competitive. The it@coops Project also aimed at transforming the new IT forms into popular and gender-accountable instruments to help co-ops pursue their social and economic goals amid the challenges of globalization.

Empowering Co-operatives through Information Technology (Part 1)

In 2004-2007, AWCF and InWent (Capacity Building International, Germany) implemented the Project "it@coops" (Information Technology for Southeast Asian Co-operatives). The Project was supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany. Participating organizations were the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), Thailand; Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia), Indonesia; and National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), Philippines. The Project's overall objective was to provide poverty-oriented co-ops in Southeast Asia with skills in, understanding of, and access to IT that will make them more competitive. The it@coops Project also aimed at transforming the new IT forms into popular and gender-accountable instruments to help co-ops pursue their social and economic goals amid the challenges of globalization.

AWCF-FK project has third batch

The second batch of participants in the AWCF project “Capacity-building for Gender and Co-operatives in Asia,” supported by Fredskorpset (FK) Norway since 2008, had its “Homecoming Seminar (Debriefing),” Sept. 29-30, 2010, in Songkhla, Thailand. The third batch of participants—who are staff of AWCF’s member-organizations, as also in the previous batches—is having its preparatory course under FK in Hat Yai, Songkhla, before a year-long deployment to host-countries in latter October 2010. The project allows exchange and building of knowledge and experiences among participating members' staff in various development concerns like gender mainstreaming and co-op development. The third batch of participants interacted with the previous batch on Sept. 30 in Songkhla

AWCF starts gender equality project with SCC

AWCF has officially launched the three-year Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC)-funded “Promoting Gender Equality (GE) Among Co-operatives in the Philippines” Project with three recent orientation meetings in 2010 attended by key leaders and managers of the 15 participating Philippine co-op organizations.The main objective of the meetings was to introduce this Project, which would involve strategic interventions related to four components: human resource capacity-building; strengthening of plans, systems, and structures; research and policy advocacy; and capacity-building on project planning, monitoring, and evaluation. At the meetings, AWCF was able to obtain from the stakeholders their commitment to implement the Project with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Also discussed at the meetings were the GE Survey required from the co-ops and the June-September 2010 schedules for the gender-sensitivity training for leaders and staff to be conducted in each of the organizations.

The first orientation meeting was held in Davao City, Philippines, April 8, which was attended by the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) Multipurpose Coop; Paglaum Multipurpose Co-op; Panabo Multipurpose Co-op; Pantukan Chess Club Co-op; and Tagum Co-op.The second orientation meeting was in Cebu City, April 20, attended by the Bosconian Multipurpose Co-op; Cordova Multipurpose Co-op; Dumanjug Multipurpose Co-op; Lamac Multipurpose Co-op; and Metro Ormoc Community Co-op. The third orientation meeting was in Quezon City on April 22, with attendees from Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multipurpose Co-op; Ligas Kilusang Bayan sa Pagpapaunlad; Nueva Segovia Consortium of Co-ops; St. Martin of Tours Credit and Development Co-op; and Sacred Heart Credit Development Co-op.

The GE Project is part of SCC’s country programme for 2010-2012, which is the “Advancing Civic Capacities for Effective and Sustainable Services to the Poor (ACCESS to the Poor)" Programme with funding support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

http://coopwomen.org/awcfcms/index.php/resources/news-archives/293-awcf-scc-gender-equality-project-started-

“Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all”--message from the ICA

Looking back to International Women's Day, 2010, here's a message from the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) on that occasion. The ICA is an independent, non-government association which unites, represents and serves co-ops worldwide. The ICA was founded in London in 1895. Its members are national and international co-operative organizations in all sectors of activity including agricultural, banking, fisheries, housing, tourism, and

consumer co-ops. ICA has more than 237 member organizations from 89 countries, representing more than 800 million individuals worldwide. The AWCF is a member of the ICA-Asia and the Pacific Regional Women’s Committee (ICA AP RWC).

“Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all”

A message for International Women’s Day (8 March 2010) from the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the world’s largest organization of co-ops.

This year, the United Nations (UN) focuses attention on the fact that the respect of women’s rights and the guarantee of opportunities lead to significant advances in social and economic development. Under the theme “Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all,” International Women’s Day underlines the need for governments, civil society, women’s organizations, the private sector, the media, the entire UN system, and individual women and men to join forces in making important changes to policies, programs, attitudes and behaviors to ensure that women fully participate in economic and social life.

Nearly every study that addresses the impact of women’s participation in the economy concludes that gender equality is not only the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense. There are business studies showing that the higher percentage of women in decision-making positions, the more successful and efficient enterprises are. In times of economic stress, there is no business argument that can counter the value-added of investing in women.

Similarly, development studies over and over show that investing in women has a high return to improving livelihoods, improving access to education for children and health for all, and reducing poverty in general terms thus making an impact on overall national economic and social development.

In the co-operative movement, there are similar indications that women’s participation leads to successful enterprises that fully serve the needs of all members and their families. Women are participating in co-operatives, sometimes making up a very significant proportion of the membership and workforce as a recent ICA Gender Equality Committee survey is showing. The evidence abounds for why it is in the interest of all to make women’s rights and opportunities a priority, and yet progress at all levels continues to be slow.

Despite this, ICA and its Gender Equality Committee wish to underline the important contribution made by the worldwide co-operative movement in creating a culture of mutual respect, and its commitment to democracy and participation. All over the world, co-operatives contribute to the challenge of gender equality by implementing at various levels gender equality policies and programs, providing co-operators with awareness-rising, training and education, and decent work. Furthermore, co-operatives are promoting this model of business to women entrepreneurs who often find that this form of enterprise allows them the flexibility and alternative management structures that they seek – an efficient business model that takes into account their specific needs and that promote their socio-economic empowerment. More action is nonetheless required.

Co-operatives must intensify their efforts in improving gender equality in particular at this time of economic instability. Co-operative resilience can only be reinforced when programmes to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men are implemented, particularly at senior levels in our movement.

On the one side, there is continued need to review national and co-operative policies and cooperative statutes and bylaws to ensure that these do not constrain women’s access to equal opportunities including the right to own land and other property. Innovative strategies are needed to promote changes in organizational culture, rules of procedure and working methods as well as address constraints related to lack of time (work-family balance), and lack of personal security.

There is also the need for attitude changes. Too often, obstacles in the form of negative stereotypes about women’s leadership potential continue to limit change and progress. Specific measures to encourage and support women’s participation and enable them to seek and gain senior leadership positions should be enhanced, including management and leadership training, formalized mentorship programs, and sustainable financial support.

On the 8th of March 2010, International Women’s Day, we call on ICA member organizations and co-operators to review and reinforce their commitments, policies and programs to make gender equality a reality.

Let us be leaders in assuring progress for all by taking important steps to boost women’s rights and access to participation and leadership in co-operative enterprise. Let us begin by asking all our members to ensure that from this year onwards that their representative delegations are truly gender-balanced.

Pauline Green, President, ICA

Stefania Marcone, Chair, ICA Gender Equality Committee

The Impossible Dream--UN film on women's multiple burden

"The Impossible Dream" is an animation film produced by the United Nations (UN) in 1983, together with Dagmar Doubkova of Kratkty Films, Czechoslovakia. The film takes a wry humorous look at a problem faced by women everywhere: the double-workload of a full-time job and being a housewife. The film features an average family with a baby and two school-age children. Both parents work outside the home. The woman puts in the same hours as her husband, for less money. In addition, caring for the children and all the household duties remain her responsibility. Awards received by this film: Gala Opening International Film Festival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Finalist American Film and Video Festival, New York, USA; Certificate Seventh International Film Festival, Espinho, Portugal. AWCF's acknowledges UN for the use of this film, which is also usually used by AWCF for awareness-raising in its training/advocacy activities. The original link to this UN film is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JBPBIFR2Y

AWCF 5th GA: Improved Direction, New Member and Officers

The “AWCF 5th General Assembly (GA)” was held on June 5, 2010 at the Paco-Soriano-Pandacan Hall, NATCCO Bldg., Quezon City, Philippines. NATCCO or the National Confederation of Cooperatives, AWCF’s member in the Philippines, hosted the event. The GA had two delegates each from the AWCF regular members NATCCO, Center of Agricultural Extension Volunteers (CAEV) of Vietnam, Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT) of Thailand, Credit Union Promotion Club (CUPC) of Malaysia, and Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia) of Indonesia. Non-voting delegates came from AWCF associate member Socio-Economic Development Organization of Cambodia (SEDOC). But as SEDOC had expressed, prior to the GA meeting, its desire to be a regular member in AWCF, especially since it had already passed the two-year associate membership requirement of AWCF’s Bylaws, the GA approved SEDOC’s regular membership later in the meeting.

AWCF Chair Ms Kruewan (left) presiding over the AWCF General Assembly with Treasurer Dr. Toan.

In her report to the assembly, AWCF Chairperson Ms Kruewan Chonlanai of CULT highlighted AWCF’s activities and outputs, and learning and insights gained, for the period August 2007-June 2010. AWCF Treasurer Dr. Bui Quan Toan of CAEV also presented to the GA the comparative financial performance report of AWCF from 2007-2009. In her Secretariat’s report, AWCF Executive Director Ms Salome Ganibe updated the GA on AWCF activities in January-May 2010, such as on the organization’s projects with the Swedish Co-operative Center (SCC)—“Promoting Gender Equality Among Co-operatives in the Philippines”; MISEREOR—“Poverty Reduction and Empowerment of Women through Enterprise Development in CVL Countries”; and Fredskorpset-Norway—“Capacity-building for Gender and Co-operatives in Asia.”

SCC's Ms Anneli facilitating the Octagon assessment for AWCF.

The GA meeting was preceded the day before by the “Octagon Assessment Workshop” participated in by the GA delegates and the Secretariat. Ms Anneli Leina, Program Coordinator of SCC, facilitated the workshop, which was held also in the NATCCO Bldg. The workshop aimed at letting the participants see a big picture of AWCF by looking at the various aspects of the organization, using Octagon as the assessment tool. The results were to become inputs to the next day’s GA, and will also be used as a baseline information of AWCF in its three-year project with the SCC.

The Octagon, developed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), assesses the “strengths and weaknesses in non-government organizations (NGOs).” It is based on the idea that a comprehensive picture of an organization’s capacity and development profile can be obtained through systematic reviews and assessments of four basic aspects of that organization. The Octagon also helps identify necessary measures to improve the organization’s capacity to perform effectively (see more information below about the Octagon).

GA approves resolutions

The workshop participants’ assessment of AWCF resulted to an overall “Good” assessment level, using Octagon’s seven-point scale. A few months before this workshop, the AWCF Secretariat also used the Octagon to assess the organization, and a “Very Good” assessment was obtained then. Taken together in this June workshop, these results were used to formulate action points in areas for improvement in AWCF toward enhancing the organization’s functioning and outputs.

Resolutions were drawn out from the action points, and these were presented at the GA the following day. The GA adopted the resolutions, to form part of AWCF’s strategic direction for 2010-2013, that embody various issues concerning AWCF, which are:

1) organizational base

2) output

3) capacity

4) competence

5) systems and finance

6) relations.

AWCF’s action toward these issues and concerns will include, among other steps, more intensive information dissemination about AWCF within its network; increased consciousness, commitment, and action of AWCF members as to gender programs in their organizations; further strengthening and implementation of activities, taking into account the AWCF Vision; enhancing competence and capacity of the AWCF Secretariat and officers; increasing financial sustainability through internal funding and self-sustaining activities; and strengthening and expanding relations within the AWCF network and with other networks.

New member, new officers

The GA delegates’ agenda-packed meeting that lasted from early morning to mid-afternoon included also the approval of the AWCF Plan and Budget for year 2010, which the AWCF Board of Trustees (BOT) also had approved months earlier. The GA likewise took up the matter of associate member SEDOC’s application as a regular member. The GA’s approval of SEDOC’s regular membership thus brought to six the number of AWCF’s member-organizations.

Finally, on the matter of electing the AWCF’s BOT for 2010-2012, each AWCF member-organization was asked to identify its official representative to the BOT. Having identified the composition of the BOT, the GA closed its meeting to pave the way for the election of officers to the different BOT positions, to be presided over by the AWCF Election Committee.

New AWCF Board of Trustees (BOT) and Election Committee (EleCom) take a moment for posterity: (seated, from left--BOT) Dr. Dr. Bui Quang Toan, Ms Papathiamah d/o Alagadora, Ms Kruewan Chonlanai (President), Ms Emma Nieva, and Mr. Mudaris Ali Masyhud; (standing, from left--EleCom) Ms Anik Dwi Martuti, Mr. Sil Vineth, and Ms Sylvia Paraguya.

The Octagon tool used

The Octagon assessment tool used by the AWCF participants prior to the GA is designed to assess the strengths and weaknesses in NGOs. Sida started to develop the Octagon in 1999, launching it in 2001. The tool can be used by both Swedish organizations and their partners in cooperation. It is based on the idea that a comprehensive picture of an organization’s capacity and development profile can be obtained through systematic reviews and assessments of an organization’s four basic aspects, which are:

1) objectives and management/administrative structures (organizational base)

2) activities with or for selected target groups (i.e., output)

3) capacity to succeed in its work (refers both to its professional skills and the funds at its disposal as well as its administrative systems)

4) capacity to create and maintain relations with its target groups and other actors in civil society.

Aside from being a tool for rapid and simple analysis of an organization’s strengths and weaknesses, the Octagon also identifies necessary measures to improve its capacity to perform effectively. If the same type of analysis is made systematically on several occasions over several years, it is also possible to follow changes in the organization in question. In this way, the Octagon can be used both for “baseline studies” and for measuring changes and results of internal organization development over a certain period of time. The Octagon allows the analysis of an organization’s four basic aspects with the aid of eight variables: (organization base) Identity, Structure; (organization’s activities–output) Implementation of activities, Relevance of activities; (organization’s capacity development) Professional skills, Systems; and (organization’s relations) Acceptance and support of target groups, Relations with its external environment.

Each dimension is ranked by assessments of two statements/questions on a one-to-seven point scale (Non-Existent, Very Weak, Weak, Reasonable, Good, Very Good, Excellent). When all the variables have been analyzed and ranked, the average points are transferred to an Excel document where the organization’s development profile is illustrated in the form of an octagon.

AWCF participants busily answering the Octagon assessment tool.